Puthukkudiyiruppu Divisional Secretary (DS), Mullativu Prefecture is the last conflict zone in the north. Refugees' return began in July 2010, but because the conflict has destroyed wells cannot be used, returnees do not have access to water. In addition to repairing and cleaning these unusable wells, JEN encourages people to join workshops where they learn how to manage and maintain wells autonomously, aiming thereby to strengthen the community.

The conflict in north Sri Lanka ended in May 2009 after 26 years. JEN provided emergency assistance such as　supplying watery in a refugee camp in the following month. After that, we supported returnees with building temporary housing and toilet, restoration of water well, cleaning, and securing safe water. Also, we assisted developing livelihood recovery support platform for farmers. The refugee camp, which barracked 280,000 internally-displaced people (IDP) at its peak, was closed in September 2012. More than 126,000 IDPs in north Sri Lanka were supported during the 6 years.

JEN provided livelihood recovery support for people in Kiran, Vellavely and Paddipali of Batticaloa District. To help farmers in these districts increase revenue from agriculture, we constructed water wells for agriculture, improved access to water, and distributed crop seeds. These assistance were aimed not only to improve efficiency, but also to help people continue agriculture independently without JEN’s support. Specifically, we held workshops and technical training for community enhancement.

Independence Support Project in East Sri Lanka was completed in February 2014, in which JEN assisted approximately 41,000 returnees in 6 years.

JEN distributed seeds and seedlings of 18 types of vegetables including okra, pumpkin, tomato. JEN’s instructors provided guidance on seedling, knowledge about plant disease and organic fertilizer to help farmers increase the crop harvest.

Due to the severe living conditions during and after the return, many new born babies, pregnant women and the elderly were not able to obtain enough nutrition and became ill. Also, many drank dirty unboiled water and had diarrhea. JEN instructed low-cost agricultural knowhow fit for the local climate, to female-headed households or low-income households, so that they can self-support on vegetables. JEN distributed seeds of 9 kinds of vegetables such as eggplants, okra, tomato and chili peppers, as well as seedlings of 9 kinds of fruits such as banana, mango, papaya and grapes. JEN also conducted workshops in both public places and households.

JEN instructed knowledge and knowhow to maintain good health such as how to cook without destroying nutrition, or plan nutritious and well balanced menu. In sanitation and hygiene workshops involving roleplays and short skits as learning methodologies, JEN instructed correct knowledge of hygiene, and encouraged people to live with clean and hygienic practices. JEN also created and distributed manuals containing knowledge of nutrition and hygiene to villages, so that not only returnees but the entire community can benefit from our assistance and thereby achieve larger impact.

Running parallel to the nutrition and hygiene assistance, JEN's psychologist and social worker conducted counseling to adults and children. They visited their homes, spoke to people needing psychological support by listening to their problems.

As for children, in order for them to regain positive outlook on life, our counselors did activities with them such as playing sports or drawing. Many children took part in playing traditional games, or cricket, which is a very popular sport in the area.

JEN conducted fish net training, distribution of boats, and construction of a community hall with the agriculture union. Furthermore, in order for the agriculture union to make use of their assets for the benefit the surrounding community, JEN conducted leadership trainings, awareness campaign for better living, and workshops about supply chain of fisheries and marketing. JEN also advised the union on how to autonomously manage the various fishing tools that JEN provided. These various activities consisted the capacity building of the community.

Fishing equipment and boats of fishermen living along the shoreline were mostly destroyed or lost by the conflict, leaving the fishermen unable to return to their work. JEN conducted fish net knitting training to these fishermen while distributing necessary materials. It was decided that fish nets that were produced would be property of the fishing union, and that union members would share to use these fish nets. Through the teamwork of knitting these fish nets, fishermen were able to create a team spirit, as well as acquire the knitting skills, helping them to gain autonomy. Also, during the training, social workers spoke with the fishermen, and diagnosed their psychological situation. It is often easier for fishermen to open up their minds when they are engaged in an activity moving their hands, such as knitting fish nets. It also helped for the fishermen to speak to each other, and JEN assisted in removing anxiety and pressure as much as possible.

As an epilogue, fishermen went out to sea to catch lobsters with their newly made fish nets, and as promised, they brought back and gave their lobster catch to JEN's staff.

In Sri Lanka, local people use a lot of coconut fiber in everyday life, a local commodity. There is a great demand for coconut ropes, often used to tie roofs and fences of houses, or as construction nets, and tea bags. JEN's coconut rope making project helped local people learn how to make different types of ropes, mats, brooms, and other goods from coconut fiber.

Moreover, local people asked JEN to teach them marketing skills to connect the coconut related products produced through this project to income generation. Therefore, JEN introduced marketing specialists and organized marketing classes, which were highly appreciated by the local people.

When the tsunami hit, the people of Sri Lanka lost their families and household items, suddenly having to face emotional and material difficulties. In order to meet the needs of victims who restarted their lives in temporary shelters, JEN distributed food supplies, water, clothes and other daily necessities. In particular, JEN distributed daily necessities for 2,000 households, about 10,000 people, in the southern district of Hambantota, where people were most affected by the tsunami.

JEN started an organic farming project for tsunami victims, an effective income generation activity at low cost. In Hambantota, there are as many agricultural households as there are fishing households. Some households generated their income through both trades. JEN organized workshops to teach local people how to grow vegetables organically, helping victims who have no job and no income, to reconstruct their livelihoods in the mid- and long-term.

Organic farming includes recycling garbage as compost, using various herbs as organic agrochemicals, removing harmful insects, replanting, seedling, etc. These techniques are new to local people, but once some of them obtain the knowledge, they can pass it on to neighboring communities. JEN believes that such rippling effects will allow, not only target villages, but also nearby communities to benefit through the project.

In one of the villages where JEN conducted occupational trainings, JEN organized outdoor activities for 50 children who suffered from the tsunami. Children could be eased from painful memories and the emotional damage they carry by talking to friends, and playing sports and games together. Sports instructors coached children warm-up exercises, gymnastics, and recreational activities. Sports activities included volleyball and cricket, the most popular sports in Sri Lanka. At the same time, Muslim girls, who cannot easily play outside due to religious reasons, enjoyed indoor games such as chess and carrom.

Children were scared to even listen to the sound of waves soon after the tsunami disaster. However, through this activity, they have been able to get close to the shore again. It takes time for emotional damages to heal, but JEN will continue to support the local children so that their pain may be eased one step at a time.

Social workers and clinical psychologist have carried out counseling for the participants of occupational trainings and children's outdoor activities. Victims of the tsunami have a tendency to become withdrawn. JEN’s wish is for them to participate in group activities at least once, with the aim to build relationships where people can share their pains and encourage each other. The counselors talked to the participants while they were engaged in the activities, in order to carry out psycho-social treatment that is casual and respectful of the participants' dispositions.

Male participants first resisted to showing their "weaknesses". However, they told JEN that as they shared their tsunami experiences with others, they became more positive about the future. JEN carries out, and will continue to carry out, assistance for self-reliance that is deeply based in such psycho-social care.