Update 20.01.08
Niroshan
In 2006 we sent money to the parents of Niroshan. They needed another £250 to pay for Anti-rejection drugs before a kidney operation could be carried out. We sent £250 and the operation was a success. We then left four post -dated monthly cheques, to pay for ongoing medicines and aftercare (average cheque £17.50).
We simply asked for receipts to be sent to us on a monthly basis and we would send a cheque each month.
However, we only ever received one receipt in four months, even after sending our friend, the taxi driver “Nimal” around to the home.
Sadly therefore, we had to stop sending money, as i cannot justify giving them money without a receipt.
Nimal our taxi driver has told me that Niroshan is well and therefore must now be receiving the neccessary medicines free of charge from another hospital.
The family has also asked if i could supply pipework and a pump in order to pump the water from the well to the house. I have not supplied them with any further funding but i will be visiting them in February this year. They are a large, poor family and i will possibly help with food and/or clothes when i visit. Should anyone, however, still decide they want to help Niroshan and family specifically, then your money will only be used for that purpose.
However, without our initial funding, the operation may well have not taken place, so we have already made a huge difference to this young boy’s life.
Samina
We send out an extra 1000 rupees (£4.70) per month to help with food for Samina. We have had lots of contact and we personally ( myself, Deb & Aimee) have sent out presents for birthdays and Christmas.
Nimal, our taxi driver, has been assisting us trying to obtain a copy of Samina’s birth certificate, as without it, she would not be able to attend school. Samina now has an official letter which allows her to attend school while awaiting to receive the birth certificate. (it has probably been received by now).
“Shoes for Children” This will be our main project again as it is so rewarding. It helps so many children for a small amount of money. Last year, we helped over 450 children and hopefully we would like to help a similar amount again. This project has proved to be so rewarding,with many of the children wearing shoes for the very first time.
Udumalla Village
This small village is where Samina lives. There are approximately ten houses and roughly the same amount of small children. Hopefully, if we have enough money, we would like to buy school uniforms and shoes, to encourage the children to attend school every day.
Water Well (Udumalla Village)
Should the land owners decide they will sell at a fair price, i will start the process to purchase land. Once purchased, to arrange to sink a well. ( Once i have read up on well building) This is another project i will complete as soon as funds and time allows. Last year the landowners could not agree or were asking for too much.
Horigampita School
This is one superb school but, unfortunately has no facilities or books etc. As it is situated approximately 20kms inland, it was not affected by the Tsunami. However, as it is out in the sticks, the main employment is farming and the wages are very low. I am really determined to help this school over the coming years.This school really does have an air of enthusiasm for learning and once we obtain our goals, hundreds of children will benefit for many years.
I hope as soon as funds become available, to put a computer classroom together. I will be purchasing second hand equipment in Sri Lanka. Computers ideally need to run in Singaleese as well as English. £1000 will set up a ten computer classroom (used machines and computers are quite expensive over here) Not sure if the school will be able to afford the internet connection, however, there is a huge amount that can be accessed from disks and the childrens educaton would benefit enormously.
Also, i have collected books from St Helens Schools, but due to business commitments, i have been unable to organise shipping as yet, so i will sort out all details while i am there and ship the books over when i come back to the U.K.
Probably the most astonishing fact of last year, was an email I received in October. We had a letter from Horigampita school saying that they had received more applications to join their school than ever before. The reason why, - “some crazy Welshman had walked in and bought a pair of shoes for each child”. I had not, at this point, promised any further help. So it appears that a £3.00 pair of shoes could educate a child for a year.
Immensely satisfying and yet very sad at the same time. Apart from the above we do buy food and clothes for some of the poorer families.
We do not interfere with any religous beliefs or way of life but, where possible, we insist that children attend school regularly, if they want us to continue trying to help them. We firmly believe that educaton is the best way to to a more secure future.
So far in the two previous years “together” we have achieved the following:
- A new Brick built home for The Lounaris family.
- Furnished the above home.
- Paid for electricity to be connected.
- Put funding in place to pay for milk and food for Samina.
- Bought new beds, pot, pans etc.
- Purchased bicycle.
- Purchased many new clothes for Samina and Niroshan and families.
- Put the funding in place so that Niroshan’s operation could be carried out.
- Purchased approx 450 pairs of shoes.
- Purchased 50 School starter packs ( uniform books rucksack etc)
- Purchased food parcels.
- Put funding in place to help three children learn the English language.
- Bought approx 70 writing books and pens to help small nursery.
- Helped many other people.
Special thanks to the Teachers and especially the children at St Helens Infant School for their continuing support. Shoud you prefer not to receive our updated letters in future, please let us know, as it is only sent to the people who have supported my projects, or have requested updates. Should you have an email address please let me know and i will send by email, which is far more environmentally friendly.
As we have mentioned previously, all running costs are paid for by ourselves i.e stamps, letters, printing etc do not come out of any donations. Please do not feel you have to support us.
If however, you wish to continue to help, we are leaving on the 14th February 2008, for a two week visit.
Please make cheques payable to: HAT FOUNDATION
This year, myself, Deb, Aimee and her friend Nicola, will be visiting, so if i can ease them off the sunbed my job will be easier and perhaps i could do some serious diving.
Many thanks, once again
Cavan A Sullivan
View the full report here.
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