Welcome to Gami Seva Sevana

Gami Seva Sevana (GSS) is a mid-sized Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), which is situated in the mid country tea plantation area of Galaha in the District of Kandy, at an elevation of over 2300Ft above sea level. This organization was initiated by the Christian Workers Fellowship (CWF) in the year 1977. From the early stage of its existence, its activities were the promotion of agriculture and social empowerment work with special emphasis on dairy farming and gardening.

On the 7th of January 1981, the Gami Seva Sevana Limited was officially registered as a fully-fledged N.G.O., which was limited by guarantee, thereby formalizing its activities. We work with small farmers whose land holdings are very small (less than 1 hectare). These farmers are formed into small self-help savings groups. Since 1981 we have been promoting organic agriculture, and held the first Organic Agriculture Workshop in 1986 at Galaha.

The Gami Seva Sevana owns 16 acres of land at Galaha. Through the maintenance of a Demonstration Training Center, organic farming is being promoted as our main activity. Over the years it has gained experience and a reputation for training in such diverse fields as Soil Science, Animal Husbandry, Organic Farming, Agro- forestry, Bio dynamics, Permaculture, Vermi-composting, Food-processing, Appropriate Technologies etc. Small farmers, NGO Staff, Extension Staff, Students (Schools, Universities) have been the recipients of these trainings. We have initiated an Organic Farming Network of 32 NGOs practicing and promoting Organic Agriculture throughout the island.

Furthermore GSS is involved in women’s work, cultural, educational and health activities.

Vision:

To create a peaceful and just society through human loving kindness and thereby create an environmentally friendly world which would look after its people and share the surplus resources amongst all living beings.

Objectives and Activities:

To usher in a healthy society, through the promotion of healthy and nutritious food by introducing appropriate technologies like organic farming, biogas and water pumps as well as supporting research projects and promoting organic agriculture for self-reliance and food security, which also promotes peace among all living beings.
To encourage savings-based credit through the forming of farmers’ groups and co-operatives, promoting savings and through awareness-building by our extension team to enhance their knowledge and thus help them to become independent, self- reliant, production-oriented groups.
In co-operation with the Isura project, Central Bank, we are supporting these groups to become self -reliant by giving training and loans.
Maintaining a Documentation Center which produces publications, news bulletins and translations, and functions as a Question-and-Answer Service with a reference library containing many books on different subjects, periodicals and a wealth of reference materials.
Conducting cultural programmes such as drama and music at religious festivals of the different faiths in order to inculcate value systems in the people.
To help mother and child clinics. Organizing of training programmes for Volunteer Health Workers and offering the location for a mother and child clinic. This programme is conducted by the Community Medicine Department, University of Peradeniya. The clinic serves approximately 400 mothers from the villages around. This programme is supported by a trained group of health volunteers who are organized by GSS.
To support produce co-operatives. Designing and promoting consumer related marketing structures, which will benefit the producer and the consumer.
Promoting self-employment of activities like weaving, sewing and the cultivation of organic vegetables, fruits, tea and spices to generate additional income. Networking with other similar NGOs to promote organic agriculture
To encourage the practical training of farmers. Through a developmental educational programme people from all over the country are given an opportunity to participate in our training programmes, exposure tours and school programmes. This includes training courses from 1-10 days.
To help to establish demonstration plots.
To promote biodiversity in kitchen gardening.
Improving the water system in the area with the help of donors to guarantee a continuous water supply for the people particularly during the dry season including harvesting of rainwater.

Affiliation:

Local:

GSS was founded and supported by the Christian Workers’ Fellowship (CFW) since 1977
Members of the National NGO Council of Sri Lanka.
Member of the Lanka Organic Agricultural Movement.
Member of the Co-ordinating Secretariat for plantation areas. (CSPA)

Foreign.

GSS is an active member of the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements. (IFOAM)
South Asia Network on Food, Ecology and Culture (SANFEC)
International Institute for Rural Reconstruction. (IIRR)