Projects – Venasa Transgender Network

Driving Change Through Action

2025 Programmes

2025 DECEMBER 19

DS Office training Nachchaduwa

For some people, being transgender is treated as a joke. However, it is not a joke for an actual being transgender person. It is a reality that is deeply connected to a person’s life. Those who mock the transitioning process often do so because of a lack of awareness and understanding. Before forming opinions or making judgments about others, it is important to understand their lives and needs. No one has the right to decide how another person should live.

In this context, we at Venasa, conducted another awareness program for government officials serving at the Nachchaduwa Divisional Secretariat, with the aim of improving understanding and support for transgender individuals who require services from the state.

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1ZkotCRHng/

2025 DECEMBER 07

Mental Health Camp Batticola

Another workshop in VTN’s ongoing mental health program series was successfully conducted in Batticaloa. The session focused on how practices such as engaging in art, self-reflection, moments of silence, and channeling personal sorrows, regrets, and disappointments can be used constructively to support personal growth and future well-being.

.https://web.facebook.com/share/p/17GesqwSb7/

2025 NOVEMBER 29

Dambulla Camp

Venasa Transgender Network held another program in Dambulla to support individuals who, amidst their daily responsibilities and ongoing challenges, strive to maintain the level of mental well-being needed to navigate obstacles and continue moving forward.”

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1DVYB5CUSi/

2025 OCTOMBER 19

NANUPA Training

Taking a further step in educating government officials in North Central Province about transgender individuals and their transition process, an awareness program was held at Nuwaragampalath East Divisional Secretariat. Officers from several sectors, including Grama Niladhari, Administrative Officers, Social Development Officers and Field Officers, participated in this event. This task is carried out not only to raise awareness regarding the preparation of legal documents in the transitioning process, but also as a social mission with the aim of raising awareness in the society.

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1GayYhQ8N5/

2025 OCTOMBER 02

MANUPA Training

The 2nd awareness program on how to provide assistance to transgender persons to prepare the necessary legal documents to establish their identity was held at the Anuradhapura Central Nuwaragampalath District Office. The main objective of this program is to form a foundation for transgender persons to live equally in society by raising awareness in government officials about the problems they face.

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/17pcQbwZuo/

2025 SEPTEMBER 30

Paduru Sajjaya

Support and Healing Musical Program – A helping hand for the mental well-being of transgender people

Mental health is essential for every human being. Providing mental health support, especially for transgender people, is extremely important in light of the social challenges and pressures they face. The “Support and Healing” musical program that VTN hosted recently was a unique effort created for their mental well-being.

The musical program “Support and Healing” was not just a musical show, but also a social message that emphasized human compassion, support, and equality. This effort further highlighted the need of mental health for transgender people and provided them with the opportunity to build a strong support network.

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1DUyXTH952/

2025 September 23

DS Office Training North Central Province

For transgender people, preparing the relevant legal documents to establish their identity is an important milestone in the transitioning process.

With the intervention of the Human Rights Commission, a methodology is being developed for the process of amending the legal documents of transgender persons with the circulars issued by the Registrar’s Department and the Ministry of Health in 2016.

However, due to the minimal awareness about this community among government officials some problematic situations arise.

Since its inception, Venasa Transgender Network has worked to improve the quality of the environment that is necessary to elevate the living standards of the community members.

As a result of conducting series of awareness programs for public officials that we initiated in 2019, by now 700 public officials from all districts of the Northern Province and the Kandy District have been made aware, and the next series of programs has been launched with officials of the District Secretariat in the Anuradhapura District.

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1Fynodwfzz/

2025 JULY 07

Beach Camp

Recently we successfully hosted a three-day beach camp for a group of 25 members of our community. While priority was given to their mental well-being, they were given practical training on topics such as team work, solving problems together, making decisions collectively, thinking about themselves and others, taking leadership, and managing resources.

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1A43opJPrk/

2025 April 02

Advanture Camp

The VTN successfully conducted a two-day residential adventure camp for their members in nine provinces. The object of this camp was about the importance of their mental and physical well-being. It also focused on the opportunity for members scattered across the island to get to know each other, to further enhance the relationships between them and to provide practical knowledge on the importance of working as a team and the importance of teamwork and cooperation in doing so.

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/17bRTF4hmb/

2025 MARCH 12

Mental Health Program

The Hormones Support Program provides guidance, awareness, and support related to hormone therapy for transgender individuals. VTN works to improve access to accurate information, connect community members with trained healthcare professionals, and promote safe, informed, and dignified healthcare practices.

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1DUyXTH952/

Hormones Program

2024 Programmes

2024 OCTOMER 08

VTN’s first Community Social Responsibility (CSR) programme

There is only a handful of youth groups that seek the true meaning of life and try to see its real value. Recently, the Venasa Transgender Network’s (VTN) staff was able to join hands with an Anuradhapura-based youth group and spend a day with dearest parents and children as volunteers of the Indira Cancer Trust.

This was VTN’s first Community Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. During this programme, our team had the opportunity to visit the Indira Cancer Trust and the Shantha House to meet, talk with, and sing with parents who are in their twilight years, visit the Bandaranaike Ward to have a cordial conversation with parents and to give them yoghurt, visit the place commonly known as Janasuwabala to give cancer patients attending clinics a meal with out own hands, and to cheer up children battling cancer through dancing and singing. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who took part in this activity contributing their time, money, and labour.

After the successful conclusion of this programme, we at VTN expect to conduct this programme in collaboration with groups based in other provinces.

2024 JANUARY 16

Discussion with the transgender community in the North Western province

https://web.facebook.com /share/p/1FcWfBtoLJ/

Discussion with the transgender community in the Eastern province

Discussion with the transgender community in the Uva province

2024 JANUARY 31

Discussion with the transgender community in the Western province

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1BjVDjcmPj/

2023 Programmes

2023 DECEMBER 15

clinic around the gampaha station

Our hope is to help you achieve a healthy life. For this purpose, our dedicated Venasa team, together with the staff members of the FPA organization, medical officers, and all other supporting teams, stand firmly by your side. This is to remind you that you are not alone and to show that we are always close to you, ready to provide all the services you need in every possible way.

The clinic organized especially for you was successfully conducted on 15th December 2023 at the Gampaha Station premises.

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1FJemPConZ/

2023 DECEMBER 08

CLT Test (Community Led Testing at Ragama Office

The Venasa team is fully prepared to provide essential services to all individuals participating in the Community Led Testing (CLT) program. Our well-trained staff conduct blood testing and ensure that test results are provided within 20 minutes, maintaining accuracy, efficiency, and confidentiality.

Participants are encouraged to take a proactive step toward understanding their health status by connecting with us for testing and support. Services can be accessed either by visiting our center or by arranging for a trained team member to visit your location.

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