Sri Lanka in our Heart - project support for a school in Pallepole Kandy

Go to " WATER FOR HUNUGALA " (2011)
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" A cow for Sri Lanka ", our project in Pallepola (2009 - 2010)
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The school in Pallepola

September 2010 : The playground is ready

June 2010 : Sports manifestation at school

May 2010 : Images of New Year and quotation for the playground

February 2010 : Reconstruction of the playground

November - December 2009 : Building a smalll pavillion

August - September 2009 : Finalisation of the sanitary facilities

March 2009 : Visit of the school

September - October 2008 : The sanitary facilities are built

July 2008 : Start of the construction

June 2008 : Validation of the sanitary infrastructure

April 2008 : Floorplans for the sanitary infrastructure

November 2007: Slowly... but surely

August 2007 : details on the sanitary facilities project

July 2007 : New project : Sanitary infrastructure and water supply

March 2007 : the library is fully furnished

June 2006 :the library building is finished

April 2006 : start of the renovation of the library

Our project : School in Pallepola, Matale (near Kandy)

Organisation

Origin of « Sri Lanka in our Heart »

September 2010 : The playground is ready

Around mid-September, we receive an email from the school : the playground is ready. All toys are installed and as you can see in the pictures, they are well used.

June 2010 : Sports manifestation at school

Mid-June we receive some pictures of a sports manifestation which was held at school. And again the small pavillion served the purpose, it really becomes a multifunctional building.

May 2010 : Images of New Year and quotation for the playground

After a short 'silent' period, the communication started again. We received an email in late May with some pictures of the New Year celebration at school.
In early April, the committee, along with teachers and former teachers, organized a school party for New Year.
This year, New Year was celebrated in Sri Lanka from March 30 until April 1. For the festivities, they used the small pavilion that was built end of last year (see November-December 2009). Here are some pictures.

Quotation for the playground

In the same email we received the quotation for the playground. The committee plans for the purchase of seven toys and the installation of a fence.
The purchase and installation will be done by a company (Sujee Hood Rack Ironworks) from Matale, the first town near our village of Pallepola.

February 2010 : Reconstruction of the playground

As a new school project for 2010, we agreed to reconstruct the playground. Since the first time we saw it, the playground looked neglected. In the meantime there is not more left than some rusty tubes and some wooden beams. This is how the playground looked like end of 2009 :

With the principal and the committee we agreed to buy some new toys. On our demand the committee sent some pictures to give an idea of what would like to have. Yhe playground will be constructed in the same area as it is today, close to the classes of the youngest pupils.

The next step will be to make a plan of what can effectively be installed. Then a supplier will have to be found who will submit a quotation.

November - December 2009 : building a small pavillion

After finalising the sanitary blocks, works started to build a small pavillion. This will serve as a waiting area for parents coming to pick up their children after school. It will also be a rest place for parents who help the school with maintenance tasks, for instance painting the classrooms. When we visited the school in December, the works were almost finished.

August - September 2009 : Finalisation of the sanitary facilities

End of July we received, as agreed, the quotation for the final stage of the sanitary blocks : tiles, urinals and washbasins will be bought and some mirrors will be installed.
If all goes well, the works should be finalised by end of September.

Beginning of September we receive the first pictures.

On September 25 we receive some more pictures : everything is installed. Apparently the building needs to be cleaned, and some painting would be welcome. We're glad that this project has come to a good end.

March 2009 : Visit of the school

Beginning of March, Family Vyvey visits the village and the school.
They visit the children of each grade. Just like at previous occasions, the children of the first grade have learned a short song. All children receive some balloons, colouring pencils, a measuring rod and a piece of soap.

In one of the classes, the children learn about cows and are making a drawing.

During the visit, the children receive a glass of milk, a first for the school, and a candy which they eat very slowly. Some find the taste of milk strange : when they have milk at home, it is mostly based on milk powder.

The construction of the sanitary blocks has been postponed, there is lack of money.
The 2 buildings are finished, 2 septic tanks have been built, and on the domain we see 3 water taps.

Part of the allocated budget has been used to buy 2 big water tanks, one on the roof of the sanitary buildings and one more centrally on the domain.

The classrooms have been fitted with metal fences. Before this installation, all classrooms were always wide open, and if there was a door, still the windows were open.

Due to these additionnal installations, we need to review the sanitary project.
A new quotation will be prepared for the final stage, mainly consisting of the ‘porcelain’ finishing : wall tiles, urinals and washbasins.

September - October 2008 : The sanitary facilities are built

Around mid-September, we receive a short email : the works are well underway, the building works are finalised. In the meantime the floor tiles have been bought. Here's a picture of the outer walls under construction.

In October, we receive some more pictures.

July 2008 : Start of the construction

On July 21 we receive an email : following the approval from the Ministry of Education, the necessary material for the construction has been ordered. The works will start in August during the school holidays.
Sending pictures is a problem apparently due to file size. We have insisted on receiving some pictures, the necessary will be done.

On July 30 we receive a progress report with some pictures. Here's the first one, others will follow. The preparation works are starting.

June 2008 : Validation of the sanitary infrastructure

End of June we learn that the floorplans have been validated by the Ministry of Education.
The sanitary infrastructure project started in August 2007, when together with the school commission we took the decision.
It took some months (until February 2008) before the plans were drawn and the quotations were received. Partly because the local authorities need to execute certain connections and give their authorisation.
The final plans were submitted to the Ministry, which approved the project in June. If the works are started now and if nothing else interferes, this project will have taken somewhat more than a year to be finalised.

April 2008 : Floorplans for the sanitary infrastructure

During the visit of one of our families we received confirmation on the ongoing projects. The approval of the internet connection is obtained and the plans for the sanitary infrastructure are finalised. The floorplans need to be validated by the Ministry of Education and then the construction works can finally start. The necessary time is estimated at 3 months.

The principal receives a small digital camera. In combination with the internet connection we hope to receive some news and pictures from the school, the works and the village on a more regular basis.

During their stay, the family handed over a whole parcel of coloured pencils.

Children from a school in Zele donate some of their own coloured pencils to the children in Pallepola. A small gesture which generated a lot of happy smiling faces !!

In 2008-2009 we will enlarge our contribution to the whole community through the realisation of our new project "A cow for Sri Lanka". Each of the 75 poorest families sending their children to the school will receive 2 dairy cows. This will guarantee a portion of stable income through the sale of milk. Read more here.

It goes without saying that we will continue to support the school in the improvement of their infrastructure. Since the inauguration in March of last year additional orders of books have been completed. The bookshelves are really filled now.

November 2007 : Slowly... but surely

Around mid-August, we received information on the internet connection and the sanitary installation. For both there was a quotation, the plan for the sanitary facilities was still missing. The internet connection was approved immediately and the money was transferred. No news since then.

Until mid-November, when we received another letter : nothing has been done yet. The bank account we use s the fficial one of the school. Any expense must be validated by the authorities, in this case the Zonal Director of Education. And apparently this takes quite some time. On one hand we appreciate that there is control (which we knew from the start) but it is hard to understand why it needs to take so long.

Well, we would love to see things move more quickly, but we need to take into account the local situation. Hopefully we'll receive some positive news soon, both on the internet connection as on the sanitary facilities.

August 2007 : Details on the sanitary facilities project

In July we approved the sanitary facilities and water supply project. By mid-August we received a letter from the school presenting a cost estimate. The connection to the water network requires an intervention from the municipality, which partly explains the delay in our communication.

Apart from the sanitary project, the school board insists on the installation of an internet connection. We were not really in favour of this, as it is not directly beneficial for the children and other needs appear to be more urgent and important. Nevertheless we asked for a cost estimate in order to ascertain the impact. All in all, the cost is reasonable : the purchase of a computer, printer, fax (optional) and the installation of an internet connection amounts to some 700 Euro.
Based on the slowness of our communication today, we approve this request. Hoping of course that thanks to this internet connection we will benefit from more efficient email communication.

The sanitary project is composed of 2 elements : building the sanitary facilities and the connection to the water network.

The sanitary building will provide toilets and bidets for the boys, the girls and for the school staff.

The connection to the water network will be dealt with in cooperation with the municipality. A major part of the costs are composed of mandatory contributions and municipal taxes. Second big cost will be the purchase of a water tank.

Thanks to this letter, the sanitary project can now really start.

July 2007 : New project : Sanitary infrastructure and water supply

It has been quiet for some time now. After the inauguration of the library at the end of January, we made an overview of the next phases in the project. As you can learn from the other paragraphs, the school will need some more interventions.

Here in the West, hygiene is high on the list of primary needs. This goes for Sri Lanka as well, but there the reality is different : there is a lack of infrastructure, there is no running water everywhere. In many villages, people depend on the local river for their daily hygiene.

After some exchanges, the decision is taken : we will work together to improve the sanitary installations and water supply in the school. And this will require some more preparation and planning ahead.

Together with our local contacts we are examining the possibilities. As soon as we have more news, we will certainly inform you.

March 2007 : the library is fully furnished

The 'wine and greeting cards sale' we organised end 2006 enables us to further help the school with the library and to look out for the next phase.
Closed metal closets have been installed in the library part where the books are stored. The reading room next door is equipped with new tables and chairs.

A first part of the books has been ordered and received. A next order is underway.

End of January, a family visited the school in Pallepola. For the school, this was the right occasion to officially open the library. For certain groups in Sri Lanka, astrology is quite important. The library was officially opened on January 24 at 10:31 am exactly, in the presence of some buddhist monks.

After some speeches by the headmaster, the former headmaster and a pupil, the visiting family had the honor of opening the reading room. Which at the same time was the start of a short opening reception.

The "Sri Lanka in our Hearts FRIENDSHIP LIBRARY" is now officially open.

We made another step in the renovation of the school.

Together with the headmaster the family visited the entire school : some of the classrooms, the laboratory, the computer room, the small playground. Together the further phases of renovation were discussed : sanitary facilities, water supply, refurbishing of classrooms, building a real computer room, internet access,...
The library was a first step which allowed everyone involved to live and appreciate this cooperation.
There is still a lot of work to do, and together with the adoptive parents and the contact people in Sri Lanka a longer term planning is now being elaborated.

Hereafter you will find some more pictures from the school and its actual facilities.

The computer room, for the time being just some PC's.

Some classrooms

The small playground

Water supply

June 2006 : the library building is finished

The renovation of the library building is finished. Here are the first pictures sent by the school's headmaster.

The headmaster in the room before the works...

...and the same room after the renovation.

The books will be available in a separate closed part in the back of the library. The other space will be furnished as a reading room. The room has 2 entries, one door for each compartment. Both spaces have 2 windows.

Back and front side of the building

April 2006 : start of the renovation of the library

The first 'wine and greeting cards sale' of december 2005 was a true success. Thanks to the efforts of the families and your generosity, a first instalment for the project could be executed. This money will be used for the renovation of the library building and reading room. A small 12m x 12m building will set up for this. The school's headmaster send a quotation and manages the execution.

Our project : a School in Pallepola, Matale (near Kandy)

The school was founded in 1941 in a very poor neighbourhood. It holds 11 classrooms for some 200 children aged between 6 and 16. The infrastructure is pretty basic : some wobbly benches, a cupboard and a blackboard. There is almost no didactical material except for some old maps. Books, both school books as picture books or books to learn English, are not available. The sanitary facilities are inadequate. And finally the playground needs to get a thorough turnout.

This school drew our attention, and we will work in phases in order to get it up to standards.
First we will deal with the library : the renovation of a room which will hold the books and a reading room. Next it will need to be furnished and books will have to be bought. In a later stage, the sanitary facilities will be upgraded and the playground will be rebuilt.

All works are executed by local people under the supervision of a local contact person. All materials are also sourced locally.

Organisation

We aim at limiting working costs in order to dedicate a maximum of the funds to the project.

We cooperate closely with the "VZW Adoptie Sri Lanka" founded by Mr. Gaston Dillen. “Sri Lanka in our Heart” is a regional division of “Adoptie Sri Lanka vzw”.

This association has activities in financial adoption and supports humanitarian projects. These projects are managed and followed up both from Belgium as in Sri Lanka. Mr. Dillen has local contact persons who follow the different projects. Mr. Dillen was willing to help us by proposing the administrative support from his association. This way, we avoid costs for personnel, administration, travel or other working costs. The association is authorized to edit fiscal attestations for gifts above 30 Euro.

Together with Mr. Dillen, it was decided that "Sri Lanka in our Heart" will manage the project of a school in Pallepola (Matale) near Kandy. Thanks to this cooperation we profit from the existing infrastructure and at the same time we bear full responsibility for our own project

All families from the group of adoptive parents contribute on a voluntary basis. Among others through the handicrafts shop by selling local products from Sri Lanka at ver affordable prices. Many of these products are purchased by the parents during their stay in Sri Lanka. The handicrafts shop is present at local events such as school parties, local markets,... For more info, check under 'Handicrafts shop'.

Further to this shop, we organise a 'Wine and greeting cards sale' by the end of the year. The families locally promote the action in their region and are ready to take your orders. Every order is delivered in time, in order to make the end of the year an agreable moment with a little attention to those who are less fortunate.

Last but not least, some associations spontaneously propose to organise an event in favour of "Sri Lanka in our Heart". Cultural associations and sports clubs regularly organise an event and help us support our school project. Do you have an idea or a proposal ? Tellus about it and we will promote your activity through this website and our mailing list. Use the form under 'Contact us'.

Origin of « Sri Lanka in our Heart »

A group of adoptive parents with children from Sri Lanka meets on a regular basis. This group of friends wants to be a meeting place for Belgian and Dutch families with children from Sri Lanka. For the children it is nice to meet other children from their country of origin and hopefully to lay the basis for lasting friendship.

From within this group of friends stems the foundation of "Sri Lanka in our Heart". The idea to support smaller scale project lived for some time and became concrete after the tsunami of December 26, 2004. Through "Sri Lanka in our Heart" we can support projects which are not looked after by bigger relief organisations.