Sanitation and Medication

 Everyone should be entitled to the privacy of a toilet.  In the fishing villages, there is often only a hole deep in the sand. Before we left Sri Lanka last week, we paid to have a private toilet  and plumbing installed within some new brick walls..  The villagers have been hard at work and have already sent us photos of progress so far.   Thanks to FODAD supporters, the villagers will have a toilet and plumbed in water.

Medicine and doctors visits are expensive.    For just under 12 years, FODAD has paid for  a free clinic.  Open once a week,  the clinic has 3600 registered patients and 11 voluntary doctors working in rotation.  FODAD supplies all of the prescription drugs, pays for x-rays and any specialist visits.   We also takes out vitamin supplies  from England.

Prescription drugs paid for by FODAD

Vitamins from the UK

With the Duty Doctor

Fun in the Sun

FODAD is not only about education, shoes, books and uniforms for the children  but also about giving them some fun.   We have had 3 wonderful days with different groups of children.

Four years ago we determined that the kids we support from a children's home in the interior who had never seen the sea,  should come and join us on the beach, play in the sea, have some time to play sports and then enjoy a lovely lunch.  Everyone and especially Don had a wonderful time.

Life's a Beach

Sanjay, now 16 whom we have known since he was 5

In November, we promised the children from our school on the beach a trip to anywhere of their choosing when we came back in February.      Obviously, the beach has no appeal.  They opted for Leisureworld.  A two-hour bus journey away.  Some of them were terrified by the rides but  they had a wonderful time and we arrived home exhausted having had a wonderful day out.

On the Bus

our tired group at the end of thd day

Different than the sea

On Friday March 3^rd we took 36 children, their teachers and a few parents to the zoo.     It was a really hot day and we felt sorry for the animals.  They had rather less space that we would have expected.   Nonetheless, the children had a super time and really enjoyed their ice-creams.

Half Time in Sri Lanka

The first couple of days after our arrival were spent preparing for an Almsgiving for my Mother. It is the custom to feed the needy on the Anniversary of a close family member's death. We had a lovely service at the Buddhist temple and then distributed food in the village and at St. Joseph's Church where we run our clinic.  A lovely custom.

Classroom on the Beach
We started this project when we realised that so many children's parents were paying about £1/$1.50 for extra lessons after school  These lessons appeared to make little or no difference to their ability to speak English.  3 years ago we had 17 children and last week we had 55.  We also have Maths, Science, History and computer teachers.   

The Village School

We have been involved with the government school for over 11 years.  We have fed the children every school day since then.  It is now a Primary school.  We had our prize-giving and also distributed shoes and socks.  The children we support at the local nursery also attended and were all given shoes. You can see me with a savings account book.  We have opened accounts for all the children and put about £3/$5 in each child's account whenever we visit.

Hard at work

Handing out certificates

The Clinic

FODAD has its own free clinic which is open once a week. Staffed by voluntary doctors FODAD pays for all the medication. We delivered a new blood pressure monitor and vitamins from the UK.