NLEAP conducts GEWE Workshop for the National Institute of Language Education and Training
NLEAP recently conducted a workshop on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment for the National Institute of Language Education and Training (NILET). The purpose of the workshop was two-prong. The first was to enhance the conceptual understanding amongst the NILET team about Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment. Part of this engaging session involved challenging biases and misconceptions about Gender. Equally important was the task of engaging the participants to explore ways of promoting GEWE within language rights.
Director, NLEAP Don Brownell welcomed those present and Language Policy and Teaching Specialist, NLEAP Niyas Raskin outlined the purpose of the workshop. The opening remarks by Director General of NILET, Prasath Herath, emphasized why this training was important to the team. The workshop sessions conducted by Gender Equality Specialist, NLEAP Saama Rajakaruna, and GEWE Consultant Indika Dayarathne, were interactive and thought provoking, challenging unconscious biases and prejudices in our culture that hamper the promotion of GEWE.
NILET is mandated by the Government of Sri Lanka to provide high quality training of Sinhala, Tamil and English languages. Conducting research and studies related to language training, establishing a repository of information pertaining to languages, training competent and adequate translators and interpreters and conducting language courses for special categories of persons all fall under the purview of this institution. In equipping the management and staff of NILET with an enhanced understanding of how GEWE links with languages rights empowers them to better promote GEWE within their diverse scope of activity.
