NEWS UPDATE 10 – 11th February 2005

On the Ground In Unawatuna

Over the last 3 weeks we have been meeting with several local organisations including Sewalanka, Friends of the South, Project Galle 2005, Unawatuna Regeneration Committee, Unawatuna Tourist Development Society and others. Our primary intention remains to fund  specific regeneration projects that have been requested by the local community. Frustratingly it appears that infrastructure regeneration projects that we can directly fund are unlikely to commence before April/May 2005. This is primarily due to confusion over if and how the 100m coastal no-build zone will be enforced, and a lack of clarity over what will be funded by the government and large NGOs, and where the gaps are that we can effectively fill.

Whilst these discussions continue, we have been actively undertaking short term projects. These include; initial clearance of blockages in the old Dutch Canal, the rebuilding of the perimeter wall at the Anuladevi Balika school, provision of school books, pens and shoes for 250 pupils, the cleaning, re-

roofing, painting, and furnishing of damaged classrooms in the Unawatuna MV school, and the installation and funding of school Internet access.

We are currently discussing new projects which include; the opening of a new pre-school in Unawatuna, badly needed new facilities at a local orphanage, new toilets and drama block at Unawatuna MV school, provision of fishing boats, rebuilding another school perimeter wall, as well as continuing to work towards our main goal of funding larger scale redevelopment when specific requirements have been agreed within the community.

Jake Zarins and Matt Rose are returning to the UK this weekend for a well deserved rest. Matt has not been home since December and has been instrumental in organising a lot of these short term projects. He has also organised relief in other areas of Sri Lanka. Jake returns to Unawatuna in a couple of weeks. Aleksis Zarins and Vee are still over there, along with Shaun and Becky Dyke. Kelvin Doble will be going out shortly.

Finally, does anybody know of Tim and Angela, who were in Sri Lanka during the tsunami? He had worked for the British High Commission and was at the Rock House at some point. Henk Jan Boer and family are trying to locate them. If you know them, could you please contact us.

Fundraising

Money’s still flooding in from all over the world  - we have reached the £80,000 mark. And it’s all down to your donations and fundraising efforts – thank you!

Below are some of the fundraising efforts that haven taken place/are underway.

Ang Doxey has completed her head shave and pink colour, with £500 pledged so far. The before and after photos are on the website and can be found here .

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Wendy Haycock (nee Lee) not only managed to get married, after having to cancel her original wedding in Unawatuna, she has also been busy raising money and rallying friends and family. Here’s Wendy’s update from Colchester:

£1907.00 approx from Clacton County High School, where I (Wendy Lee now Wendy Haycock) work.  The students had a non-uniform day, the recommended donation was £1 but many students put more than that in and some even put in their Christmas money!!

3 students from my school Charlie Smith, Jake Millar and Arron Wilkinson completed their sponsored walk and the total raised is now £1083.00 which the school is now going to send with the Gift aid form.

The wedding went ahead last Saturday and we have raised over £800.00 in donations from the wedding guests, including: -

* £300 from Jayne and Danny Blacklock who were the highest bidders for an overnight hotel stay (which they then very generously gave us as a wedding present)

* £130.00 from Langenhoe Primary School

* £250.00 from us (which was the fee the wedding venue which they waived)

* the rest was kindly donated by the wedding guests

In addition to that Steve Haycock's school, St Helena, Colchester are now ready to send...£900 which was raised by Miriam and Dave Smith who had their heads shaved for Unawatuna....£340 was raised Friday 4th Feb at a quiz night and £1300 for their non-uniform day.

Another forthcoming event is Clacton County High's X factor finals next week

Many thanks to everyone involved and many congratulations to Wendy & Steve.

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Tine Desoutter has been busy organising and promoting the FoU and reports the following:

Master William Pearson and Miss Charlotte Pearson raised £101 for FoU by doing a sponsored 'No sweets for 2 weeks' ... we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported them and congratulate them both on their efforts. Well Done!

Gemma Robinson (aged 7) from Vinehall School in Robertsbridge,  took it upon herself to sell some cakes and raised £9.00 for FoU.  We would like to thank her for showing such initiative. Well Done Gemma!

 Vinehall Schools Non Uniform bring a £1.00 FoU Charity Day got off to a very bright and positive start and the Desoutters’, with the generous support of Sainsburys plc, handed out 450 tubes of Smarties ... the idea being that once the children have enjoyed the contents tasks will be undertaken during the course of the next 5 weeks, for example dogwalking, mucking out, tidying up toy cupboards, washing up, giving Mummy breakfast in bed! to name but a few The tubes will then be collected on Friday, 18th March filled (we hope!) with 20p pieces (a filled tube holds £16!).  We are very grateful to the Rye and Battle Observer for following our story and indeed for Justin the photographer turning up to assembly at 08.15 this morning! The children of both the Preprep and Main school are very excited to be able to personally help make a difference to Unawatuna ... Many thanks to everyone and we hope you will all have great fun filling your tubes... watch this space!

Tine’s article in the Battle & Rye Observer raised £5020.00 from people moved by our story and consequently wished to donate their monies to FoU.  

A BIG thank you to Mrs Linda Thompson who is arranging 10 lent lunches with a group of close friends to help raise money for FoU.  Each person will be charged £10 to attend (this being donated) and they then all in turn have to have 5 people for lunch and again charge £10 ... a great idea and we are very grateful to her for coordinating this event.

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Henk Jan Boer and family would like to personally like to thanks all friends and family in the Netherlands and Singapore who have donated money in the remembrance of their son, Eiso.  

Kind regards to everyone

Jake Zarins

Jamie & Claire Wilkinson

Jon Walter & Tanya Smart.

Tarquin & Tine Desoutter.