News Update 19

6 Oct 2005

FRIENDS OF UNAWATUNA

                                                            

As always there has been lots going on in Unawatuna.  However, first some goodbyes.  Jamie and Claire, two of the original trustees of Friends of Unawatuna, have now left for their grand tour of Africa, and we wish them well on their travels and many fond thanks for all their hard and valued work creating this charity.  We will miss them. 

Laura Dunham has now left Unawatuna, where she has been working so hard as a volunteer for several months, and returned to her home town New York.  Thank you so much, Laura, for your glorious hard work and inspiring commitment.  You will be missed!

 

Check out Laura's latest photos in the Photos section.

MV SCHOOL:

We have discovered there is another charity working for the school, which is great for the school but a little confusing in terms of who’s doing what.  We are currently working out with them how to work together on projects like the Tsunami Scholarship Programme. 

However, Laura was delighted to be able to open the Computer Room:  ‘I actually had a tear in my eye when we walked up the steps to cut the ribbon.

‘All the kids lined up across the field and we walked down the row and up the steps to officially open the Room…

‘Each teacher and parent came up to me to personally thank us and shake my hand.  They were all so thrilled that this school was finally able to have the technology needed for the students to be successful.’

We have also donated rugby kit for the MV School rugby team, and also spare white school uniforms for the poorer students who could only afford one.

TREE PLANTING:

Laura has organised the planting of 150 trees, planted with safety covers for protection on the beach.  They planted Mudilla trees which are hardy, resistant to salt water, grow quickly and provide good shelter. 

TEMPLES:

The moonstones at Roomasala Temple have been completed and are beautiful, situated outside a small room containing murals of the Buddha’s life, with an inscription:

‘In memory of all who died on December 26^th Friends of Unawatuna.’

Money has also been given to the Vri Shrimaya Temple for building work.

ESALA IN UNAWATUNA:

In a seven day event, people thronged the streets, crowded with stalls and merchandise, bringing revenue and a sense of optimism to the people of Unawatuna.  Jake, Laura, and Kate Posner switched on the lights sponsored by Friends of Unawatuna at Me Gala and the next night at Wella Devala.  Laura said ‘it was like turning on the lights in Vegas in miniature…the view from across the beach was beautiful.’

COMPUTER AND ENGLISH CLASSES:

Dave and Helen Kelly are in Unawatuna at the moment providing English classes and computer courses for around 50 adults.  We have contributed towards the cost of books and internet charges.

They are also designing and building a website that plans to give all the guesthouses and hotels in the village a presence on the net. 

LIVELIHOODS PROGRAMME:

The first round of funding has been given out in the form of vouchers to 114 beneficiaries. 

The response has been very positive, and we hope more will benefit.  So far we have helped, among others, jewellery sellers, grocery stalls, wood carvers and beach vendors. 

This Programme has been orchestrated by Project Galle 2005, who are also carrying out the Programme in other areas of the Southern Region.  We thank them for creating such a well-managed scheme that has the potential to reach so many people.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME:

We are going ahead with supporting a total of 54 children from Buona Vista Primary College and Buona Vista College in Unawatuna.  These children have all been affected by the Tsunami and will have help for the rest of their school years with paying for their education. 

The Tsunami Scholarship Programme (TSP) is a Sri Lankan charitable organisation set up in May 2005 to sponsor children in the Galle region affected by the Tsunami.  They are local residents and members of other small charities. 

We are negotiating with another charity regarding how to provide the same service to MV School.

AND IN THE PIPELINE…

We have developed close ties with Project Galle 2005, another grass-roots charity set up after the Tsunami.  One of our trustees, Jake, has been working for Project Galle for some months now in Galle.    They work closely with the Displaced Persons Camps in the region, and we are discussing ways of supporting projects that have been developed by them.   Of interest is a Drainage Proposal, critical as the monsoon season encroaches; and a Temporary Housing Scheme.   

VOLUNTEERS:

Our volunteers have now left Unawatuna, with our thanks for everything they have done. 

We would like to say a very big thank you to Sam in Unawatuna.  Without him, much of the hard work and negotiation would not have been possible.  Laura in particular wanted to thank him for his belief that we are doing great things!  She writes:

‘Sometimes, when I get frustrated, he reminds me that we are doing much good here in Unawatuna.’ 

Thank you, Sam, for all that you have done and are doing. 

Laura tells us the town has started to really come back to life.  There is lots of building work going on.  Places such as the Kingfisher and the Happy Banana are due to reopen any day now, and Submarine Diving is back in business. 

The beach is crowded outside Hard Rock and by Tartaruga, and people seem less fearful of the sea.  The restaurants are crowded and the beach vendors are weaving their way along the beach.  Well done, Unawatuna!

DONATIONS AND SUPPORT:

Donations are still coming through the post, which is fantastic, though of course less as the months go by.  We wonder what Christmas will be like.

For now, we would like to thank Western Road Primary School in Lewes for continuing to support us.  We know Friends of Unawatuna are the children’s chosen charity, so we thank you warmly.

Also we would like to thank the Lewes Old Grammer School for their very generous donation and continuing support over the months.  We shall be visiting you next week to accept the cheque – many thanks!

We would also like to thank Time magazine for its positive write-up of the great work Jake and Alexis Zarins have done during and since the Tsunami for Unawatuna.  We know, too, that the heroes and heroines, young and old, are too numerous to mention by name.

The Guernsey Financial Services Commission Sports and Social did a fantastic job and raised £1,321.45

 

Warm thanks to sister Jill Haviland and Sue Rickards, from Colchester and London, who walked El Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrim route in Northern Spain, and raised £550 in sponsorship which they have very kindly donated to us.

Many thanks to all of you for your continuing support and encouragement.

 

With warm regards,

Friends of Unawatuna  (Jake Zarins, Jon Walter and Tanya Smart, Matt Rose, Nick Keegan, Tarquin and Tine Desoutter).