Student Volunteer Programme

Third Batch of Interns Deployed

Mississauga, Aug. 14, 2004 - The Student Volunteer Program (TSVP) is a Toronto-based sustainable development organisation that participates in rehabilitation and redevelopment activities in various developing countries. It serves as a forum for students, and recent graduates to discover, learn and participate in international development and act locally to effect global change. Its primary sectors of work include Information and Communication Technologies, Health, and Education.

TSVP is pleased to announce the deployment of its third batch of interns to Sri Lanka. Following its successful placement of annual summer teams of interns in the previous two years, six TSVPers left for Sri Lanka as members of the third batch. The Kilinochchi-based interns will be particularly focusing their activities in the health sector and will be involved in a number of activities relating to this:

- Continue English language teaching activities at the Vanni Institute of Technology;

- Clinical work in hospitals, primary care centres, and mobile clinics;

- Conduct public health education campaigns focused on mental health and nutrition;

- Research into maternal and child nutrition, and mental health issues in the region;

- Medical and English language teaching activities at the Centre for Health Care;

- Follow up with projects executed by previous batch of interns;

- Provide program support as requested by social service centres and groups.

The team will also periodically travel to Jaffna and Colombo to meet with individuals and social service organisations to assess the need for future projects in Sri Lanka. Please visit TSVP's web site in the coming weeks for updates on the program's 2004 projects and the interns who are making a difference.