School Development
The demand for the Pre School is high. At present we have 45 preschool
students studying in our establishment but for the year 2006 we have received 108 applications from the Tsunami victims. In order to satisfy the
increasing demand we are building a larger classroom which is scheduled to
be completed by 2006. This classroom will accommodate 100 preschool
children. The preschool is our priority and we are doing a lot of hard
work to ensure the smooth running of the preschool. First group of eleven
preschool students are finishing their preschool education at the end year
2005 and joining the primary schools. We wish those children bright future.
The computer school also has a high demand. Twenty students have completed
a computer course in Microsoft office and they will be awarded a
certificates by the PIN Foundation for their achievements
School activities
The Child and Youth Development had the year end concert by the preschool
children with participation of large number of gathering including parents.
The Chief Guest was Mr. K Wijethunga Director General of Water Board of Sri
Lanka who was instrumental in providining the water supply to the centre
was the chief guest. The event was very colorful with may items from
preschool children. The academic achievement certificates were awarded to
children who completed the computer course. Eleven children received the
preschool academic certificates since they are leaving for primary schools
at the beginning of the 2006.
New Project - Boossa Family Home
Our plan is to set up a Children's Orphanage in Boossa. Over 1000 children
were orphaned and left homeless after the Tsunami disaster, most of whom
are still living in temporary shelters and others with relatives. No plans
have been made for them on a long term basis. PINF plan is to adopt around
10-15 children and provide care for them by simulating a near-home
environment. We believe it is important to provide homely care for these
children who've experienced such a great trauma so early in their lives. We
believe that by providing this sort of care we can restore their lives as
close to normalcy as possible.
Library
From its humble beginnings with a collection of only 50 books, our library
now has 1600 books, 500 of which were donated by the Asia Foundation. Our
plan is to expand our collection to provide better facilities for our
children. We have both reference Library and the Lending Library which help
the poor children in their education. Large number of Tsunami children
utilizes the facilities of the Library.
Volunteers
Large numbers of volunteers visited Child and Youth Development Centre,
since its inception. Volunteers from all over the world are visiting the
centre.
Volunteers from other countries can experience another culture like never
before, while working side-by-side with local people in a fascinating
region of the world. The model for our Volunteer Abroad program is designed
to help each international volunteer make the most of his or her experience
of volunteering abroad. It is a unique international volunteer experience
As part of the Volunteer Abroad program, we provide all the individual
attention needed to help each volunteer integrate into his or her local
setting and work placement, while providing the flexibility necessary to
meet individual needs. We have Voluntary work for your young volunteers
such as school children and other youngsters too.
Visitors
Large number of dignitaries visited the centre. Minister of Social affaires
Mrs. Sumeda Jayasena visited and Prof Harendra Silva, Chairman of National
Child protection Authority They are very supportive of the school. Prof
Silva helps with Health Education programs and Children's Right programs.
Chief of Hope for children UK , Mr. Bob Parson visited the centre. He was
very impressed and extended their support.Mr. Lalth Weeratunga Secretary to
Hon President visited the centre.
Group of school girls from Meuseous College in Colombo visited the school
and spent the day with the poor children.A organization called "cousins"
visited the centre and spent the day with children.
Pen-pal partnership programs
The child and Youth Development centre has been involved in a Pen-pal
project with the middle school in PA, USA organized by Town Gown
International Partnership Foundation of USA.
Water Supply
In the beginning, we did not have pipe-borne water. Our source of water was
a well located on the premises which could not supply adequate water for
the Child and Youth Development Centre. The UNICEF office sponsored the
laying of the pipe-line from Galle, a town many miles from the Child and
Youth Development Centre. Although this was done free-of-charge as it was
facilitated by the UNICEF, we had to pay for the water supply after the
connection was established. We are extremely grateful to the UNICEF for
their part in this charity project.
Construction
An additional classroom for the pre-school is currently under construction.
The foundation has already been laid and the walls are done up to roof
level and it is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2006 intake of
students. This classroom will accommodate a further 100 pre-school
children. The construction work is given to a poor local man who himself
was a victim of the Tsunami.
Our Vision
Our aim is to expand our project to a Charity Village in this region, which
was ravaged by the tsunami.
The charity village comprises of
- Community Centre with a free Preschool, Computer school, English
School, Art and Culture and Library
- Family Home for orphaned children
We have already started working towards our goal.
Our vision is to ensure that the "little victims" are taken care of on a
long term basis.
Restoring peoples' lives back to normalcy is no easy task. Though the
tsunami devastated the region in a matter of minutes, to get the people
back on their feet is going to take a lot of time and effort from the
government, NGOs and charity programs.
It is important that we do not forget that these people still need help
even though its been almost a year since the disaster. The popular saying "out of sight, is out of mind" shouldn't be true in this case. Even though
the rubble is cleared and other physical evidence of the disaster is
removed, the psychological scars will not disappear that easily. These will
prevail and it is up charity organizations like us to help them rebuild
their lives.
We believe that by providing a sound education for these victims we can
ensure that they have a good future. A future with a Hope.
