“Discovering Humanity,” led by Aravinda Indrajith, is an AHA! small grant funded project led by one such civil society organization. It has worked to spread the message of social cohesion through positive social media narratives. The goal is to address discriminations against different communities, ethnic groups, and professions to people between the ages of 18-35 by creating a space for them to share their experiences open and freely on social media platforms such as Facebook. This case review highlights Aravinda’s distinctive approach to peacebuilding and explores applicable lessons for other practitioners across South Asia. AHA! small grant recipients work to mitigate specific impacts of COVID-19 in South Asia, focusing on threats to social cohesion, the spread of hate speech and misinformation, and the pandemic’s unique religious and gender dimensions. Aravinda’s campaign, and similar initiatives offer significant potential to contribute to a more peaceful and inclusive Sri Lankan society.

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