Born into war in Sri Lanka, Teruni (Rahasin) Walaliyadde says her earliest memories are of bombs, gunfire and poverty. She became a preschool teacher before coming to Canada in 2009. Walaliyadde is now in her second year of studies at the University of Winnipeg, with a double major in human rights and conflict resolution. One of just a few universities that offer a bachelor of arts in human rights, Walaliyadde hopes it will lead to a career advocating for children.
Tell me something about yourself.
Both my parents are lawyers in Sri Lanka and they brought me up to be independent, to question, and to help others around me.
What were your first impressions of Canada?
My first impression of Canada was that it is an extremely multicultural country, where people of all ethnicities and walks of life live together. I also realized that, in Winnipeg, people had the time to greet each other while walking by on the sidewalk, and where the bus driver greets you as you enter the bus.
Why did you decide to go back to school to study human rights?
I want to make a difference in the world. While human rights are supposed to be universal, they are not. Evident with Sri Lanka’s struggles with a 30-year civil war, it seemed human rights never reached parts of the country. Even after the war was over, human rights are not a given.
What are your thoughts on Canadians’ understanding of human rights? What about Sri Lankans?
I am truly skeptical about the level of awareness of human rights amongst both Canadians and Sri Lankans. It seems that some of us are not aware of our human rights, while others may know them, but are not able to claim those rights. Oppression of women at different levels is an example of having and knowing our rights, however, claiming them and living them at times seem to be impossible, especially since we live in a patriarchal society governed by norms mostly set by men.
What do you plan to do when you graduate?
My passion is to become an advocate for children and join UNICEF. I believe that the change our world needs will come through children who do not see colour or race. If we can break the cycle of stereotyping and forming hatred due to difference and move toward embracing the wealth multiculturalism brings, we will see a new tomorrow, though tomorrow’s children.
Do you have any tips for newcomers wanting to go into human rights?
Going into human rights can become quite an emotional roller coaster, as you grapple with issues from genocide, to child soldiers, to female genital mutilation, to misogyny. As one of my professors reminds us, keep in mind the sweet moments in life — that is how you push through the darkness of this harsh world.