FODAD's corner of Sri Lanka in uncertain times

We thought it would be timely to provide an update on FODAD’s recent activities as many of  you will have seen that Sri Lanka is currently facing a devastating economic crisis and resulting political instability. 

We have not been able to visit Sri Lanka since the end of February 2020. The nationwide curfews continued through much of that year and into this. At the time of writing, the President has now resigned and fled the country, which is bankrupt, after months of protests. There are no foreign reserves and as a result there are few imports. This means there are few drugs available – not even basic pain killers and certainly no drugs to treat severe illness. There are constant power cuts, and every social class is severely impacted. Despite all the unwelcome news, we have experienced smiles and positivity. We are told that the mass peaceful demonstrations have resulted in a unity of the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and Muslim communities that has never been seen before.

The need for FODAD support in the village has been greater than ever. 

Education

2 British friends in Sri Lanka helped us with the distribution of new uniforms and school shoes for all the children.

The schools have opened and closed and opened and closed again. All in all, the children will have lost a whole year of education. There was no online teaching for the non-private schools though some had lessons by telephone. Our own schoolroom re-opened in May 2022 having only been open for a few weeks in 2021.

Chamika, whom we have known since she was a tiny child, got her A levels. Her life ambition is to be a police officer and we are funding her through university.  This is what she wrote (sic):

Hello 😇

I'm Chamika from Sri Lanka.One of those who had the opportunity to get your valuable help.How are you all doing.I hope you are all well and safe.

I sat for A/L examination in October last year.The results were little late due to the epidemic.However I passed the exam well.I have 2 A passes and 1 B passe. Aulthough I went to accounts class with your help, still I have B passe for it.But Im very happy with that, because I was very week in accounts subject.Somehow I was able to pass the subject as well.I think I qualify for univetsity too.If I get selected for univetsity I hope to go.

I always have something to say, in fact you are behind all my success, I will never forget the help you did.A lot of people helped me get into this situation and you are special.Really thank you so much for all the help you have given me.For all that you do, you have to live a healthy and happy life everyday.Finally thank you so much , may god bless you and stay safe  

Chamika receiving her funding for university.

Natasha who was born in the village after the Tsunami has passed her O levels and we are funding her further education.

Kishmi, Udaya’s daughter has taken her A levels and we wait patiently for her results.

Smith, whom we have supported since 2005 and who has a tragic family background, became a teacher this year. He is in his probationary year and earning a little money of his own.  Through his own grit and determination, Smith has realised his dream to become a teacher. We could not be more proud.

Smith teaching his class

Distribution of dry food rations 

This has been needed even more so this year. In the past calendar year, we have sent over £16,000 in relief money for dry food rations to the village.

 

 

Annual Christmas party for the children

Udaya, the fisherman who is FODAD in Sri Lanka – we have no staff/no overheads – arranged a wonderful Christmas party for  43 children on the beach and we put money in the savings accounts we had opened for them.

Supporting local livelihoods

The fishing boat we originally donated was no longer seaworthy and so in the Spring of this year we bought a new boat and a new engine. Sadly, at the time of writing there is no oil for the engine, but we hope that in time things will change and it will help bring self sufficiency to the village.

FODAD in the Time of Covid

Learning about Coronavirus at our school on the beach

A year ago, we were in Sri Lanka. Arriving at the airport, we went through a temperature scan and at the hotel we were  given masks and told to use hand-gel whenever we came in or out. Security on the door was strict and had been since the Easter 2019 bombings but tourism was picking up again. It’s hard to believe that a year on, we are still living through the pandemic and haven’t been able to return to Sri Lanka. However despite the difficulties and challenges, there has been no break in continuity of FODAD's support for its projects. 

Where We Left Off 

After one of our most successful trips for Friends of Della and Don, we left Sri Lanka on March 1st 2020. We were excited by the way things were going at the Government school we support, by the successes of some of the children we had known for 16 years, by the constant use of our clinic and the children supported through it and most of all by how well the village children were doing through attendance at our schoolroom on the beach.  We  had enjoyed a memorable day out with the girls whom we had first met at an orphanage in 2005. We had supported their schooling. Now many of them are married, some now with children. We had a brilliant time reliving our memories. We hired a bus, and they sang all the way to the resort we visited and then all the way back. Their husbands and children joined us too. We should have been back to Sri Lanka in October and there now.  We are always there in February. Some of you may know what FODAD has been doing in the time of Covid through Facebook or Instagram but for the many of you who are not on those platforms, here is a quick update.

Handing out shoes

Della and Don with the girls from the orphanage

Handing out food

Don, Sanjay and Wishwa

FODAD & COVID

On March 23rd, 2020 Sri Lanka imposed a nationwide curfew that has remained in place on and off since then. Airports and ports were closed and Sri Lankans who repatriated had to stay in approved quarantine hotels or government camps. Sri Lanka has registered less than 400 deaths.

The impact on both the economy, employment and education has been severe. 

Our village is dependent on fishing or on employment at the hotel. Fish markets shut down and the hotel closed to tourists – resulting in mass unemployment. 

Thanks to Smartphones we have been in touch with Udaya (the fisherman who runs almost everything for us) at least once a week.

Our schoolroom teachers are part-time and for each discipline only teach  once a week.  We continued to pay them. They all have families, and we see them as members of the FODAD team. 

When schools briefly reopened for a short time, we made sure that we followed government guidelines in our own school room. It was thoroughly cleaned, disinfected and we supplied hand-gel and masks for everyone. Every day, the beach is cleaned. There is much greater understanding around the importance of plastic disposal and the danger it poses to the environment and their livelihoods in the village. 

Covid safety measures

We have  supplied  food and emergency funds in the village and paid medical bills when necessary.

In May we were delighted when Rasanga who attends our schoolroom got 3 As in her O’level exams which she had taken the previous December. This was solely due to her attendance in the schoolroom and her own determination and brains of course. 

Smith, whom we had visited with such pride, in his first month at teacher training college could not do his online lessons when the college closed. He was the only student without a laptop or internet connection. FODAD bought him a computer and supplied internet, so he can participate online in his lessons alongside his classmates. 

Udaya, Della, Smith, his mother Doreen, and Don, Feb 2020

Smith doing online lessons

 

New Year's party on the beach

On December 26th we joined the children virtually as we commemorated the deaths of those who died in the 2004 Tsunami and at New Year, we arranged for the children from our village to have a party on the beach. We joined it briefly on WhatsApp. They were having the best of times.

New Year's party on the beach

New Year's party on the beach

Throughout, we have been extremely touched by the messages of concern from people in Sri Lanka we have known during the past sixteen years. They have been horrified by the numbers in the UK and worried about us because we are “old”. One of the hotel employees sends us a daily message. Our charity is so personal and we know almost everyone who has benefited through donations. We hope you feel as if you know them also. 

Today, we heard that the schools may be allowed to reopen next week, and I am hoping to hear that our small clinic will reopen also. As I write the schoolroom is being refurbished, the benches and chair repainted and we are keeping our fingers crossed! As always, a huge thanks to all of our supporters (moral and financial) for allowing us to continue what we do during these extremely challenging times! 

16th anniversary of the Asian tsunami

Repainting

Repainting

One Constant in a Sea of Confusion

The attacks in Sri Lanka were a deep shock to us all. No individual known to FODAD was killed, but everyone has been deeply affected. Government schools have been closed since the attacks and curfews were immediately put in place.  There is still a State of Emergency and although the curfews have been lifted in our area they remain in place on the east coast. FODAD immediately reacted and sent relief money to Udaya in our fishing village.  He was quickly able to distribute food and/or money to those in our village who needed it the most as there was no fishing allowed. 

Udaya handing out food parcels

Udaya handing out food parcels

We are immensely pleased that on May 2nd, our school room on the beach re-opened and has been running classes as usual.  These are even more vital given that schools remain closed. As well as education, the school on the beach has been a good distraction from the current climate of fear for the children in the village. Lessons have continued as usual, with particular highlights being English Language, Maths, Science and History.

Lessons continuing as usual

English language class

Maths class

History class

The impact of the loss of tourism will have a knock-on effect on everyone in Sri Lanka. We are in constant touch with Udaya and will react to any urgent requests for assistance. If anyone would like more in-depth information or feels they can offer any assistance, please contact us at: mail@friendsofdellaanddon.com 

4 FODAD Educational Projects!

A great welcome

Government School
We made many visits to the school we have supported for over 14 years. Now, one of the ex-pupils, a girl from our village called Ishani, is a part-time teacher paid by FODAD.  Our friends have paid for the children to have a nutritious meal in the school every day since June 2005.  We  gave prizes for “best pupils” bought uniforms,  shoes, socks and  put money into the  bank accounts we opened some years ago for each child.  We played with the children in the newly-repaired playground which we opened on the 1st Anniversary  of the Tsunami 13 years ago. The teachers are very poorly paid and it pains us that they are so grateful when we give them vouchers for a pair of shoes.

Food, glorious food 

In the playground

Prize-giving

Jungle Nursery
We drove for 90 minutes to visit the pre-school in the jungle.  It was a wonderful experience to see the children whose teachers are so dedicated that they had taken an enormous pay reduction.  They put on performances that were so well choreographed it was hard to believe the circumstances they had to learn in.  We distributed educational materials, shoes and socks. We also gave the money for a local tailor to make uniforms.  Once again we gave vouchers for the teachers to buy shoes as well as making a commitment to help with their continued employment. Afterwards we were fed a wonderful local feast.  We are taking the cinnamon sticks home with us!

Food in the jungle and cinnamon to take home!

A warm welcome in the jungle

Newbies!

Shoes

School-room on the Beach
We employ 5 teachers  in our school-room on the beach and it operates 7 days a week every afternoon after school finishes at 1.30. The children are now speaking better English and are passing exams.  We distributed uniforms and shoes for the government schools they attend in the mornings and also put money into the bank accounts we opened for them. We have a wonderful spoken English teachers for Grades 1-5 but currently  we don’t have a teacher for the higher grades. This is really disappointing and we will keep looking.

Grades 1-5 spoken English

Shoes, uniforms  and bank books distributed to all!

Local Pre-School 
The local pre-school which we have supported and where we have fed the children for 14 years has a greatly reduced number of children due to a brand new pre-school which has been opened by a Japanese charity.  This is actually a good thing. The 2 teachers we have known for years are seriously dedicated. We bought the children their new shoes and socks and sat with them while they had the lunch we provide.

Shoes!

Food again!

The Big Beach Clean-Up

When we last visited Sri Lanka in February/March of this year we became increasingly concerned about the lack of ecological awareness in the village, particularly concerning the dangers of burning plastic and leaving it on the beach. As a fishing community whose lives are heavily dependent on the sea, we were keen to improve people's knowledge on this issue. Sadly, the situation was not helped by the lack of support from the municipal council who did not encourage the village to protect their local environment. 

New signs in the village & the freshly painted class room

Before she left Sri Lanka, our friend Sarah Greaves left a power-point presentation with Udaya (the fisherman who is FODAD in Ratmalana)  It explained  the dangers of plastic in the ocean and was for use in our beach classroom. By chance, a group of students met Colin (the fisherman who prevented Della from drowning in the Asian Tsunami) and were enthusiastic to help clean the village beach.    They got in touch with Della, who advised them to share the presentation  with the  school and the wider village community. Udaya invited the  local priest who came to share the message. Much to our great joy, Kishmi (Udaya's daughter) was appointed translator., She could not have done this without the English lessons at our school on the beach. 
When the municipal council saw the effort going into cleaning the  beach, they agreed to be come involved in regular garbage collections. 

Local priest sharing the message (Kishmi translating on the right)

Using the laptop bought by Sue Liddiard in March

Colin painting the class room

After the first few hours of cleaning (English teacher third on the left)