EDUCATION

Our education initiatives are built on the values of respect, empathy, consent, trust, with a focus on building self-esteem and being sensible.

RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE

We help organizations go beyond gender-based stereotypes, by helping them design and implement a policy framework predicated upon respect, dignity, diversity and inclusion.

THEATRE

At Grassrooted we use theatre for story telling around violence in Sri Lanka that women, girls, and all those who are vulnerable, face.

MUGS

Our WHO MADE THIS range of cups are in aid of marginalized women and girls in Sri Lanka who sell sex, live with HIV, identify as Transgender, use drugs and survive violence.

The Grassrooted Trust was set up to provide a safe space for marginalized communities, online and in the real world. The issues we discuss and work on, the issues that drive us, have their beginning in the world of HIV. Our core values and beliefs are defined by the people we’ve worked with, laughed with, and comforted. Our journey mirrors life, because for us, Grassrooted is not about philanthropy, or changing the world, it’s about dealing with our reality and ensuring that human dignity remains at the core of everything we do.

People living with HIV, people who use drugs, people who do sex work, those of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics, those who have survived intimate partner and gender-based violence, those who face stigma and discrimination; these are the people we choose to represent, and they represent us, and so we believe:

We believe people must enjoy their sexual and reproductive health and rights, both sensibly and responsibly, regardless of HIV status, gender identity, sexual orientation or the fact that they use drugs or do sex work.

We believe in the transformative power of learning and education. Accurate and comprehensive information coupled with understanding our core values of respect, empathy, consent, trust, with a focus on building self-esteem and being sensible that will help prepare our children and young people for life; help them respond positively to the human condition.

We believe that grassroots initiatives can be effective, and life changing BUT there needs to be a paradigm shift. We need different answers, and so must frame different questions. We must also learn to listen to and for the difference.

We believe in people.

WHAT WE DO

EDUCATION

We work with Health and Physical Education teachers to help them more effectively implement the existing government curriculum. We also design Relationship Education components.

These can be used to supplement and support existing curricula. We conduct workshops for schools, parents, community based organizations, government and non-government organizations, businesses and corporate entities. 

Our workshops focus on Early Childhood Education, Cyber Exploitation and Violence; Gender Based and Intimate Partner Violence; HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections; Human Diversity & Inclusion.

RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE

Our workplace sessions focus on ensuring a workplace that values respect and dignity.

Our respectful workplace workshop series includes workshops on diversity and inclusion focusing on diversity in gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, and sexual orientation. 

We help organizations design and/or review, disseminate and implement their diversity and inclusion policy framework effectively, with their teams at the centre of the process.

We encourage organizations to go beyond the binary and ensure equal opportunity and possibility for their workforce.

Our workplace sessions focus on ensuring a workplace that values respect and dignity.

Our respectful workplace workshop series includes workshops on diversity and inclusion focusing on diversity in gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, and sexual orientation. We help organizations design and/or review, disseminate and implement their diversity and inclusion policy framework effectively, with their teams at the centre of the process.

We encourage organizations to go beyond the binary and ensure equal opportunity and possibility for their workforce.

THEATRE

Since 2012 Grassrooted has developed original scripts based on our interaction with survivors of violence and abuse. Our theatre productions have since included Daddy in 2013, an exploration of incest in Sri Lanka;

V Day 2014: Elephant in the Room, an exploration of sex work in Sri Lanka; V Day 2017: Resolutions, a look at the real and ridiculous solutions to rape and violence; 

V Day 2018: Patria(AN)rchy, an examination of how patriarchy in Sri Lanka perpetuates violence; V Day 2019: Colombo 7, stories that underpin how violence is real for everyone, no matter from where they come. Since 2020 Grassrooted has been working with performers and artists in Ibbagamuwa. 

MUGS

Our WHO MADE THIS range of cups are in aid of marginalized women and girls in Sri Lanka who sell sex, live with HIV, identify as Transgender, use drugs and survive violence. 

Our cups provoke integral questions  relating to the tea industry where women are being exploited,  patriarchy, and the policing of women bodies in the name of culture. Our line of cups help us sustain our work and remain independent.  

Mugs are currently available at Barefoot, Colombo, Galle and Dutch Hospital.