Island Connect: video and art collectives to support inter-cultural dialogue, learning and connection in Sri Lanka

This chapter explores development, implementation and outcomes of a pilot project Island Connect, that used storytelling across a range of media platforms for peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2016. In January 2015 a new president, Maithripala Sirisena was elected on a platform of peace and reconciliation. Healing the wounds caused by 30 years of devastating civil war is fundamental to nation building and will be a slow and complex process. Key to this process is building trust and developing understanding across divides of race, ethnicity and religion and across geographical boundaries. \n\nThe Island Connect project worked with youth (aged 15 – 29) from diverse backgrounds across four sites across Sri Lanka. In each site, different cultural and language groups undertook a 12-month program of media workshops, facilitated production, local screenings and focused discussions along with national events and inter-community exchanges. The project sought to use storytelling to facilitate intra-country, cross-cultural creation, connection, dialogue and learning. The project was delivered with the support of community-based organisations and coordinated nationally through ChildFund Sri Lanka. The resulting videos were shared within local communities and exchanged with other participating communities.