Projects & Programmes
The GFS worldwide has goals and objectives for three-year periods, whilst some are continuing goals. The GFS Sri Lanka endeavours to carry out our work in line with these goals. Over and beyond these goals, we carry out various other programmes for our members and communities.
The World GFS Goals
The GFS worldwide has goals and objectives for three-year periods, whilst some are continuing goals. The GFS Sri Lanka endeavours to carry out our work in line with these goals. Over and beyond these goals, we carry out various other programmes for our members and communities.
World GFS Goal 01
Spiritual Development & Spreading the Good News
World GFS Goal 02
UN Sustainable Development Goal 03
Good Health & Well-Being. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Point 3.5: Strengthen the prevention & treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol through awareness programmes.
World GFS Goal 03
UN Sustainable Development Goal 04
Quality Education – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education & promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
World GFS Goal 01
Spiritual Development & Spreading the Good News
Daily Staff Prayer Meetings
Branch Prayer Meetings
Prayer and Fellowship
Christmas Programmes
Friday President and Staff Prayer Meetings
New Year Dedication Services
Thanksgiving Services
Regional Office Bible Study and Prayer Meetings
Friday Prayer Meetings
Observance of GFS World Day of Prayer (Sep 29)
Church Related
Conducting an Annual Craft Competition for Sunday School Children
Speaking at Churches Upon Invitation
Conducting Programmes that Empower and Assist Girls and Women
Working with the Mothers’ Union, especially in the Outstations
Conducting Charity Programmes
Distribution of Bibles to Churches in different Archdeaconries for Confirmation Candidates
World GFS Goal 02
UN Sustainable Development Goal 03
Good Health & Well-Being. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Point 3.5: Strengthen the prevention & treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol through awareness programmes.
Community
Awareness of Substance Abuse
Conducting Eye Camps
Conducting Medical Camps, both Western and Ayurvedic camps, in rural areas
Co-sponsoring Blood Donor Camps
Sunday school Meal Project at All Saints’ Church, Maskeliya
Conducting public seminars on important topics such as health awareness and breast cancer awareness
World GFS Goal 03
UN Sustainable Development Goal 04
Quality Education – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education & promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs & entrepreneurship.
Education & Skills Empowerment
Distributing school bags and pencil cases to deserving children, all under the project ‘Helping a child stay in school’.
The GFS Sewing project, which was completed in Hambantota
Computer labs in the Regional office, Hambantota, All Saints’ Church, Agarapathana and St. Luke’s Church, Deniyaya
Soap and shampoo making project in Regional Office, Hambantota
Christianity classes for school children in the Galle Archdeaconry, where the schools do not have a teacher to teach Christianity
Personal Development workshops, Good Grooming programmes
Beauty & Hairdressing programmes
“English for Employment Prospects” island-wide project under the GFS World Project
World GFS Continuing Goals
UN Sustainable Development Goal 13
Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by Curbing of Climate Change by Caring for Creation
Environment:
- Green Project (ref. GreenAnglican.org)
- Mosquito repellent plant project
- Free shady tree sapling project
- Programme on plastic pollution, especially in the oceans
- Sharamadana
UN Sustainable Development Goal 12
Responsible Consumption and Production. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Greening Project – each household has a home garden for food security and environmental preservation.
- The GFS Home gardening project
- Free distribution of herbs & vegetable plants
- “Women helping Women” – Purchase of vegetables & other items from rural areas & supply to Colombo
UN Sustainable Development Goal 5
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls-Ending the abuse of women and children
Women and girls, everywhere, must have equal rights and opportunities, and be able to live free of violence and discrimination. Women’s equality and empowerment are one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, but also integral to all dimensions of inclusive and sustainable development.
Orange Day
The UN International Day of Violence against Women, observed annually on November 25th, serves as a reminder of the global prevalence of this issue. Preceding this significant day, the 25th of each month is designated as “Orange Day,” with the purpose of heightening awareness about violence against women and children.
- The Girls’ Friendly Society has been actively engaged in supporting this cause, and in line with these efforts, organising various programmes with at least one branch conducting a programme on the 25th of each month.
- Awareness programmes and practical sessions on child protection with children
Service
- Running of a Hostel for working girls from rural areas at subsidised rates
- Regularly visiting and assisting orphanages and Homes for destitute girls
- Hospital visits to distribute necessary items
- Lending a helping hand to less privileged girls and women in various ways
Humanitarian Relief
Relief is provided whenever required, according to the availability of funds. Dry rations and school requirements were provided to a few families affected by heavy rains in the Upcountry, and people affected by the floods in Batticoloa and Hambantota.
Social Activities
- Various programmes for members in different branches
- Hair styling demonstrations
- Cake decoration
- Christmas Carolling (Home for the Elders, Hospital wards, etc.)
- Christmas Jamboree
- Fancy ladies in fancy hats
Special Events:
- Universal Children’s Day Programmes
- Mothers’ Day
- International Women’s Day
- Universal Elders Day
Fund Raisers, Sales & Mini Sales
- A large-scale fundraiser was done in 2023 called “On with the Show” with the Soul Sounds Academy.
- An “April Market on the Green” sale and a “Pre-Christmas” sale are held annually at the GFS
- Organising table sales in the respective GFS branches to encourage women in small home businesses.
GFS Community Project, “Women helping Women”
The objective of this project is to support less privileged families in the outstations, especially women-headed households, to earn additional income as many suffered from loss of jobs due to the pandemic, by offering them a means of marketing their home-grown produce or home-made items.
The GFS branches identify women who could be a part of this project. The Regional Coordinators in each region coordinate these projects, and the members of the GFS branches in the upcountry deanery are involved in the GFS Home Gardening Project.