Galenbindunuwewa Fields of Gold
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National Director’s Message Today is a special day for both World Vision and the people of Galenbindunuwewa as it marks the closure of our Area Development Programme (ADP) and the end of a long and enriching journey.
1996.Malnutrition statistics of children under-five indicate a significant improvement with those underweight reducing from 62% in 2000 to 21.1%, stunting from 24% to 19.8% and wasting reducing from 57% to 37.7%.
This long term (15 years) development programme is unique to World Vision, whereby the poorest and the most disadvantaged communities are empowered and transformed. Children are the primary focus of our programme where every opportunity is provided to ensure a brighter future for them and through them their families and communities are also touched.
The progress in the education sector is also encouraging. The attendance of pre-school students has risen from 70% in 1996 to 92% today, whilst the attendance of primary school students is 100% indicating that the drop-out rate which was 16% in 1996 is now zero – a proud achievement indeed.
We have reached the end of a successful journey of transformation and development over the last 15 years. Since 1996, in partnership with the community, World Vision has conducted a range of initiatives in the key sectors of Education, Health & Nutrition, Water & Sanitation, and Economic Development in Galenbindunuwewa. Today, as we prepare to leave Galenbindunuwewa, we do so with the satisfaction that we leave behind an empowered community with enhanced capacities. Together with our partners, we have brought a renewed sense of hope for many of the children, families and communities in the region. Most families now have access to clean drinking water, children are now back in school and enjoying better health and nutrition. Children have a space for their talents and voice and families have better housing and sustainable livelihoods. In 1996, only 47% of the population had access to safe drinking water but today that figure has risen to an impressive 91.8%. Usage of water sealed toilet facilities has improved from just 29% to 96 %.The average family income levels have increased threefold and 64.6% of families now have accumulated savings.
It is our fervent hope that the empowered communities in Galenbindunuwewa will take ownership for their continued development and be able to sustain the progress made todate. The success of our programme in Galenbindunuwewa was due to the support we received from all our stakeholders including Government Ministries Local Provincial Government, Divisional Secretaries, Government Agents, our sponsors, donors from Japan, our partners and the communities themselves. Our sincere thanks go out to all of them. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the dedicated efforts of our staff that have faithfully served the communities in Galenbindunuwewa over the years to bring about the significant transformation we see today.
...children are now back in school and enjoying better health and nutrition.
The income level of all families within the programme has increased appreciably with some incomes showing fourfold increase. A major feature has been the increase in the land under cultivation with over 4200 acres of agricultural land being cultivated today as compared to only 900 acres in
SURESH BARTLETT | National Director | World Vision Lanka 3
Operations Director’s Message I am pleased to send this message on the occasion of the closure of our Area Development Programme (ADP) in Galenbindunuwewa Gelenbindunuwewa was identified as one of the poorest and least developed areas in Sri Lanka and it was due to this reason that World Vision decided to work in the region. World Vision began its work in Galenbindunuwewa in 1996 and over the last 15 years we have had the privilege to partner with the communities to pursue a shared goal of better livelihood, health and education for the men, women and children of the Galenbindunuwewa ADP. Together with the communities we have engaged in projects focusing on education, health and nutrition, economic development and water and sanitation – sectors identified by the community as priority areas for improvement.
We believe it is the community that provides leadership and is the ultimate driving force behind sustainable development...
We believe it is the community that provides leadership and is the ultimate driving force behind sustainable development and it is World Vision’s role to work alongside them in partnership to help these communities realize their shared dreams. The overall student attendance at school has increased appreciably and the creation of 33 child societies and a child federation had presented children the opportunity to learn about self governance, leadership and the power of their unified voice in addressing social issues. In the health sector World Vision partnered with the Ministry of Health to provide health awareness on water borne diseases, dengue and general awareness of good health and hygiene practices and community access to government facilities. Linked to health is clean water for proper hygiene and sanitation purposes. Over 500 families benefited from five major water projects which bring pipe borne water to their homes. These projects are community driven with water and sanitation committees formed by local leadership responsible for maintaining the systems and continuing awareness around proper water usage. On behalf of World Vision Lanka, I wish to express our sincere thanks to Divisional Secretary and staff, MOH and staff, Director of Education, School Principals and their staff and all our many stakeholders whose support has helped improve the lives of the children and their communities in Galenbindunuwewa.
SAGARA GAMAGE | Group Director | Operations 4
ADP Manager’s Message It has been a great privilege to be a part of the life changing journey of children and their families of Galenbindunuwewa Area Development Programme. It brings joy and satisfaction as we see the transformation that has taken place in the lives of the people in Galenbindunuwewa. They started this journey in 1996 with World Vision which resulted in lasting memories, lessons learned; positive changes and shared lives with others. This long term development programme is one of the pioneering ADPs whereby the underprivileged and marginalized communities are empowered and transformed in selected Grama Niladhari Divisions of Galenbindunuwewa Divisional Secretariat Division. The ADP has focused its intervention in education, health, water and sanitation and economic development. Children’s education is valued and ensured; children are protected and enjoying good health, the income of the farmers is improved and they are engaged in alternative income sources. Aadequate infrastructure facilities are improved, communities are strengthened and empowered with CBOs, and networks with government & other institutions are established and strengthened. Children and their families now live in hope for a bright tomorrow. I would like to acknowledge the generosity of our sponsors who extended their helping hands unconditionally to those unseen recipients since then. We all appreciate the support of all our other partners – government and nongovernment- who collaborated with WV’s development efforts to ensure the success of our programmes.
This is a story of sharing with the less fortunate. It’s about giving unconditionally. It’s about giving hope for the hopeless. It’s about caring for others. It’s about being a voice to the voiceless. It’s about mercy & love. May the blessings be with the children and their families of Galenbindunuwewa ADP and continue to make their dreams a reality. It is our hope, wish and prayer that every child will enjoy life in all its fullness.
Children’s education is valued and ensured; children are protected and enjoying good health, income of the farmers is improved and they are engaged in alternative income sources...
The dedication and commitment of all our partners together with WV staff that contributed their best in serving the poor and oppressed in this ADP for last fifteen years will always be remembered with love and gratitude.
SURESH VIRAJ ABEYSEKERA BARTLETT | National ADP Manager Director | Galenbindunuwewa | World Vision Lanka 5
GALENBINDUNUWEWA Galenbindunuwewa (lake-built-on-rock) is situated in the Anuradhapura District, North Central Sri Lanka. The community that lives here depended mainly on agriculture for their living which is fed by the rain and the tank irrigation. But due to insufficient rainfall, irrigation was needed even during the wet season. Galenbindunuwewa had a high rate of poverty and was poor in both physical and social infrastructure. The lack of roads isolated the community and made it difficult for them to access basic social services. Less than 47% of the population had access to safe drinking water and less than 29% had access to toilets. Water borne diseases were widespread among children and the rate of malnutrition among pre school children in the project area was 42 percent. World Vision commenced its Area Development Programme in Galenbindunuwewa in 1996, concentrating its work in 10 Grama Niladhari (Village Headmen) Divisions and expanded up to 21 divisions in 2002.The Programme focused mainly on Education, Health and Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, and Economic Development. Today,World Vision leaves Galenbindunuwewa with pride and joy for the transformation that has come over the once vulnerable community. The School are filled with students, children grow in health, there’s clean water for everyone and enough water for every cultivation field, a safe house for every family and a stable income for the parents, children discover their hidden talents and young leaders are born and people participate in the decision makings of their community.
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Project Map
WV Programme Area (1996) WV Programme Area (2001) Non-WV Programme Area
183 Galwaduwagama 181 Muriyakadawala 182 Sivalakulama 189 Hurulu Jayapura 161 Kudagalenbindunuwewa 160 Thammannagama 159 Mailagaswewa 157 Himbutugollawa 156 Konwewa 155 Upuldeniya 178 Ellawewa 179 21 West 158 Upathgama 163 Ihalagama
164 Ilukbadayagama 190 Yaya –5 184 Manankattiya 185 Yakalla 186 Sunanda Mawatha 188 21 East
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A ‘MAIZE-ING’ GRACE Galenbindunuwewa is an agriculture community. Paddy cultivation was the livelihood of a majority of families, but they also had a patch of maize (corn) that produced just enough for home consumption and a little extra to feed the animals. “Some of us had about an acre but we never cultivated more than that,” says Anura Rathnayake, “We used the traditional seeds that produced around 500 kg per acre. We sold the excess for about 8 – 12 rupees a kilo”. “When World Vision first tried to introduce new seeds for maize cultivation we were very reluctant. But they encouraged us to plant them with our own seeds and see the difference,” he says. In partnership with PRIMA Ceylon a pioneer company for flour milling, World Vision provided the farmers high quality seeds (Pacifc-999) and skills and knowledge training.The harvest was so bountiful that their houses ran out of space to store the crop. “The harvest was unbelievable. I reaped between 2500 – 3000 kg from my acre,” says Rathnayake, “All most all the families began to cultivate maize for their living from then on.” No one cultivates less than 2 acres of maize now. Rathnayake cultivates eight acres. Prima made an agreement with the community to buy their produce. They also provided them with knowledge on improving and maintaining a high quality of their produce. “Today we sell a kilo for about Rs. 40/- and Prima has given us the opportunity to sell the produce if we get a higher bid,” says Suranji, a community member,“World Vision built us a store house with a storage capacity of thirty tons. Every year we store around 400,000 kg of the best maize produce to be
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marketed in the off season for a higher price.” The store house is now managed by the World Vision established Partner Organisation who buys the stock from the farmers at a high price.The profit they receive from selling the crop during off season is used in return for the welfare of children and families. The best quality maize production in Sri Lanka today comes from these 44 villages in Galenbindunuwewa where World Vision had their Area Development Programme. They gather a 3 million-kilo harvest every season. PRIMA continues to provide them with the best quality seeds for cultivation and many other small companies too have become their clients providing them with benefits of fertilizers and seeds. “I cultivate 8 acres today,” says Rathnayake, “Maize is also much easier to cultivate and less disappointments. Because of the store house we have a fixed price for our production and it has made all of us economically stable. I earn around Rs. 600, 000/- per season.” The store house also received a grinding machine from World Vision and is used for animal food production to supply Milco. Community’s next aim is to be a supplier for Samaposha, a delicious and popular nutritious food supplement manufactured by Ceylon Biscuits Company in Sri Lanka.
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EVERY STEP OF THE WAY… Nishanthi is home for her school holidays. She is in her final year at the Teacher Training College and is working as a trainee teacher in a school in Katugastota, Kandy over 160 km away from home. Although 50 little students pack her primary class, education was a privilege and was hardly her right when she was their age. “My parents were farmers and could barely support the day-to-day needs of our family,” recalls Nishanthi, “My sister dropped out of school when she was sixteen and started working in a garment factory to support the family. She spent for my schooling and wanted me to continue. I strived to do my best in school because my sister sacrificed so much for me.” “During that time World Vision began to support children’s education in our village. We all received books, bags, uniforms and everything a child needed to continue their studies. I was so happy because now my sister could support my family more and look after herself too,” she says. “We even received study assistance classes for subjects we were weak in and had an English class too. It was a dream to learn English in a village like this,” says Nishanthi. She excelled in her studies always obtaining the first or the second position in class.
But more than any of these things what Nishanthi treasures the most is the care she felt from the World Vision staff. “World Vision supported me when I had to undergo heart surgery and they were with me every step of the way, travelling with me and my family to the hospital and back. I can’t forget the day I returned home after the surgery. Saminda Sir carried my bag from the vehicle to my house. I felt really cared for,” says Nishanthi, tears filling her eyes. Nishanthi hopes to return to her village school to teach there some day. She wants to see every child in her village continue to get through school and achieve their dreams. The education project also provided scholarships for the poorest of the poor children and catered to the needs within the education system in the area of sanitation facilities, library facilities and infrastructure. An IT centre was built in a school to give easy access to children in the area and the teachers were provided with IT training. World Vision worked closely with the Ministry of Education to raise the education standard in Galenbindunuwewa.
“I can’t think of anything World Vision hasn’t given us,” she says, “Our sanitation has been improved with water-sealed toilets, the irrigation systems for our paddy fields, there are clinics that are held every week in our village and we don’t have to travel far for our medical needs, we’ve cultivated good health habits and awareness programmes have been conducted for the youth, we have access to Information Technology…What hasn’t World Vision given us?”
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THE FIELDS OF GOLD… The communities of Thodamaduwa and Galwaduwagama wrestled with harsh and unpredictable weather patterns, lack of water and many other challenges to sow and reap their paddy harvest.Although their paddy fields stretched as far as the eye could see only 398 acres of them could be cultivated. The main problem was water. They did not have a proper irrigation canal system to carry water to their fields. “We cut our own canals from the main irrigation, but it couldn’t feed all the fields,” says Gunasinghe a farmer from Thodamaduwa, “the canal that was there sometimes flowed over if there was rain and ruined the fields.The harvest was so unpredictable.” “We didn’t have any roads. We had to walk across each others’ fields to get to the main road. During harvesting time we had to wait till the people in the next fields finish cutting and binding their crop to take ours so that we wouldn’t trample and destroy their harvest,” says another farmer. “Sometimes we waited for days,” he says, “because there were no roads we couldn’t bring any agro machines or tractors to the field so everything took a lot of time.” With all these challenges they only reaped enough for their home consumption but hardly enough to get a good income that would help them buy seeds for the next season and buy a few extra things for their house and family. “World Vision renovated and built us a full irrigation canal system diverting water from the main canal and today we cultivate all 800 acres of land,” smiles Gunasinghe “Because of the agriculture roads they built, we are able to bring the latest machines to cut our harvest and the tractors to carry it. Before the sun goes down everything is completed.” Depending on the rainwater, they used to cultivate
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only one season per year, but today they cultivate both seasons. The bright green carpet of paddy fields few months ago have all turned golden now and the families are on the fields gathering and binding their harvest. Their laughter echoes in the wind. The whole area looks like a busy any colony. Different agro machines are at work cutting and winnowing and separating the good paddy into sacks, while the tractors load them and take them away. The irrigation system has also been extended to feed two more neighbouring villages. World Vision also provided five rice processing machines to the communities benefiting farmers in all 44 villages of the ADP.They no longer have to carry their paddy to town for cleaning. More than 300 agrowells, 110 rainwater harvesting tanks and ponds and 188 shallow wells built by World Vision have enabled the community to start cash crops such as onion and chillie. Four agriculture tanks have also been renovated.
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HOME GARDENING BRINGS NEW LIFE… Mathupala was a heavy drinker. He drank as hard as he worked. Every cent he earned as a daily labourer and every cent his wife earned working in cultivation fields he spent on alcohol. He hardly had enough money to keep his children in school or feed them. When World Vision included Mathupala’s family in its home gardening project for the most vulnerable families, no one in Mathupala’s village had any hope for him. They all thought it would be a waste. “But World Vision didn’t just teach me about home gardening,” he says, “The staff took time to talk to me inquiring about my children and advised me. It was their kind words and encouragement that helped me stop drinking.” As a return for the care he received he decided to give his best for the home garden.The garden which was mainly developed to ensure food security at home today has grown into 1 ½ acres of fruit and vegetables and gives him a good and a stable income. “It is such a great feeling to know that I can feed my family from the vegetables I myself have grown and to know that we can have three chemical-free, nutritious meals a day,” says Mathupala, “We have not bought a single vegetable from outside since we plucked our first vegetables from our garden. “I earned Rs. 200,000/- just by selling chillies last two months,” he says. ‘Daily labour’ are forgotten words for both Mathupala and his wife now. They moved from their broken house to a safe one built with the support of his daughters sponsor. Inspired by Mathupala’s change the sponsor visited
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them for their house-warming ceremony. Today he has given his daughter in marriage and his little grand daughter studies in a World Vision preschool. Spending time with her grandparents in the vegetable patches is one of little Sanduni’s favourite activities. Mathupala’s son too has taken after him and is into agriculture. The broad smile on Mathupala’s face speaks for the transformation he has had. He is a leader amongst the farmers now and is sought by others in his village for guidance and advice. “I never thought I could ever stand on my feet and I have no words to express the gratitude in my heart for World Vision and its dedicated staff,” he says.
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WORLD VISION – THROUGH THE EYES OF A NON SPONSORED CHILD… “Although I was not a sponsored child, I never felt the difference,” smiles Arosh (17).
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“For WorldVision, every child was special but the poorest of the poor children received extra support,” he says.
- we benefited from all the projects,” he says.For Arosh, World Vision’s child society holds a very special place in his heart.“Whether you are sponsored or not you could grow in the child society. We discover talents, grow in confidence and cultivate leadership qualities,” he says.
Arosh was only two-years old when World Vision came to his village. “I remember after I started school World Vision helped one of my very poor friends from the neighbourhood so that he could stay in school. I felt so happy. No one could help that family, but World Vision did.”
The once backward child was appointed to lead the children’s forum (represented by the 33 child societies) by children themselves. Today while giving leadership to the children in his community, he represents the children of Galenbindunuwewa at the district level and advocates for their issues and needs.
“World Vision cared about the health and nutrition of every child, we benefited from the library, the study assistance classes, the child societies. Our homes received water sealed toilets, families received water, our parents received new knowledge on agriculture and dairy farming
“I would have never had the chance to be there if not for the World Vision child society,” smiles the young leader, “The societies brought all of us children together and helped us be a part of the development of our village.”
CHILDREN’S WARD: WEALTH OF HEALTH Galenbindunuwewa Base Hospital is the only hospital to 44 villages.The next closest hospital was 52 km away. People of all ages, young and old came here for there medical needs.The space in the hospital was very limited and there was no place for children to receive residential treatment. “We had one hall divided into two with one side male patients and the other side female patients. When we had children who needed to stay in the hospital for treatment we had to accommodate them in the female section,” says M K Senevirathne, a nurse from the hospital. “But children catch diseases very quickly and it was not healthy to stay in the same ward as the adults. Also, a parent or a guardian has to stay with them and there was no space,” she says.
Today World Vision has provided the hospital with a spacious and fully equipped children’s ward with colourful-pictured walls. “This was an urgent need of the hospital and now the children can receive all the necessary treatment here,” says Senevirathne. The Health project of the Galenbindunuwewa Area Development Programme focused not only on improving the health systems by providing new equipment, water, electricity and infrastructure, but also on health awareness and empowerment. People are able to identify their health problems on their own now.The health officers were provided with necessary training and a group of volunteers have been trained at village level to assist them. World Vision has also gifted the community with a fully equipped dental unit and renovated four clinics providing them easy access to health care services every week. 17
NIROMA’S DREAM… Dressed in a white coat and with a stethoscope around her neck Niroma stands near a hospital bed in the Anuradhapura Base Hospital, listening, consoling and giving hope to a mother who is distressed about her little daughter’s condition. “Don’t worry, she will get well soon,” she assures in her caring voice as she explains the condition. “Sometimes patients or their loved ones won’t fully understand the condition even if we explain, but it is a must that we take time to listen and give hope,” she says, “It is difficult if you know that they have no chance of recovering but you can still take time to give them strength for that day.” Niroma is in her final year in Medical College and is now at the Anuradhapura Base Hospital practicing and gaining experience to be a doctor. She has assisted in the operating theatre, in different wards and cared for a number of patients. “One of my unforgettable experiences was when a young boy was brought to the hospital after an accident. He was unconscious and although the doctors gave him shock treatment for 40 minutes they were unsuccessful. If the patient doesn’t respond within 40 minutes, he is declared dead. We (medical students) began to take turns and give him shock treatment again. After an hour he came back to life,” she says, “I realised how much responsibility I have in my hands for another person’s life.” Coming from Thammannagama a rural village in Galenbindunuwewa, it was not an easy journey for Niroma to be where she is now. “I always wanted to be a doctor when I grew up, but I knew it was difficult for my parents to support all three of us (she and her two sisters) to get through school,” says Niroma, “But my parents always said
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that education is the only way to get out of poverty. So I wanted to study hard.” “Many children didn’t complete school in my village. Sometimes it was because parents didn’t know the value of education and some had no choice because of poverty,” she says, “But with World Vision coming to our village things changed. I remember I was in Grade four at that time.” “The sponsorship programme supported every child to be in school providing them with the necessary school stationery every year. It was a big relief to my parents too.We received study assistance classes and we even had an English class and a computer class. That is the only place where I learnt English and computer and it helped me a lot.” Seeing Niroma’s persistence and hard work, World Vision offered her a scholarship for her higher education and followed it up scholarship to the university too. “My first stethoscope is a gift from World Vision,” smiles the medical student. Although she hasn’t decided on the field she wants to specialize in, she wants to serve the rural communities. “I come from a rural village and I can understand their hardships better,” she says.
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NOT JUST ABC... For parents in Galenbindunuwewa a preschool was the place where their children learnt a new song or a poem. They hardly learnt anything else. A young woman who enjoyed the company of children would gather the five-year-olds in their village and teach them little songs.
was at this time that World Vision started to support preschools - they were right on time,” smiles Vajira. World Vision built a spacious preschool complete with a cement floor, protective roof, desks and chairs and educational toys.
“I first started a preschool in 1994 in a house nearby,” says Vajira Chandani, the teacher at Thakshila Preschool, “the children and I sat on mats on the mud floor and I taught them poems I had learnt as a child. There were around 12 children.”
“Most importantly, they gave all of us teachers training in early childhood care and development of which we knew nothing,” says Vajira,“We learnt how to understand children and their different intelligence levels, to manage time productively, new teaching methods and identifying and caring for children with special needs.”“I met a mother who didn’t want to send her son to preschool because he didn’t speak, but the knowledge I had received helped me encourage her and to give special
“As the numbers grew, I shifted the school to our community centre which was a small mud hut. But with several seasons of rain it soon began to collapse. It 20
attention to the child.Within four months the son began to speak normally and without fear. He was the brightest student by the end of his preschool years. The mother was overjoyed. Her second son has the same trouble too. He is still too small for preschool, but I share the knowledge I received and teach her how to help him,� says the teacher. “When World Vision first started the preschool we had many children who were underweight and some even with acute malnutrition. However, with the nutrition programme that was introduced, every child steadily gained weight and there are no more underweight children here,� says the teacher.
Today a midwife visits each preschool every month to evaluate the health and nutrition conditions of the little buds.Teachers meet the parents monthly to discuss the growth of their children. The preschool is no longer a place just for A BC, but a place that helps them grow healthy in mind and body. At the beginning of the Area Development Programme, Galenbindunuwewa had a 42% rate of malnutrition among preschool children. But today there is hardly a five-yearold who is underweight. Thirty-two preschools around the area care for their early years. Parents have already taken over the responsibility of providing nutritious meals for the preschoolers.
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WATER AT DOOR STEP… Only a few families in the Mailagaswewa village had wells, even then the water in those wells was not good for drinking. The families used the water for washing and other household needs. For bathing they travelled to the lake and for drinking and cooking purposes they fetched water from a well located closer to the lake. “The water in that well never ran dry even during the driest season and the water was less hard,” says Mahinda a community member,“when health officers visited our village to check the water in the wells they said only that well had good water quality.” “We travelled at least three times a day to collect water for drinking. During warm seasons and cultivation seasons when we spent whole days in the hot sun, we had to make several rounds more.” Water was so precious that it was the one thing every family was stingy about. They could easily give away a part of their harvests but grew angry at their children if they spilled even one cup of drinking water. Yet, despite fetching water from a distant well, the community in Mailagaswewa, especially the children, suffered from diarrhoea and other water borne diseases frequently. “We had no knowledge on clean water. Not until World Vision conducted its health and hygiene awareness programmes,” says Mahinda. The small health habits the programmes taught them made a big difference in the health of their children and families. “When World Vision decided to build a water scheme for our village, the whole community gave their maximum participation and support in labour and time,” he says, “today all 90 families in our village have water at home for any purpose.We don’t make
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rounds to the well anymore and have a lot of time saved for other activities.” “But after a heavy day of work we still go to the lake for a dip,” smiles Mahinda, “the water that comes from the tap is not enough for us sweaty farmers.” Today, five World Vision water schemes provide water at their doorstep to over 500 families in Galenbindunuwewa. Over 2900 families received water sealed toilets through the sanitation project.
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MILKING COWS – A BOON TO DAIRY FARMER A cow is considered a bona-fide family member by many of the farmers. It helps in many of the farmer’s agriculture activities. However, getting milk from the cow was not acceptable to many. Some even considered it a sin to take the milk that should rightfully belong to the calves.Yet there were a few families who would milk their cows for a jug of milk for their children. But to hardly anyone it was an income generation activity. Rohana Lal too had no clue about dairy farming until he received a cow and the animal husbandry training from World Vision. “I used to cultivate paddy for a living,” says Rohana, “But it didn’t bring me a stable income. It hardly gave me a profit and was barely enough for my home consumption. After attending World Vision’s training programme on dairy farming I took a great interest in it.” As part of its animal husbandry programme, World Vision distributed milking cows to over 300 poorest of the poor families to support both the family’s income and the nutrition level of the children.World Vision also linked them with Milco a government owned company with a wide network of milk collection, production and sales centres. The Milco collecting centres that were set up at village level were a great boon as the farmers no longer had to transport the milk to town for selling. The Milco company also gave the farmers a very competitive price for their milk.
expanded to two cows and two calves. “Someday I want to improve this to a larger dairy farm. I still continue to do a bit of cultivation, but that is to use for our home consumption only,” he says. To maintain the sustainability of the project each family has to gift a female calf to be given to another poor family. Already nearly 200 such cows have been distributed to new families. Milco continues to provide training for the dairy farmers. Today there are 10 collection centres accessed by all the 41 Grama Niladari (Village) Divisions in Galenbindunuwewa and by those in the neighbouring areas. Around 850 litres are collected everyday at the centre and 25,000 litres every month. “For the Poson Poya (a Buddhist religious day that is special for the community) we distribute free milk to everyone, especially to those who are on pilgrimage to our area,” smiles Rohana. He is confident that his dairy farm would help him support every need of his family, especially the education of his little son. Through its animal husbandry programme, World Vision has distributed cows, goats and chicks to over 1100 families. Over 30,000 fish fingerlings have also been added to the agriculture tanks to promote inland fishing. World Vision has also provided the collecting centres with freezers for the dairy farmers who need to store excess milk.
“They pay us around Rs 50/- per litre and with the profit I received I bought another cow,” says Rohana. Today he supplies around 14 litres of milk daily to the collection centre and his farm has
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A CHILD’S WISH FOR HIS SPONSOR
My Dear Sponsor,
But now everything has changed.
Because a person with such a loving heart like you came to my life, a great change happened to me, my family and to my village…
As Kalum writes, “My family and my village have access to clean water now. We have water-sealed toilets that have improved our hygiene. There are a variety of income generation activities like animal rearing. We have access to medical care and services too.”
Kalum (16) writes in his letter to his sponsor as World Vision prepares to leave his community after walking with them for 15 years, bringing them towards sustained transformational development. When World Vision first came to Galenbindunuwewa, it was one of the most rural areas in the district of Anuradhapura in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Many families walked miles and miles in search of a drop of water; families only knew agriculture farming as a livelihood and education was not viewed as the right of a child. Children went to school only until their parents could support them and dropped out to look after their younger siblings or to join the labour force. 26
“When we had economic hardships, you strengthened us with your support and put us back on our feet again. My family has a better income now and is economically stable,” he writes. Kalum’s family also have a home-garden that not only adds nutritional value to their meals but also provides for their family during the very dry seasons when all other vegetation dies in the heat. They have even been able to get an additional income by selling the excess crop.
Just like Kalum, for every child in Galenbindunuwewa life is different today. Every child goes to school and dream new dreams. The Child Societies that World Vision has established brings the children on one platform to grow together. There is a space for their different talents, to express their ideas freely, to know their rights and responsibilities and to be a part of the decisions in making their village a better place to live in.
“From an infant to the elderly all have a lot of confidence and hope for a better tomorrow now,” says Kalum’s mother. As Kalum thanks his donor for all the beautiful changes that have happened in him, his family and the village, He has a wish for her too.“I hope you would continue to care and support another child in another difficult village like mine and improve their life. I wish you good health and long life,” he writes.
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CHAMINI’S LETTER BRINGS LIGHT TO A VILLAGE little girl’s plea for electricity has caught the attention of the Minister of Power and Energy, Champika Ranawake and now a remote village has one of its dreams realized – the provision of electricity for everyone. Dear Mister Minister, “…I really don’t know by whom or for what purpose electricity was invented. I have read that John Logie Baird invented the television and Thomas Alva Edison invented the electric bulb…but the bulb which Edison invented is yet to give us light…Siyambalawewa is still in the dark…” Chamini’s letter appeared in the Divaina news paper of July 29th 2010 describing in detail the hardships the children and her community in Siyambalawewa go through with no electricity. Siyambalawewa, a remote village situated in Galenbindunuwewa (48 km from Anuradhapura) consists mainly of an agriculture community.Although rich in harvest, the absence of electricity was a major set back in their development. For any work which needed electrical equipment, even for a grinding mill, the community had to travel nearly 10 km. “While the rest of the country is brought together through John Logi’s television, the children in Siyambalawewa still continue to live as frogs in the well, being distant from the rest of the world… We study in the light of a kerosene lamp in the night to pass our exams…We too like to use Edison’s electric bulb but we do not have electricity…” wrote the 17-year-old girl.
were impressed that they said they would publish it in the newspaper.” Three days after her article appeared in the newspaper, engineers from the Electricity Board came in search of Chamini and her village leaders under the instructions of Power and Energy Minister, Champika Ranawake. “They told me that the Minister had been moved by my letter and that the process was underway to give electricity to our village. I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. Within the next two months the plans got off the ground with Chamini’s participation every step of the way and within 80 days electricity came to Siyambalawewa and to the surrounding villages. The grateful community has gifted a computer to Chamini in appreciation of her advocacy efforts. In a special letter to Chamini and her community, the Deputy Minister of Power and Energy, Premalal Jayasekera recognized the effort of the young girl. “This daughter has spoken on behalf of all the children and families who go through hardships without electricity and has proved how you can play a role in bringing about development in your village,” he said.
“This is the first time I ever wrote something like this,” says Chamini, “When we were asked to do an article at the journalism workshop conducted by World Vision for our child society, the facilitators
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A RENEWED HEART… Nadeeka Chathurangani (19) just completed high school and is determined to enter university. She hopes to do nursing someday. But she never thought she’d get through school when few years ago she developed a heart condition and needed immediate surgery. “I had frequent headaches and vomiting when I was 16 and the doctors gave me medicine for migraine,” says Nadeeka, “But at the world Vision annual medical clinic they were able to diagnose the problem.The clinic has helped diagnose many health issues of children.” “We have never felt more helpless than when we found out her condition,” says Nadeeka’s mother with tears still filling her eyes, “The only way to save my daughter’s life was through surgery and we just couldn’t afford it with the little we earned by farming.” The family informed the Partner Organisation in their village through which world Vision worked. World Vision had just entered the last phase of the Galenbindunuwewa Area Development Programme and the empowered Partner Organisation was already taking up the responsibilities from World Vision. With a little amount from World Vision the organisation was able to support Nadeeka’s surgery. Nadeeka’s came through a successful surgery.The family who had also applied to the President’s Fund for heart surgeries and received the re-imbursement after her surgery decided to donate the money to the Partner Organisation’s fund for the welfare of children in the community. “When my daughter’s life was in danger,World Vision and the Organisation were there to take care of us.They gave me back my daughter’s life. I want to do the same for someone else who might face a similar situation,” says the mother. Following this family’s example two more families who received assistance from the President’s Fund for surgery decided to donate it to the welfare fund of the Partner Organisation.
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THE WAY FORWARD... “When WorldVision started work here their biggest hope was that when they take leave from Galenbindunuwewa someday, there would be an empowered team in Galenbindunuwewa to continue the sustainable development that they started,” recalls Renuka Samarakoon a community leader. It’s been 15 years since the World Vision team began their walk with the Galenbindunuwewa community, with that hope in their heart, leading them out of poverty into sustainability and empowering them to stand on their own. Today, as World Vision looks at Galenbindunuwewa, we no longer see the once marginalised and poverty stricken community, but one that is empowered and prospered with fullness of life reflecting in the face of every child.
Galenbindunuwewa community is confident and continues to grow from strength to strength.The once weak and backward are leaders and decision makers today and a strong bond of unity and leadership is also growing among children. As a child leader says, “World Vision has brought out the best in us.”
To continue in this journey, World Vision has empowered the community and formed a body of leadership to take up after the organisation and continue the development work. The Partner Organisation (PO) has representation from every village and functions under two sectors – production and marketing and child welfare. The PO earns its income through maize production and marketing and through the housing loan and 50% of its income is allocated for child welfare. “We already have a fund of Rs. 27 million with us,” smiles Suranji, the treasurer of the PO. “With that we provides scholarships for children and look after the health and the educational requirements of children especially those with special needs,” she says, “The children receive books for schooling at a reasonable prize and safe houses are built for the vulnerable, seeds are provided for farmers and their medical needs are supported.” “We are a strong and an empowered team spread in the Galenbindunuwewa area and we can allow World Vision to take leave with joyful pride,” smiles Renuka, “the Organisation helped us completely erase the terms ‘poverty’, ‘poor housing’, ‘daily labour’ from our villages. World Vision Team here was our strength.” 31
QUOTES We (government) receive help from many organisations to develop the rural areas of our country, but they all come in the form of loans and the people have to repay them. But World Vision does not ask us to return a single cent they have invested in developing this area. Their only desire was to help the poor out of poverty and to empower them. On behalf of all the people of North Central Sri Lanka I wish to thank World Vision and assure them our support in all their work – MINISTER BERTY PREMALAL DISSANAYAKE Geography scientists catogarise people living in dry rural areas like Galenbindunuwewa as people who hardly move towards development. But World Vision has proved it wrong in this area. I have found out that the majority of the savings in the banks in this zone come from the communities living in the areas where World Vision worked. EDWIN RATHNAYAKE DIRECTOR PLANNING, ZONAL EDUCATION “The service they (World Vision) have done is not for themselves, but for the poorest communities in this area. It is the communities who gained from the work they did in this area. As they leave they have given an empowered community to the area to continue the development work – P D L GUNARATNA, DIVISIONAL SECRETARY “World Vision is a friend to children, especially to those who are backward. I was a very backward child, but not anymore. There are no backward children in our village anymore. World Vision has brought out the best in me and in every child,” CHILD SOCIETY MEMBER. We are glad to continue the work World Vision started in the areas of social, economical and educational well being of the community. We thank World Vision for giving us the necessary knowledge and skills to carry their work forward. – ASHOKA RATHNAYAKE, PRESIDENT ADP PARTNER ORGANISATION
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Today’s new generation cannot even imagine how much of development has taken place in this area. But for us who lived in those times and the present, this area has truly become a development zone. It is because of World Vision. – PIYASENA THENNAKOON, COMMUNITY LEADER
They have completely erased the terms ‘poverty’, ‘poor housing’ and ‘daily labour’. World Vision Team here was our strength and they have built a strong and an empowered community. They can take leave with joyful pride. – RENUKA SAMARAKOON, COMMUNITY MEMBER World Vision has done many programmes on environmental health and sanitation in this area. They have provided a water-sealed toilet to every family who did not have one. They greatly contributed to preventing common water borne diseases in the area. –
B M M BALASOORIYA PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR “World Vision has done a great service to our under developed villages. We will always remember them as an Organisation that had no religious bias but helped all people a like.” -
MEDANANDA THERO, UPULDENIYA TEMPLE. There have been many health programmes done by World Vision and people already enjoy the benefits. Increasing their nutrition standards and health awareness and empowerment, had a big impact. Today people are able to identify their health problems on their own. –
DR.W M PALITHA BANDARA, REGIONAL DIRECTOR HEALTH SERVICES
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facts & figures Description
Safe drinking water( From protected sources)
Then (1996)
Now (2011)
47%
91.8
Access to drinking water within 30 mins.
97%
Usage of water sealed toilets
29%
96%
Nutrition - under weight
62%
21.1%
Stunted
24%
19.8%
Wasted
57%
37.7%
Preschool education - Number of preschools
Preschool attendance
72%
92%
Primary school attendance
85%
100%
School drop outs ( primary education)
15%
0%
0
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52.4%
73.10%
Number of children societies
Children invloved in child societies
34
33
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END OF A JOURNEY...
...THE BEGINNING OF HARVESTING
WORLD VISION LANKA 1119/2/1 MARADANA ROAD COLOMBO 8