Session objective: The aim of this session is to introduce the purpose of this symposium to the audience and note that there are alternative ways of understanding issues relating to children and how they experience poverty. It aims to highlight that children experience poverty in different ways and that different contexts can result in not just deprivations but also make children vulnerable and prevent them from moving out of poverty.
• Understanding child poverty: Concepts and experiences, Azra Abdul Cader, Centre for Poverty Analysis
• Partner presentation, Prasant Naik, Country Director, Save the Children in Sri Lanka
• Partner presentation, Lakshman Gunasekara, Associate Country Director, International Alert, Sri Lanka
• Partner presentation, Jagath Godakanda, Director Berendina Development Services
• Partner presentation, Dr. Sarath Samarage, Deputy Director General of Health Services (Planning) and member of Social Determinants of Health Technical Working Group, Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, Sri Lanka

• Plenary Address – Child Poverty in Sri Lanka, Dr. Indra Tudawe, United Nation’s Children Fund

Session objective: The aim of this session is to demonstrate the potential of child participatory information-gathering, research and advocacy in informing policies to alleviate child poverty and vulnerability. The session will be based on a small-scale research on children’s poverty and vulnerability conducted in Akkaraipattu, Ampara district, by children of a nomadic community in Sri Lanka. The aim of this session is for adults and children to engage with concepts of child agency, participation and the added value in terms of new knowledge.
• Perceptions on child wellbeing, presentation by children from Aligambay, Akkaraipattu
• Reflections from the research team, Dharshini Seneviratne, Save the Children in Sri Lanka and Lakwimashi Perera, Centre for Poverty Analysis

Session objective: The aim of this session is to highlight issues related to nutrition and how children of different ages and circumstances continue to be affected.
• Impact of economic crisis on child and maternal health in South Asia, Azra Abdul Cader and Lakwimashi Perera, Centre for Poverty Analysis
• Role of Care in Alleviating the Child Malnutrition, Thushanthi Perera and Dr. Jeevika Weerahewa Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya

Session objective:The aim of this session is to discuss children’s issues within the current post conflict setting. .
• Do we really want to live like this? Aspirations for the future, Poverty and Conflict Programme documentary introduced by Prashan Thalayasingam, Centre for Poverty Analysis
• Poverty, Conflict and Education: A study of schools in selected districts in Sri Lanka, Professor Chandra Gunewardena and Professor Swarna Jayaweera, Centre for Women’s Research
• Child protection in internal displacement: Policy, administration and impact in Sri Lanka, Marsha Cassiere-Daniel, researcher commissioned by Save the Children in Sri Lanka

 

Session objective:This session aims to engage with non-state organisations/actors who have been working with children/child wellbeing in Sri Lanka and draw out their experience on impacting child poverty.
• Piyawara - CSR Project on education by Hemas Holdings PLC, Shiromi Masakorala, Manager Corporate Relations/CSR
• Identifying problems faced by children of estate workers and their root causes, K.U.R. Wijayatilaka, Assistant Medical Officer, Polgahawela Central Dispensary
• A practical study of ways to improve lives of under-privileged and orphan children in Sri Lanka, Sylvia Merkel, Friends Kinderhilfe International e.V.
• Protect Children from Child Abuses due to Poverty, Sandamali Ariyarathne and Shevan Gunarathene, Sarvodaya Legal Services Movement

Session objective:This session aims to highlight some emerging issues related to child poverty and wellbeing that need to be considered by practitioners and policy makers.
• Understanding the law with children, Mangala Randeniya and Sajeeva Samaranayake, independent researchers.
• Poverty and disability: inclusive education as a challenging option to ensure right to education for children with disabilities, Ali Zakky and Rangapali Ranaweera, Leonard Cheshire Disability Resource Centre
• Poverty and sexual abuse of children: Special focus on teenage mothers, Sandamali Ariyarathne, Sarvodaya

Session objective:This session aims to bring the policy engagements on children and poverty with a view to create synergies and encourage more effective partnerships between policy makers and other stakeholders.
• Dr. Chithramalee de Silva, Acting Director Maternal and Child Health, Family Health Bureau
• Rajinee Atapattu, Deputy Director, Rural and Social Development Division, Samurdhi Authority, Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure

Session objective:The aim of this session is to develop a series of recommendations for stakeholders and encourage partnerships for organisations to work together to improve child wellbeing in Sri Lanka.
• For researchers – Azra Abdul Cader, Centre for Poverty Analysis
• For practitioners – Sajeeva Samaranayake, Consultant, United Nations Children’s Fund
• For policy makers - Dr. Sarath Samarage, Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition