News Update 16

17 May 2005

News Update 16 – 17th May 2005

www.friendsofunawatuna.org.uk

Update in Unawatuna

It’s been four weeks since our last update, and during that time many of the projects we are involved in have been progressing quickly.

Firstly, many thanks to Laura, Kate, Jen and Laura, all of whom returned to Sri Lanka at their own expense and volunteered to work alongside Jake to make the projects happen. Getting anything done in the current heat and humidity is a challenge, the Buddhist New Year holidays didn’t help, but everyone has been working hard in far from ideal conditions to make these projects work. Keep up the invaluable work!

BEACH CLEANUPS:

Several beach clearances have been organised in the last few months, most of which we have been involved in, either contributing financially and/or providing volunteers. Time and tide however regularly unearth more rubble and debris that will continue to require clearing for some time to come.  Over the weekend on 30th April/1st May the IUCN World Conservation Union and the Sri Lanka Sub Aqua club organised a further clean up, providing some specialist equipment that had not previously been available. FoU were able to provide volunteers, and fund a tractor/JCB to remove some of the larger debris pulled from the sea bed which included drainage pipe and concrete telegraph poles. On 3rd and 4th May FoU organised and funded a further clean up to continue the work, in conjunction with the UTDS (www.unawatuna.info). We were able to arrange volunteers and JCBs to remove more of the seemingly endless supply of jetsam. We anticipate these beach clearances being organised on a semi-regular basis, especially as the current monsoon is likely to expose more debris.

A report from the IUCN can be seen here

UNAWATUNA MAHA VIDUHALA SCHOOL:

In addition to all the organising and chasing, Laura and Kate have just completed a redecorating marathon at the school. Laura reports:

“It was a massive job that took four days.  It does, however, look much better, cleaner, and brighter, and is therefore, a better learning environment. We had to hire two men to do the stairwell ceiling as it was over 20 feet high. This Saturday, we will finish the painting job by painting the floor in the hallway and stairwell, using heavy duty floor paint”

We are now hoping to complete the computer facilities, for which the initial electrical work and replacement of windows finished this week. Hopefully new computer facilities will not be too far behind.

One of our main projects at the school has been to replace the rather grim toilet facilities for the children. Laura and Kate have been busy chasing quotes from various contractors, prior to commencing building work on the new block.

The new FoU funded school perimeter wall has also now been approved, and building commenced in the last couple of weeks. Laura writes:

“The perimeter wall is coming along well.  The men are working seven days a week. While we were painting on Sunday, a herd of cows strolled through the grounds making it apparent that the wall was badly needed”.

We are also looking at reflooring the music room.

UNAWATUNA DISTRICT HOSPITAL

During a visit to the hospital last month the staff requested we support them by providing various items ranging from essential medical supplies through to items to improve the quality of the in-patients time. We have provided an initial £1,000 and Laura and Kate have been busy following this up, they write:

“We have finished the cleaning and painting of 55 beds and cupboards.  It looks infinitely better.  This job took three full days.  We had the help of a group of tourists who were on a working holiday from Different-Travel.  They were a huge help, as were the patients who enjoyed the company and stimulation.  They also did not mind cleaning the grossest beds and cupboards which looked like they hadn’t been cleaned since the old king died.  We also painted the tables and benches in both the men’s and women’s wards.  All of this was badly needed, and I think we all enjoyed spending time at the hospital with the patients.  They are just so funny.   They did whatever job we gave them as long as we helped them to put the gloves on.   Scrubbing anything for them was easy, getting one finger into each hole of the glove, impossible.  

On Wednesday, I went shopping for the items on the list.  We purchased a refrigerator, two televisions, two radios, three large cupboards with locks, a filing cabinet, 55 plastic files, several stainless steel water jugs, an electric urn, a water filter, sewing and painting materials, pillowcases, some stools, 48 cups, some medical supplies, and a TV antenna.  They were ecstatic to receive all of this and both the nursing officer and the head doctor said that we were the only charity to do what we had promised.  Several charities have visited the hospital after the tsunami, took pictures, and asked what they needed, and then never returned.  The head doctor is writing us a thank you letter.”

UNAWATUNA TEMPLE

The Meegaha temple is a real hub of village life, both spiritual and pastoral, and although all the shrines and statues appeared to remain untouched by the tsunami,  the perimeter wall and some of the other buildings were damaged. We are funding the rebuilding of the temple wall, which has started and is coming along very quickly. One of the buildings in the temple grounds has lost its roof, for which we are seeking quotes.

FUNDRAISING:

Nick’s appearance on Sky TV last week has generated renewed interest. Nick has personally apologised for the gaudy nature of his t-shirt.

Donations continue to arrive, including:

The Wigoder Family Trust for their very generous donated.

 

Adianne and Bauke in the Netherlands for donating despite the banking systems best efforts to prevent them!

Many thanks to Henk Jan Boer and Sietske van Harte who write:  “Last Sunday the Hash House Horrors Singapore (http://horrors.hash.org.sg/) had a memorial run for Eiso and other victims of the Tsunami. People could buy balloons which we released during the event in remembrance of Eiso.
I have just transferred the money we raised with it to Friends of Unawatuna, it should be around 950 Pound Sterling (3047 S$)”

Thank you to all the other contributions we have received but have not mentioned individually.

Kindest Regards

Friends of Unawatuna

Jake Zarins

Jamie & Claire Wilkinson

Jon Walter and Tanya Smart

Matt Rose

Tarquin and Tine Desoutter

Nick Keegan

In memory of all the Sri Lankans and visitors who lost their lives on 26th December 2004.