JUNE TO JULY 2005 

CHILDREN

Children’s Parks: -
The much awaited children’s park which was under construction opened its gates to children in Batticaloa during the period under review.

Change Maker Training Seminars: -
Training sessions and workshops were held in Batticaloa where the Change Maker’s program was introduced. The importance of child participation and trauma counseling for children was also addressed at these sessions. The purpose of the project was to encourage them to look at their own trauma so that they could recognize and relate to children who are traumatized. 40 children from a camp nearby attended the Butterfly Camp and the children were very expressive. During therapy time the children expressed very moving statements ... “I like to come out, but don’t force me,” “I want to come out and be a butterfly!”, “From here on we will not see our brothers and sisters anymore.” It was evident that each child was at a different stage of the “butterfly” metamorphosis. An introductory workshop was held for Trincomalee Change Makers on child participation, and to explain the rationale behind “Butterfly Art”. 50 children were brought from neighboring camps to attend a Butterfly Camp.  When one group was asked if they wanted to come out and be a butterfly, one young boy, the only one in his group, said his caterpillar was not ready to come out yet; however he made a pair of wings for the future, he could use it when he is ready to come out. Trauma counseling workshops were also held in Trincomalee to train volunteers. Further workshops on Change Makers were held in Matara to teach volunteers how to interact and make children active participants during the therapy.

BOAT PROJECT  
On the 31st of July, at a special ceremony held in Jaffna, boats were presented to 24 beneficiaries, along with nets, ropes and buoys.  The NCEASL General Secretary and Program Co-ordinator attended this special ceremony to distribute boats to the recipients.  25 beneficiaries from Chulipuram, 50 beneficiaries from Karainagam, all from Jaffna, were also recipients of clinker type boats.  Each of these boats will provide livelihoods to 3 - 4 families. “The tsunami opened the eyes of the world to people (us) who have been suffering for over 20 years,” said one grateful recipient.  “We are so thankful to you (NCEASL / ADT) for giving us this boat. Our families can now live,” said another.  On the 1st of July agreements were signed with three other boat manufacturing companies to increase the number of boats being made.  12 beneficiaries in Jaffna have also received 8 horse powered Mercury engines, while 8 other beneficiaries received 15 horse powered Mercury engines.

LIVELIHOOD
The Livelihood Project has helped 48 individuals in Galle and Hambantota to start their own small scale businesses such as, grocery shops, tailoring, making shoes, catering, coconut crafts, vegetable venturing, welding, building cement blocks, poultry farming, carpentry, repairing boats, packeting spices, holstering, making string  hoppers, crafting of gold jewelry etc. 420 families in Batticaloa have benefited from the Livelihood Projects. The families were presented with seed money or equipment such as sewing machines, farming equipment etc. to start small scale businesses. 50 individuals have been screened to benefit from the Livelihood Project in Trincomalee, while three workshops were held in       Akkaraipattu, Batticaloa and Vallachchenai for the beneficiaries of the Livelihood Project.
These workshops were conducted to help the beneficiaries’ better plan for the future.
The workshop’s focus was on encouraging the beneficiaries to start small scale businesses with whatever equipment provided by ADT.

WATER
A stable routine of water testing and chlorination dosing procedures have been established in the following areas in Trincomalee: Thiriyayi, Kutchchaveli, Nillaveli and Kinniya. Treating harmful bacteria have also been successfully implemented. Twenty four water storage units have been divided amongst Thiriyayi, Kutchchaveli, Nillaveli and Kinniya. These units are located in communities, schools and hospitals. The beneficiaries have been educated in the procedures of chlorinating water after the tanks fill. ADT proposes to distribute six more tanks for the future and while discussions are underway for this plans are also underway to make the supply of water in the affected areas more accessible than the bowser system which presently exists. Three wells have also been dug up and are operational, but due to the high levels of salinity one well is unusable.

PERMANENT HOUSING
Six long and arduous months have passed since the tsunami swept over Sri Lankan shores. Finally those living in temporary shelters had a reason to rejoice, as construction of the permanent housing projects got underway. Two model houses have already been completed in Batticaloa for community assessment.

Fifty beneficiaries have been confirmed in Thiriyayi to receive permanent housing. All fifty beneficiaries own land on which the permanent houses will be built on. In Jaffna, foundations for five permanent houses have been laid. All five houses will be complete by the end of two weeks.

In Wadduwa, one house has been completed. In Galle, the acquiring of land for building permanent housing has commenced. In Hambantota 50 houses damaged by the tsunami are being repaired.