An Appeal for IDP orphans at
Sivan Arul Illam in Mannar, Sri Lanka October 2009  The International Medical Health Organization (IMHO) intends to facilitate the support of 30 recently orphaned children in Mannar, Sri Lanka Appeal on behalf of Sivan Arul Illam, a registered charitable orphanage in Sri Lanka BACKGROUND On the premises of the Thirukketheeswaram Temple in Mannar, Sri Lanka, Sivan Arul Illam Trust has a registered orphanage for 110 destitute children. Comprised of both a boys and a girls home, the orphanage was established in 2005, soon after the devastation of the December 2004 tsunami. Sivan Arul Illam Trust functions independently as a humanitarian organization and has been very actively engaged in many humanitarian projects in Sri Lanka, particularly following the recent war in the North and East of Sri Lanka.
CURRENT NEED During the latter part of July 2009, 70 children (ages 18 months-12 years old) who lost their parents in the recent war in Sri Lanka arrived at Sivan Arul Illam from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. Seven female caretakers, who had worked with them in the IDP camps, accompanied them when they arrived. Over the course of the last few weeks, these children have settled in to a welcoming home environment at Sivan Arul Illam, largely due to the love and care of the home staff and the friendship of the children who have been at the home over the last four years. The needs of these children are varied, but allowing them to settle in at the home has returned a much needed Contact sense of normalcy to their lives. IMHO PO Box 61265 Staten Island, New York 10306 United States www.theimho.org Questions? Donations? Call (718) 667-3535 or email treasurer@theimho.org
Sivan Arul Illam provides a much needed home to these young IDP children; help support them today! Home Life at Sivan Arul Illam The ages of the110 children who now call Sivan Arul Illam home range from 18 months-16 years of age. A total of 12 staff now care the children. Those children who are of age attend the local Gowri Ambal Govt. School, which has classes up to Standard 10. At Sivan Arul Illam, there is a heavy focus on education. The Trust has built a music room, an IT room, and a science laboratory for the school. UNICEF has pledged to help with improving the buildings of the school and to provide sports facilities. They provide regular tuition classes for the children, along with regular dance, vocal music, and violin lessons as extracurricular activities. There are facilities for the youth to play cricket and football, as well as a TV room. During free time, the caretakers read books for the children. The children were given a new set of clothes and other accessories, as well as a bed, study desk, and chair. The children have a nutritious, balanced diet, and a medical officer who visits the home three times a week monitors their health. The home staff maintains a growth chart for each child and checks on dental and personal hygiene. All the children were given worm treatment on arrival. Each day all children are given a glass of milk and seasonal fruits, and they are provided with vitamin supplements.
Future Plans The directors of the Sivan Arul Illam Trust are planning to buy a vehicle in order to transport the children for academic tuition classes. They are also planning to build a meditation hall (Thiyana Mandapam), which can be used by the children for various purposes. Additionally, the home staff will continue to assist the rehabilitation facility at Mannar District Hospital, to which IMHO already donated $13,350 to purchase therapy equipment earlier this year.
IMHO’s Commitment IMHO has made a commitment to help facilitate the support of 30 of these IDP orphans for a period of 1-year for private donors wishing to sponsor a child (or children). Donations can be made to IMHO via check, PayPal, or direct debit. All donations are tax-deductible. Any donors seeking more information may contact IMHO or Sivan Arul Illam directly at sivanarulillam@gmail.com. Please visit www.TheIMHO.org/donate for more information and instructions. Thank you for your generosity and support!
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