NIU faculty members soon will assist women’s organizations in the Asian island nation of Sri Lanka in a groundbreaking project for the university.

The proposal stems from the International Training Office in collaboration with University Resources for Women and faculty from the Department of Counseling, Adult and Health Education.

It is funded by a $182,000 Federal Assistance Award from the U.S. State Department.

The project, which is called “Capacity Building and Advocacy for Women’s Participation in Grassroots Democracy in Sri Lanka,” is designed to help women in the country increase their political involvement and importance.

The two-year undertaking involves several steps, including bringing 10 Sri Lankan female leaders to NIU to be trained as facilitators. It also involves preparing the women to work and motivate other Sri Lankan women, as well as identifying a crucial issue to these women and establishing a lobbying campaign to advocate this issue. NIU will help develop leadership skills and advocacy skills within four non-governmental women’s organizations.

Monitoring the project is an advisory committee made up of eight faculty members.

Jaya Gajanayake, an NIU professor and director of the Sri Lankan project, believes this outreach will benefit the women to a great extent. As a native of Sri Lanka, the project is especially important to her.

“Our goal is to help women at the grassroots level,” she said. “They don’t have a place in the decision-making process; they have no voice. We want to give them a voice on policy of issues that affect them. We don’t want the benefits to trickle down, but have the bottom level be the receiver.”

The Sri Lankan female leaders will arrive at NIU for a three-week development program next May, but faculty members already are planning their trips to Asia to lay the groundwork.

“I will be going at the end of this semester, but others will be going to Sri Lanka before and after me,” Gajanayake said. “One person is going this month to Sri Lanka, Korea, and India to do initial research.”

Jorge Jeris, who is a professor of counseling, adult and heath education at NIU, believes this to be an unique endeavor.

“This is quite an interesting project,” he said. “There are not many projects of this nature. Not often do we work with women leadership in countries such as Sri Lanka.”

Lina Ong, administrative director with the International Training Office, also confirms this project’s importance and uniqueness. She noted that the project is an important step for the university.

“It’s the first project of its kind NIU is undertaking,” she said. “This gives NIU a head start on the international development front. It enhances NIU’s status in the international arena.”