Projects

Sri Lanka Project  Update

We are completing the construction of school #1 in Kalmunai.  It is 1000 sq.ft. with a tiny library and office.  The land was donated by a Hindu Temple.  The children come from various religious backgrounds.  We would like to furnish the 70 pre-school children with hats, backpacks and school supplies as per their teachers request.  The children attend school until around 1pm.  

In the afternoons the buildings we build are used by the local women as a center, which flows into family use in the evenings.

We are also developing a family dental education program to be presented to the children &  surrounding community.  For this we give a hearty THANK YOU !  to Dr. Amil Shapka of KIA for supplying us with the materials to teach this program they developed. 

Kindness In Action, based in St. Paul Alberta, offers dental care and knowledge exchange with India, South America and the Philippines and has had over 200 volunteers over the past 15 years of operation.  They establish their projects one year in advance.  We expect to receive some dental equipment from their warehouse in January to utilize in Sri Lanka on a temporary basis.

They are considering the development of a portable Sri Lanka dental clinic and group of volunteers, to provide over-lapping treatment and care to the victims living in the displaced persons camps.  Their planning meeting is in May every year.  The dental equipment will stay in Sri Lanka as long as a continuous overlapping contingent of dentists and dental assistants continue to arrive in the country for at least 3 weeks at a time. Working side by side with local dentists, and treating all who sit in the chair will be the  focus of the project termed: Canada Dental Team.  At the close of the clinic all equipment will be returned to the Alberta warehouse. 

The idea of a pre-school building program and dental project were brought about due to requests from the local communities and the observation of Canadian and other volunteers working in Sri Lanka immediately after the Tsunami of December 26,th 2004.  

The small school is a good place to a start community dental educational program.  When the children go home from the school  in the heat of the day around 1:00pm the space can be used for a women’s center and many adult oriented educational projects. 

Once constructed the schools are handed over to the group known as “Sarvodya” or to “PPDS” (Peoples Progressive Democratic Society) to operate.  Both organizations have been assisting women and children for many years in Sri Lanka.  A modest sign stating to the effect:  “school built with help from our Canadian friends” would be placed outside the buildings. (Their idea) 

The blessings of the Sri Lankan government came with the explanation of the projects of Tsunami Haven.  The District Secretary (like our mayor) in Kalmunai has given his approval and support to these projects.