|
Ceylon Christian Care |
|
News |
|
Oct 3rd, 2007 Visit Report - Opening New Building John’s Academy
|
|
Displaced people living in tents |
|
Church situation
Over the last months also some important changes in the CSI church on Sri Lanka have taken place. Due an internal conflict 90% of the churches decided not to continue with the CSI. They separated themselves and continue together with the new name “Church of the American Ceylon Mission”. This is the same American Ceylon Mission which did send Harriet Winslow about two hundred years ago from the US to Sri Lanka to bring the gospel. Her diary is published and tells about the imposing work she has done for the Tamil people on Sri Lanka. Also how she lost al her children and finally died self too. Her husband finished her diary. The new church have asked Rev Jeyanesan to be the chairman for the coming two years. In this position he have asked us for support in the following areas: - Support in education of new pastors on their theological school - Support in education of pastors and church workers through workshops - 4,000 additional children’s bibles of H. van Dam to be distributed to the churches - 1,000 books of “Come Children” of Mrs. Hartingsvelt-Moree to the churches We have promised to help him where possible and that we will look how we can do this in the best way.
This was a wonderful trip. Although there are many displaced people there is peace again in this area. Sad point is that the war continues in the northern parts of the country. We pray that the people of this country may get peace after so many years of war. However, above peace on earth that they may receive forgiveness of sin and peace in their hearts through the blood of our savior Jesus Christ. It is our wish and prayer that Ceylon Christian Care may help to bring this peace to this people.
Kind regards, Herman van der Weerd Ceylon Christian Care |
|
The new school building of John’s Academy |
|
Opening of the school by Evert de Blok and Herman Bennink |
|
Opening IT-Lab by Rev Jeyanesan and Herman van der Weerd |
|
Johannes Calvijn Veenendaal - Thanks for the Library and Science Lab! |
|
Principal Shanta |
|
Entrance of John’s Academy |
|
Logo of John’s Academy |
|
Staff, villagers and children in front of the church in Murokkodanchennai |
|
Evening classes for children |
|
A place to play |
|
The doctor on the job |
|
Wheelchair for a disabled lady |
|
Micro Credit: Fisherman with his new net |
|
Micro Credit: Evert issuing sewing machines |
|
Building of a well |
|
The boys of Boys Home Samuel are ready to go to school |
|
Disabled children with the staff |
|
Tug of war competation |
|
Dear friends,
In the week of Sept 17th we were able to visit the projects on Sri Lanka again. Due to the political situation and a serious incident on our projects in the village Periyaneelavanai we were not able to visit the projects for a period of 10 months.
This visit was made by the board members Evert de Blok and Herman van der Weerd, Herman Bennink of the Reborgh Foundation and Martien van Dam.
Main goal of the visit was the opening of the new school building for John’s Academy in Batticaloa. This school started in July 2006 on a temporary location. However, now the new accommodation was build and ready for use. During this visit we also looked at the community development project in the village Murokkodanchennai and the projects in the village Periyaneelavanai.
This year was a difficult year for the Tamil population on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Heavy fights between the army and the Tamil Tigers have taken place. Many people lost their life. According the official statistics about 100,000 people had to leave their houses and are displaced. They live in tents. Te rain season which just started will make their live even more difficult. At this moment the army has the total area under control and is there peace again. To the north the fighting is continuing. Traveling to the east coast is not easy. There are many militants on the streets and everywhere checkpoints. Special permits are required to visit the area.
Although we were not able to visit the projects during a period of 10 months and only communication by phone and mail was possible, we concluded that the work on the projects had continued. We were surprised by the progress made and results!
|
|
Murokkodanchennai
After the opening of the new school building we visited the projects in Murokkodanchennai. In this village Ceylon Christian Care supports a community development project for 450 families. In these projects the focus is on the following areas: - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene - Nutrition and Health Care - Education - Infrastructure - Income Development
We checked the progress for these areas and we have to say that we are satisfied with the results. A major reason for the success in this village is the participation of the villagers. What we see is that they work hard to improve their situation.
Some examples:
Income development We analyzed that the people who received a micro credit improved seriously their income. People told us that their income increased from 100 LRP till 300-400 LRP a day. This is roughly 2.5-3.5 US$ per day. We also analyzed that with ongoing guidance additional increase of income should be possible. We decided to continue this project with high priority. We found that the result of the increase of income had two main components: 1. Due to purchase of better hardware or base materials 2. Due to fair credit without usury interest
Health Care The mobile clinic is used intensive. The number of patient files showed us that the inhabitants of the neighbor villages make use of this service too. We have started to ask a small pay for a consultation and see that the people continue to make use of this service. Goal is that after some time the income of the consultations will cover the costs of this service.
Education Due to the war situation several children stopped their study. A number of them have, with support of the education fund, finished their study with good results. This will help them to find better jobs and generate higher income.
Support of disabled people These people are not able to work and to generate income due to their diseases. We visited some of these people and found that they live under harrowing circumstances. The number of these people is low in relation to the total village population. We have started a new fund to support these people. The money of this fund will come from the interest the people pay on the micro credits they received. The villagers reacted very positive when we told them that we will use the interest for this purpose. They see that they contribute to the welfare of their village. This is very motivating for them.
We also laid down the first foundation stone for a new community building. This buildings will get several rooms which will be used for the following purposes: - Project meetings (widows meetings, village meetings, etc) - Doctor’s room - Day Care Center for the young children - Evening classes - Community meetings (marriages, celebrations, etc) |
|
Periyaneelavanai During this visit we stayed at the project in Periyaneelavanai. We were very happy to meet the children and staff again. On this project we have had serious problems during the last months. They were created by some of the staff members. Main reason was jealousy. Victim was manager Vathany who was threatened with dead and as a result she had to leave the project. After having analyzed the incident we have fired and replaced all staff members who were involved in this incident. Rev Jeyanesan has asked Rev Sounthi to manage the projects in this village. We are very happy with him. He is a good manager and speaks fluently English. This is an important point for our communication. As mentioned, the children and staff were very happy to meet us again. We had happy and long conversations together. On the last evening we organized a competition “tug of war”. The children were very enthusiastic and had a lot of fun. This gave also a good finish to our visit. |
|
In the classroom |
|
Concentration |
|
John’s Academy
The opening of the new school building was the main goal of this visit. The building activities did start during the summer of 2006. Now the building activities were over and the accommodation ready for use. The school building contains 10 classrooms, a principals office, financial office, staff room and an IT-Lab with three classrooms with 10 computers each. Further there is a sports field with all facilities.
We were impressed by the results. Not only about the building, also the school organization and quality of education. We joined during the school time the teaching lessons and were very happy. On short term Wijbren Jongsma, board member and education specialist, and Ellie Kroon, teacher at Hoornbeeck College in the Netherlands, will visit the school and will look together with the staff how the quality bar can be raised further. Our goal is that this school will become the best school of the area and will set a new education standard on the east coast of Sri Lanka.
Beside the opening we also laid down the first stone for a new library and science lab. The money for this extension is donated by the Johannes Calvijn primary school from Veenendaal, the Netherlands. We made a picture were the children and staff of John’s Academy thanks Johannes Calvijn primary school for this donation. |
|
The schoolband playing: “This is the day that the Lord has made” |
