Kilinochchi is one of the areas most deeply affected by the war that ended in 2009. Even today, people in the community continue to deal with trauma, loss, and economic challenges. In this difficult context, local facilitator and youth activist Nakeeran works every day to support healing and reconciliation.

Nakeeran has been a youth leader and local activist from a young age. He discovered Play for Peace five years ago after meeting Play for Peace trainers from India, Swati and Agyat. He joined their training when they visited northern Sri Lanka in 2019. He immediately connected with the activities and has been playing and facilitating daily since then. Today, he takes part in several clubs across the region, leading sessions in schools, community centers, and children’s homes. He is now completing his studies in counseling, and his long-term dream is to open his own home for children in need.

He lives the Play for Peace philosophy and believes that play is an effective way to build social-emotional skills and strengthen community, especially in places that have experienced deep trauma and need reconciliation. He has a wide range of activities ready to use and adapt to the group. He is also always eager to learn new games and approaches.

I came to Kilinochchi for a week as a member of the Play for Peace Council to exchange, learn, and support each other. Nakeeran is planning to open a new PFP club. We also had moments of sharing and celebrating the PFP community with delicious Tamil food.

For three days we traveled around the region and facilitated sessions together. The very first session was already different from what we planned, because many children did not show up due to heavy rains and floods, but we still had a beautiful and engaged group of 16 people. It was a leadership program in a school. We did activities focused on social awareness and team building. Although Nakeeran and I discovered Play for Peace in different movements, contexts, and continents, from the first moments of co-facilitation we were able to understand each other without words.

That same afternoon, we traveled to another town to lead a session in a girls’ home. The girls had a short break from studying. Despite the holiday period, they had to work hard because of upcoming exams. We had so much fun together. We did trust-building activities and discussed the meaning of trust.

Our next session was at a community center where children from different religions meet. This is also an underprivileged area. We played there with a very motivated group of 20 children. We observed how play can help children feel safe and comfortable to share, even if they were more reserved at the beginning.

Through steady and thoughtful work, Nakeeran contributes to the ongoing process of healing in Kilinochchi. His daily efforts show how consistent activities can support a community recovering from conflict.