HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MY NATION – a submission by INDUNI NAYODHARA WEERARATHNA

Nowadays my country faces an unstainable debt and severe balance of
payments crisis, which is having a negative impact on growth and poverty.
The fluid political situation and heightened fiscal, external and financial
sector imbalances pose significant uncertainty its economic outlook. The
growth outlook is subject to high uncertainty and will depend on the progress
of fiscal consolidation debt restructuring and growth enhancing structural
forms.
The current account deficit is expected to decline due to import compression.
Poverty is projected to remain above 25% in the next few years. Reduction
in poverty will require an expansion of employment in industry and services
and a recovery in the real value of incomes. According to these issue, as a
student I have a huge responsibility to develop my nation.
I can be a volunteer my time, volunteering my time can be an effective way
to contribute to the development of my nation in several ways. Look for local
non-profit organizations that are working on projects related to areas that
interest me such as education, healthcare, environment or community
development. I can volunteer my time to assist them in their work and I can
also organize my own volunteer group and initiate a community service
project.
Many people in my country are in need of support particularly those who are
living in poverty or marginalized communities, by volunteering my time I can
help provide services and support to these individuals such as tutoring,
mentoring or providing food and shelter. Education is a key component of
development and many children in my country do not have access to quality
education. By volunteering as a tutor or teacher I can help improve access
to education and provide students with the tools they need to succeed.
My country is home to a rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems, but many
of these are under threat due to environmental degradation. Volunteering
with environmental organizations can help conserve natural resources and
preserve its unique flora and fauna. Volunteering can help build social capital
and strengthen social networks within communities by working alongside
others in my community. I can help foster a sense of connection and
collaboration which can help contribute to broader development goals.
In addition I can donate money or resources to organizations that are working
on projects that I care about. I can also donate to schools or colleges to fund
education for underprivileged students or donate to organizations that
provide health care services to marginalized communities. These days my
country faces economic crises as mention above so as a citizen I have a
responsibility to support local businesses as much as I can.
When I buy locally produced goods, I am supporting the businesses that
produce them. This helps to keep money circulating within my community
and can create jobs. Instead of outsourcing services to large companies,
look for local providers. This includes everything from my neighborhood
plumber to my local accountant. I can encourage my friends and family to
support local businesses and share information about the businesses I love
on social media or leave positive reviews online. In addition I can attend local
festivals, fairs and farmers’ markets to show my support for local businesses.
I can also purchase items at these events to help support the vendors and
consider investing in local businesses that show potential for growth. This
can help to create jobs and stimulate the local economy.
Education is a critical component in the development of any nation. It helps
to individuals acquire knowledge and skills that are essential for better job
performance. A well educated work force can increase productivity, which
can lead to economic growth. Education fosters creativity and critical thinking
which are essential for innovation. Innovative ideas can drive economic
growth, create new industries and solve social and economic problems and
it can lead to the development of a well informed electorate that is better
equipped to make informed decisions about their governance. This can lead
better policies increased accountability and transparency.
And also it can help to promote social progress, reduce poverty and
inequality and contribute to the overall well-being of a society .Educated
individuals are more likely to be engaged in their communities, promote
social cohesion and contribute to positive change. Another thing is I can
attend public meetings, vote in elections and get involved in local politics by
participating in government, I can advocate for policies that promote
development and help address the needs of my community.
APPLICATION