World Vision strengthens ties with Local Government Vision Lanka signed MOUs with the Central Province W orld Provincial Council and Local Government to upgrade water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in two Divisional Secretariats of the Central Province.
He added that over the years the reputation of non-governmental organizations has been tarnished due to many organizations not cooperating with the relevant Ministries.
Suresh Bartlett, National Director of World Vision Lanka and Central Province Secretary, P. G. Amarakoon signed the MOU in Kandy recently.
“We are happy to partner with the Government and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the country prospers and poverty is eradicated and our children have the best possible future�, said World Vision Lanka National Director Suresh Bartlett.
Through these MOUs,World Vision plans to work more closely with the Government to ensure water and sanitation facilities are delivered to over 4,000 poorest of the poor families in Ambagamuwa and Nuwara Eliya DS Divisions.
Statistics indicate that only 60 percent of the population in the Central Province has access to potable water, due to contamination of water sources.This poses a serious threat to the health of families living downstream.
Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake addressing the gathering said that he himself was aware of the work previously carried out by World Vision, and through the signing of this MOU it would continue to receive the fullest support of the Government.
The RIWASH 2 project funded by AusAid focuses on three major interventions in the two DS divisions including water supply for rural communities, local governance and conflict mitigation.
Our Goal - Fullness of Life for Every Child
Editorial Rebuilding is everybody’s responsibility As Sri Lanka’s post war developmental phase gathers momentum it presents an ideal opportunity for many other organizations and groups to get involved in the massive rebuilding process. Although the prime duty bearer for the rebuilding of the country is the Sri Lankan government it is time for everyone to rally round and contribute even in the smallest possible way to ensure the country never goes back to those dark days of war and mistrust. World Vision Lanka remains committed through its programmes to serve both the returnees and rural communities. Our success however, depends on the close linkages and partnerships created among local administrations and organisations involved in uplifting poverty stricken regions. As seen in this issue of Kathika our collaboration with local governments and ministries have resulted in the successful implementation of improved water and sanitation facilities and significant improvements in nutritional levels throughout several regions. World Vision continues to seek partnership opportunities with public and private sector organizations to increase the impact of development to a wider group of people. In this regard we are pleased to note the partnership with IBM Sri Lanka which is featured in this edition and look forward to other partnerships in the future. One of our first partnership ventures with Cargills Limited Is now in its 5th year and continues to grow. Around 50 deserving students in the Thanamalwila ADP received annual scholarships for their education through a special fund set up by the farming community. The Thanamalwila ADP connected its massive farmer community with Cargills, the largest retail chain in Sri Lanka. Today, the collection centre in Gangeyaya supplies ten tons of fruits and vegetables everyday to the company. It has also enabled farmers in the surrounding areas to access other markets and obtain good prices for their products. Maternal and Child health continues to remain a key focus area and we feature a nutrition feeding progamme for 3,800 children who have shown signs of vulnerability to malnutrition among the returned communities in the district of Kilinochchi – once the heart of the war.
World Vision marks Global Campaign for Education Vision Lanka’s Programmes in the East recently brought together over W orld 1,500 children to mark the Global Campaign for Education Week.With this
year’s focus on ‘Women’s and Girls’ Education’, the programme focused on raising awareness on the importance of education for women and girls.
Six girl teams from Pottuvil, Navithanveli, Vellaveli, Paddipalai, Eravur Pattu, Kiran, Koralaipattu and Vaharai participated at the events held between 23 – 28 May.The programme ended with a public rally on the final day. “We talk a lot about education but very little emphasis on girls’ and women’s education,” said S. Sathyanadan, Deputy Director Education for Batticaloa District at the final day ceremony in the Eastern University Grounds. “There is a saying in Tamil that a person without education is blind. Though he/ she has eyes, he/she does not see. It is with education that a person gains sight,” he said, “I hope we would have no girls in our villages walking in such blindness.” He further stressed on giving girl’s education a prominent place as the East continues to rebuild after three decades of war and requested that all parents make their daughter’s education a priority emphasizing that the well being of a girl child depends largely on education. “I want to thank World Vision for taking education to the most rural villages and for their attention to girl education, working closely with the government and other NGOs in the East,” he added. The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) is a civil society movement that aims to end the global education crisis.
Editorial Team Asanga Warnakulasuriya Dion Schoorman Hasanthi Jayamaha Jayaweera Kohombange Neomal Weerakoon
Contents: Cover Page Editorial, Children’s Page, ADP News, ADP News, HEA News comments: editor_kathika@wvi.org
Help us to keep them At World Vision we are passionate about the well being of children and ensuring them life in all its fullness. If you are interested in learning more about our work or would like to join us in partnership in any of our programmes please email, dion_schoorman@wvi.org
Children’s Page
A colour-filled day for Friends… children at the Friends Project, T heDehiwela enjoyed a colourful day
and was done in conjunction with IBM’s centenary celebrations.
recently as a 15-member team from IBM joined them on a day full of painting, games and laughter.
The IBM team and the children splashed the day in colours, painting the walls of the compound with different themes. They also completed the painting of the kids’ playground equipment.
“It was an unforgettable experience for all of us,” said Hyder Alaudeen a Deputy General Manager of IBM.
“I learnt how to draw on my own, and add colours to the picture,” said Navidhu (7) who was thrilled after colouring the walls.
Friends Project in Dehiwela is a safe haven to around 40 children who would otherwise live on the streets.The shelter has become their home where their basic needs for protection, education and health and nutrition is taken care of.
IBM also established an IBM ‘Kidsmart’ Unit at the shelter. Hyder further said he was amazed how fast the children had picked up some of the programmes no sooner the unit was launched. IBM hopes to train around five of these children so that they can assist the others in return.
‘Friends’ was initiated by World Vision with an aim to integrate children who live on the streets into the mainstream society as successful and productive citizens. The Project while attending to the basic needs of the children in education, health and nutrition and awareness on social values, also focuses on the rehabilitation of parents so that the children may be able to reunite with their families once again.
“We enjoyed every second we spent over there with those lovely kids. I was amazed with the outcome… We saw their talents and skills at work.” said Hyder.
The programme was part of WVLs initiative to invite organisations from the private sector to partner in development projects
About Friends…
Today, ‘Friends’ extends to three projects – a shelter each in Dehiwela and Kandy and a drop-in centre in Kotahena catering to over 125 children.
adp news
World Vision’s partnership with Cargills yields results for students & farmers in Thanamalwila Ceylon Ltd. recently awarded 50 higher education receive this scholarship,” said Manjula Thilakasekera, ADP Manager C argills scholarships for students in Gangeyaya, in the Thanamalwila to the students, “You must also in turn serve your community for it Area Development Programme. The scholarships were awarded for students under four categories – Grade 5,Advanced Level,Vocational Training and University. “This scholarship scheme was initiated by World Vision,” said Haridas Fernando, Deputy General Manager, Agribusiness, Cargills at the award ceremony.“It began in April 2008 when World Vision requested that two rupees from every kilo of farmer produce purchased by Cargills be channeled to a scholarship project for their children. We agreed to 50 cents.” “Every 50 cents that began collecting has grown into 23 lakhs now. This partnership with the farmer community here not only strengthens the farmers economically, it also supports the education of their children,” he said. World Vision Thanamalwila ADP connected its farmer communities with Cargills, the largest retail chain in Sri Lanka.Today, the collection centre in Gangeyaya supplies ten tons of fruits and vegetables everyday to the company. It has also given a chance for farmers in the surrounding areas to exchange their produce for a good price. “Among thousands of students in the area, you have been chosen to
is their hard work that supports the scholarships.” Manjula further said that World Vision is overjoyed to see an empowered and a well networked community that would sustain the work started by World Vision in development. “I was among the many school children who received education support from World Vision to get through school. I am so grateful for this scholarship to continue university,” said Sameera (19) who received the scholarship and a laptop in support to pursue his university studies in Bio Science. In addition to the scholarships, six laptops sponsored by Deutsche Bank at a cost of around Rs 1.3 millon were awarded to six students pursuing University education from the area. A desktop computer and an internet connection were also provided to the Gangayaya Community Centre library.
adp news
Deputy Director of Education, Edward Jayakody performing a song at “Thambathala Udanaya 2011”, cultural programme organised by the World Vision Lanka Wanathavilluwa ADP. He stressed on the need to implement cultural programmes to encourage talented children in remote areas to improve their natural skills thereby lifting cultural wealth.
World Vision Lanka together with the Zonal Education Officials conducted an awareness programme for over 500 students on water conservation.This programme was conducted to mark World Water Day on March 22. An Art Exhibition on ‘Water gives us life; its conservation is our responsibility’ was held for school children in selected areas of Ambagamuwa and Nuwara Eliya.
The Wennappuwa ADP sponsored the Divisional Sports meet which brought together all 41 schools in the Wennappuwa Education Division. The three-day event had a participation of over 1,000 children. Among the distinguished gathering were Minister Milroy Fernando, the Divisional Director of Education Subhashini Perera and the Zonal Director of Education, Ashoka Jayalath.
An irrigation tank renovated by Paddipalai ADP has helped the farmer community in the area to cultivate over 1,500 acres of paddy during the off season. With the renovation of the two main sluice gates, spills, channels, two bay regulators and a farm concrete road, not only do the farmers get sufficient water during dry season, but it also solved many water-conflicts that prevailed year-round due to unequal distribution of water.
Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs
Vital nutrition programme for returnee children in North rehabilitation and reconstruction work gathering W ithmomentum in the North, World Vision has commenced a nutrition programme for returnee children in the Kilinochchi District.
Participatory Nutrition Improvement Programme (PNIP) will target over 3,800 preschool children who have shown signs of vulnerability to malnutrition in the former conflict area.This is also part of Child Health Now, a global campaign launched by World Vision to prevent child deaths under five. Through PNIP, World Vision has commenced distributing nutritious cooked meals to children in 91 preschools in the Karachchi Division. Children will receive supplementary food five times a week at the preschool they attend. Preschool teachers assisted by World Vision staff will monitor the improvements in children’s nutrition levels and overall well being,
while the Ministry of Health will conduct regular assessments of each child’s growth monitoring chart to record the gradual change (in malnutrition) of the child. World Vision has also coordinated with the Ministry of Health to conduct a series of awareness sessions for mothers and teachers on the importance of breast feeding and to promote positive maternal and child health practices. Awareness sessions will follow the standardized curriculum approved by the MOH. The study has revealed that stunting, which is the indicator of a chronic malnutrition, among children has risen from 30 to 37% during May - December 2009 in this area.
HEA
REMIND Project complements livelihood programmes in North Vision reiterated its commitment to holistic W orld development of returned communities by supporting them to resume their livelihoods and more importantly by identifying the psychosocial needs of communities and initiating a ‘healing’ of their hearts and minds after decades of war.
Mental health and psychosocial challenges are known to create significant impact on the financial security of families. The highprevalence of mental health issues in the Northern Province prompted World Vision to initiate a parallel programme to its livelihoods assistance programme. In December 2010,World Vision signed a MOU with the Ministry of Health to implement the REMIND project in the Northern Province. The REMIND project, a unique initiative by World Vision, assisted by the Ministry of Health and College of Psychiatrists and funded by AusAid,is designed specifically to meet the psychosocial needs of the returned communities and to help them through programmes
developed in ways that encourage increased family and community support for people who were affected by the conflict. The REMIND project has three major outcomes;to improve community access to responsive mental health services, enhance the support provided by family and community relationships and to increase subjective well-being in communities. It has also been identified that improving the mental health and wellbeing of the communities also enhances opportunities to better engage in peace and post-conflict programmes. A series of training sessions were held for 40 Community Support Officers who were identified by the Provincial MOH and College of Psychiatrists to implement the REMIND project in Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts in the Northern Province.
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