Community action for sustainable development

In 1958, The Lanka Jatika Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya, better known as “Sarvodaya” started its characteristic community development work in a rural village in Sri Lanka.

The year 2008 marks the fiftieth year of its participatory development work in urban and rural communities.

As part of its 50th Anniversary Celebrations, Sarvodaya is organising an international conference on “Concerted Community Action for Sustainable Life on Earth Fair to All” from October 27-29, 2008 at Sarvodaya Head Quarters Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

Sarvodaya believes that its development philosophy accompanied by a self-initiated and self-sustained approach to their own development by the communities in question is of very considerable relevance to the future of this world.

This international conference aims to call all the communities around the world into action, to support each other and be encouraged by each others efforts and work in unison to influence national, international and global policies which affect life on earth.

Conference themes

•  Five decades of Sarvodaya participatory development work in local communities – lessons for the future
•  The critical features of a modern state which permits / facilitates / limits the full self-development of communities comprising the state
•   Limits of state action
•   Limits of community action
•   Realisation of the full-potential of local communities to contribute to “A Sustainable Life on Earth Fair to All”

Participation

The conference is open to both foreign and local participants. Those interested are kindly requested to communicate with the Conference Secretariat giving their details and a brief description of their current work and interests on or before August 31, 2008.

For further information, contact:

Conference Secretariat,
Yudara Weerakoon
Sarvodaya Headquarters
# 98, Rawatawatta Road
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Tel: +94-11-2647159/2655255
E-mail: deu@sarvodaya.org