Update on our Feb 08 visit

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Update on our Feb 08 visit

Niroshan

As per our previous report, we have visited Niroshan and could find no reason to carry on sending money, as we still have not received any receipts for the four cheques that we previously sent. We have, therefore, discontinued supporting the family with money for medicines. The family have had a fantastic european style bathroom built, by a world wide charity (World Aid, I think). However, they have not run any water into the extension.I have decided to look into the possibility of providing the necessary plumbing pipes / pump etc., as it will have to be pumped approximately 40 metres from the well. I have someone currently pricing the works and are awaiting estimates.

Update 1/06/08

I have had a price to pay for the building works but it is far to expensive. I will look at this again when we return next year.

Samina

We visited Samina very many times and she is looking really well. She has now started full time school and we have made sure that she has the necessary uniforms / shoes etc. It was fantastic to see her again, although a little shy to begin with, she soon came out of her shell and really enjoyed becoming the centre of attraction. One of the highlights of our holiday is seeing her and all the children in the village.

Udumalla Village

This small village is where Samina lives and we were hoping to buy school uniforms for all the children, but unfortunately our time ran out too quickly, as we were engaged in numerous other projects. We did, however, buy school shoes for all the children and also provided them with toothpaste and toothbrushes, to encourage them to brush each time after the many sweets and goodies. One evening, we rounded up ten of the children and arranged to take them out for a “tea party”to the local “House of Rotti” restaurant. This was, without doubt, the best event of the holiday. We turned up at the restaurant and arranged for two “Tuk Tuks” to pick up the children and one adult, from the village.

When the children arrived, they were truly amazing. We could not believe how they looked. Samina had recently been a flower girl and two other girls had been bridesmaids, so they turned up with their hair neatly fastened with bows and looked truly amazing. Everyone of the ten children were great, you would never guess that they come from a tiny little village. We ordered 15 Rottis, 15 fantas, 15 chips and finished off with icecream.

However, as we started the icecream, I took out balloons that I had brought from the UK. You can only imagine the total chaos. It is impossible to describe how exited the children were. Without doubt, our best idea yet. When all the children left in the Tuk Tuk, everyone was smiling and happy beyond belief.

I did not find time to look into the possibility of sinking a new well in Udmulla village, but it is still on my list.

Mr Lounaris

I was approached by Mr Lounaris, asking for money to buy fishing nets and a small boat. My initial reaction was to decline. However, after speaking with him more, he explained to me his reasons. He wanted to provide ,and support his family. On reconsidering, I decided to loan him the money, the sum of 33500 rupees. (£165) I asked him to sign a paper, stating he owed the money and would pay back when he could afford to. The agreement is probably as much use as a chocolate fire guard, but I really think he will repay.  So far, to date, he has repaid two payments.

Horigampita School

This new project at the school took up the majority of my time. I visited almost every day. After arriving at the school and casually looking around, I noticed the old dilapidated buildings that were there the year before. However, what I didn’t realise was that these were the existing toilets, constantly in use. It is impossile to describe how bad they were, but, just to give you some idea, the Girls outside urinal consisted of four walls with a broken concrete floor and a crack that opened up to a huge gap.

Adding to all of this, I discovered that everything was blocked. What was more astonishing was that there was no water in the school whatsoever and children carried pails of water from neighbouring houses. Obviously, all the toilets were blocked and only seeped slowly.

The teachers tended not to use the toilets at all and most children only used the urinal. However, there are children as young as five attending the school, therfore, it could become quite difficult on times to stop a young child doing what comes naturally. All the drains were totally blocked.

Just days before we left the U.K., we were contacted by “Ysgol Glan Taf”, (Cardiff), who very kindly donated a generous sum, with which we had intended to buy computers for the school, but seeing the diabolicle state of the sanitation facilities, we decided that this was obviously far more important.

First of all, I decided that I would knock down the existing toilets, sink a new well and fit washing / drinking facilities.

One problem: Before we started, I was informed by the head teacher, that no work could be carried out on school property without permission from the local education authority. “Well” I said, “Let's go” but the head was adamant that nobody would see us. However, I explained, as a foreigner, I am able to open doors and see people that they could not. The head was still adamant that we would not be seen, but eventually agreed to try.

We travelled to “Galle” and in no time at all we were sitting in the office of the Chief of Education for southern Galle, much to the amazement of the teachers. I duely explained what I wanted and the chief told me it was very admiral but was not easy to carry out straight away. However, he wanted to introduce me to the project manager for southern Galle, who was downstairs, who coincidently happened to be a friend of his.

Apparantly, no building project at any school can commence without his permission. I met up with him and told him what my intentions were. I explained that the toilets were blocked and dangerous and also the fact that there was no water whatsoever in the school. He admired my passion and said it was not a simple task, as no foreigner could invest money in a Sri Lankan school without a lengthy investigation by several parties, taking 3-4 months. He asked me how many months I was here for. I promptly explained only two weeks. After a lot of discussion we finally decided that we did not want to build toilets or a well in the school. However, we were extremely lucky enough to know of a person in Horigampita village who also wanted to donate money, but who wanted to remain anonymous. As a local, he would be able to invest straight away.

Thirty minutes later, with all the correct paper work and official stamps, we were sent to the planning department.I went into four more different departments, and in each one there was someone already waiting for me and each was extremely helpful. In just three and a half hours, we left with all the correct documents, full plans and planning permission, and arrangements to meet the following day on site with the building inspector. Brilliant, and all to the forward thinking of some important people in the education department. “Well done!”, Sri Lanka Education department.

The next day we met on site with the well builder and planning inspector, and surprisingly, the following day the work began. We sunk a new well, 21 feet deep x 4ft 6 wide, with concrete rings all around. This then fed a 1000 litre tank, which has been installed in an old disused storeroom, to stop any vandals tinkering with the water. We bought the biggest pump and all wiring, plumbing and building work was completed by local tradesmen. The old outside girls urinal was knocked down and two brand new toilets were built in its place. We also refurbished the three other toilets with new floor and pans, new drainage and re-cemented and tiled all floors. All toilets then painted.

The well had a huge concrete slab, to cover it, and make it safe. We also dug a new cess pit, 6ft x 6ft x 10ft deep, which was then double bricked on four sides. The bottom is not bricked, therefore allowing the waste water to drain. Due to the size of the pit, it is thought it will take five years plus before it needs emptying. Planning personell were there practically every day and were very thorough. We managed to finish about 75% of the work while we were there and the rest was finished off afterwards.To think what we have achieved in a few weeks was fantastic and a school of 164 children and staff now have proper and adequate water and toilet facilities.

The difference these toilets have made to this school is beyond belief and was truly a fantastic project. Also, we purchased shoes and socks for every child in the school. Last year this school had 123 students. However, after buying shoes for all the children last year, word got around and there was a rumour I might return. So now, everyone wants to join this school. They now have 164 pupils - a huge increase. Who knows what will happen next year as we have carried out all this work. 

The final bill for the school is expected to be less than £1000 for all the building work. I have collected books from “St Helens Schools”, but, at the moment I am experiencing a few problems with shipping. As soon as it is sorted, I will send them. The difference the well and toilets has made on all the childrens/teachers life’s is incredible and was a fantastic project which will benefit everyone for years to come.

Majuwana School

We bought all the children in this school shoes and socks and once again all the children were very grateful. We have now given the school 90,000 (£450.00) rupees to carry out the following repairs for the toilets. 

• New toilets, pans, re-tile floors, new door and frames. 
• New drainage to girls outside urinal, new floors and tile floors and walls.
• Rebuild new steps leading to toilets. New wall to side of toilet for safety purposes.

As soon as all the work is carried out I will be able to take photos etc. Although some of the toilets had running water, they were in a very bad state of repair and the steps extremely dangerous, so once again this will be a very worthwhile project. The outside urinals did not have running water.

Miss Nishamani Tharukshi

I went to vist a family to give the two children shoes. I always make sure I call later on in the day, when Im least expected, to check on how they live and if they really are poor. The mother works as a cleaner and spends approx one sixth of her income paying for extra education lessons for her daughter, who wants to become a teacher. The family are immensely poor and it is sad when you look at her daily shopping basket, which is so small it really makes you think life is so very unfair.

Grandmother and daughter sleep in the only bed, while the mother and son sleep on the floor in the living room.

I purchased food and shoes and a mattress for the family and arranged to help pay for the childs education, which will enable the mother to have more money to spend on food. 

Shoes for Children

Once again, this is a super project and all together we purchased 460 Pairs, including two new schools which we had not visited before. So many children are immensely happy and it averaged out £3.50 for a pair of shoes and

socks. This is my favourite project and if possible I would like to buy 500 plus pairs every year.

Unfortunately, I still had a few schools yet to visit, but I run out of time. However, my daughter and her friend Nicola who had travelled out a week later than us, presented shoes in a few schools and made presentation speeches, as they stayed a week after we left. As the toilets and well projects were unchartered territory, I had no idea of costs, so therefore, we still have money left in Sri Lankan bank account. We will use this as soon as

possible, probably on shoes and possibly another school in Galle which also, has no water in their toilets.

We firmly believe that educaton is the best way to help. It is with this in mind, if we are asked to help, we certainly will do so, where we can. All we ask of them is something in return. That is, simply, anyone we help, we insist they must attend school regularly. We also insist that any individuals we help learn to speak English, as this is so important to secure a better chance of a more successful future.

Pens

This did seem a very good idea and “Barclays Bank” ( Barry) kindly donated 750 pens, which was loaded into every little slot in our suitcase. Every day while I was out, I took with me forty or so pens and was always distribuiting them on buses etc.

An awlul lot of children were very happy to receive them, but I also had many requests from adults, some of which were very very insistent that they also needed pens.I even distributed some pens at the local bank! However, every day giving out pens was a bit weary, and at the end of our hols I still had approximately one hundred left, which I then left for Aimee to distribute. Once again this very simple gift left a lot of people happy, although I would be very glad not to see another Barclays pen for a while!

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View the full report here.