After the official end of the civil war in Sri Lanka, the Salesians of Don Bosco reached an agreement with the government to take in 400 former child soldiers from the rebel army „Tamil Tigers“. Now they attend school and receive sought-after training positions.
Former child soldiers voluntarily take part in church services and processions. Under the benevolent gaze of Don Bosco, the former fighters learn to trust each other and share each others experiences. A former Tamil Tiger fighter is happy to attend school now. A Salesian teacher helps in the girls‘ class of the school. The safe handling of heavy equipment is part of the boys‘ education. The Salesian workshops are well stocked. Here, former fighters learn the carpentry trade. The bakery trade is very popular among the former fighters and offers the best prospects for the future. Former fighters are now playing football. After school some boys from the former LTTE / Tamil Tigers rebel army play cricket in the Don Bosco facility in Mannar. Father Sunil Perera discusses the strategy for the next game of cricket with the boys.