A Dutch-registered human rights foundation, founded by Sri Lankan refugee Shanta Dalugamage, is empowering the next generation in Sri Lanka through journalism and human rights education—bridging communities across continents with an inclusive and interfaith approach.
Rathnapura, Sri Lanka / Ulft, Netherlands – August 2025
On 27 July 2025, Stichting Mission Lanka, in collaboration with Vision Media Academy, hosted its sixth Journalism and Human Rights workshop for 100 students at Ananda Maithree Damma School in Rathnapura. The one-day program included practical training in public speaking, event management, and basic media communication.
“We focus on public speaking, event management and self-expression,” said Dalugamage. “These are foundational tools—not just for journalism, but for leadership and advocacy.”
Participants received certificates of participation and human rights booklets from United for Human Rights, a global initiative inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the educational writings of L. Ron Hubbard, who emphasized that “human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.”
From Online Discovery to Global Partnership
Dalugamage first discovered the Youth for Human Rights program over a decade ago while seeking accessible education tools to support grassroots outreach. In 2020–2021, he attended a human rights open house hosted by the Church of Scientology of Amsterdam, where he began a collaborative relationship with the Church and its volunteers. Since then, the Church has supported his efforts, including through educational materials from United for Human Rights.
“When civil society actors like Stichting Mission Lanka bring human rights education to young people, they are building the kind of grassroots understanding that Europe consistently advocates for,” said Ivan Arjona, Representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Institutions, OSCE, Council of Europe and the United Nations. “This initiative exemplifies the values enshrined in the UDHR and shows how European-based communities can support constructive change abroad.”
The collaboration reflects the Church’s longstanding engagement with interfaith dialogue and humanitarian work. Through its international platform, it partners with individuals and organizations of all religious backgrounds, supporting inclusive, community-driven outreach.
A Broad Foundation with Global Links
Founded in 2019, Stichting Mission Lanka is committed to human rights, children’s education, interfaith dialogue, women’s empowerment, and conflict mediation in Sri Lanka. The organisation works across faiths and communities, guided by a Christian philosophy of peace, inclusion, and compassion. It maintains that all children and families—regardless of religion, race, or background—deserve the tools to thrive.
Europe-South Asia Engagement: Rights and Freedoms
The initiative illustrates how Europe-based diaspora can foster local empowerment abroad. While the Netherlands continues to rank highly (ranked 3rd globally), in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Sri Lanka was ranked 139th—an improvement from 150th in the previous year—reflecting early signs of progress under its new administration. The South Asian country’s media environment remains fragile, with ongoing legal scrutiny and institutional limitations.
Yet grassroots efforts like those of Stichting Mission Lanka show that education and dialogue can be powerful tools for change—especially when backed by international partnerships rooted in shared values.
Media Contact
Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights
Contact Person: Ivan Arjona
Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org
Email: Send Email
Address:Boulevard de Waterloo 103
City: Brussels
State: Brussels
Country:Belgium
Release id:32050
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