As a researcher for LIRNEasia’s Knowledge to Innovation project,, Sajee examined the use of stakeholder networks for fostering innovation in services. Her main area of focus was on building knowledge networks among local authorities and community groups in the management of solid waste services. Sajee left LIRNEasia in March 2010 to pursue a teaching career in the sciences.
Sajeevani is a teacher at the Kalutara National School (a government school in the Kalutara District, Sri Lanka), where she teaches general science to students in the English medium, and Agriculture to Advanced Level students in the Sinhala medium.
At LIRNEasia, Sajeevani worked as a researcher for nearly three years, from November 2007 to March 2010. She says the experience has enriched her current occupation in a number of different ways. Explaining her work at LIRNEasia, Sajeevani says she was involved in LIRNEasia’s ‘Knowledge to Innovation’ project that looked into the use of stakeholder networks to foster innovation in services. She was also involved in the 3R programme of building knowledge networks among local authorities and community groups, to manage solid-waste services. Under the 3R programme, Sajeevani was the Project Manager of the Gampaha Project, where different waste management systems were examined, using the Gampaha Municipal Council as a test site. She also worked with the Girl Guides Association of Sri Lanka and school children, to promote the 3R concept among school children.
“Through my work, I gained a great deal of knowledge about environmental issues and waste management, and also interacted with school going children,” says Sajeevani. These experiences of interacting and educating children, says Sajeevani, are still relevant to her present work as a teacher, especially as she had no training as a teacher when she first started teaching.
“Working at LIRNEasia, I had to make presentations and explain things to children. I think this helped me develop teaching skills,” she explains. Sajeevani also teaches 3R concepts to her agriculture students, where she has put her knowledge to practice. “We have recently started making compost using organic waste matter, as a class room project,” she says. Sajeevani says 3R concepts are present even in the subject of General Science that she teaches to younger students and in this case too, her experiences at LIRNEasiahave been helpful in explaining these concepts.