VIEW - Volunteer Initiatives for Election Watch

🌿 DEMOCRACY SAFARI Southern Province Field Visit - January 2026

📍 Galle | Matara | Hambantota 📅 30 January - 1 February 2026

Democracy Safari is an experiential learning initiative exploring how democracy, governance, and sustainability intersect with real-life environmental and community challenges.

🔍 Key Focus Areas • Marine & coastal environmental protection • Coastal governance & public institutions • Fisheries livelihoods & harbor infrastructure • Human–Elephant Conflict and governance responses

Planned Field Visits 📌 Galle: Marine Environment Protection Authority, Kapu Ela, Magalle Beach, Dewata Beach, Jungle Beach 📌 Matara: Matara Fort, Gandara & Kudawella Fishing Harbours 📌 Hambantota: Hambantota Harbor & Human–Elephant Conflict–affected areas

🎯 What We Aim To Do
✔ Understand governance challenges on the ground
✔ Engage with communities and public institutions
✔ Document issues for advocacy and awareness
✔ Promote democratic, sustainable, people-centered solutions

🚍 Logistics • Transport & accommodation will be provided • Participants should bear their own meal costs • Starting point: Nugegoda • Departure: 30 January at 6.00 AM

Democracy Safari is a learning and documentation-based programme. At the end of the field visit, participants are expected to submit a reflective and creative output based on their observations and learning during the visit.

Reflection Focus Areas Participants should reflect on (but are not limited to):

· What they observed during the field visit
· Key governance, environmental, or social challenges identified
· What government institutions and authorities can do to address these issues
· Possible policy, governance, or community-led solutions
· Personal learning and reflections from the Democracy Safari experience

Format of Submission Participants may choose any ONE creative format, including but not limited to:

· Written content (short story, report, article, blog post, or reflection paper)
· Social media content (comprehensive Facebook post, photo story, or thread)
· Digital content (short video, TikTok, Instagram reel, or mini-documentary)

📸 Field Learning | Dialogue | Documentation | 🌱 Sustainability

Democracy beyond institutions. Democracy in action.

🔗 Register Now: https://forms.gle/RMX5mGEqzf8eFbep8
Deadline: 20 January 2026 (Selection: First come, first serve basis)