Building an Inclusive Community Gathering Space in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Building an Inclusive Community Gathering Space in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Block by Block partnered with UN-Habitat to create an inclusive reading space designed to serve all community members, especially people with disabilities.
Building an Inclusive Community Gathering Space in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Project types: Community space
Collaborators: UN-Habitat, HealthBridge, ESAF Global
Region: Asia and Pacific
Tags: accessibility, children and youth, social inclusion and human rights, economic opportunity, multigenerational use
Background
In Jaffna, Sri Lanka, people with disabilities often face significant barriers to accessing public spaces and community resources. Limited facilities designed with accessibility in mind mean that many residents, particularly those with mobility challenges, struggle to find places for rest, learning, and social connection. This lack of inclusive infrastructure creates isolation and limits opportunities for community participation.
Subramaniyam Park presented an opportunity to change this reality. Located in the heart of Jaffna, the park had the potential to serve as a gathering place for the entire community, but it lacked the facilities needed to welcome people of all abilities. The vision was clear: create a space where everyone—children, adults, elderly residents, and people with disabilities—could come together to read, learn, and connect.
Building Community Connection, Block by Block
Creating truly inclusive spaces requires understanding the diverse needs of all community members. Through extensive community engagement and collaboration with local leaders, institutions, and volunteers, the project team worked to design a reading space that would serve as a welcoming community asset for people of all abilities and backgrounds.
The co-design and implementation process centered on accessibility from the start. Community members shared their experiences and needs, helping to shape a space that would remove barriers rather than create them. Local stakeholders became active partners in the process, ensuring that the final design would reflect the community's priorities and be sustainable over time.
The collaborative approach brought together diverse perspectives, from families with young children to elderly residents and people with disabilities who had previously been excluded from many public spaces. This inclusive engagement process was essential to creating a space that would truly serve everyone.
The inviting reading space at Subramaniyam Park in Jaffna
Progress
The transformation of Subramaniyam Park into an inclusive reading space has created a vibrant community hub that welcomes all residents. The space now features 28 chairs (16 made from sustainable bamboo), eight bamboo tables, a well-stocked bookshelf with 125 books and magazines, eco-friendly roofing for weather protection, hanging plants and plant pots that beautify the area, and games for community enjoyment.
The impact has been immediate and measurable. On weekdays, approximately 10 children visit the space daily, with numbers rising to 21 on weekends. Adult visitors have also embraced the space, with about 16 people using it on weekdays and 25 on weekends. Most importantly, the space has become truly accessible to people with disabilities, with consistent attendance of at least two visitors daily.
The reading space has also sparked local economic activity. Local vendors have benefited from increased foot traffic, with three vendors present on weekdays and four on weekends. This has created a positive cycle where the space not only serves social and educational needs but also contributes to economic development in the surrounding area.
The project intervention served as a catalyst for small business activity
The transformation extends beyond numbers to real human impact. The space has become a place of dignity and belonging for community members who previously faced barriers to participation. It serves as a model for how thoughtful, inclusive design can create spaces that strengthen entire communities.
“I lost my right leg in the last war, and the facilities for us are less in Jaffna. I travel to Jaffna town daily for my work. It is hard to get rest in between, as we don’t have a space provided for relaxation because people look at us differently. But this structure gives us consolation and knowledge. The books here encourage me to live.”