ABDF

• Location: Karungalisolai, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
• Recipients:95 students, 5 teachers
• Objective:Connect school to electric grid
• Final cost:$141 US

Karungalisolai is a village outside Valanchchenai, in the northern part of Batticaloa District. As it abuts the ocean, it was heavily affected by the 2004 tsunami. In addition, the area has seen a flood of IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) into the area as a result of last years’ 2007 military offensive; the front lines were/are a mere 8 kilometers distant. Continued low-level unrest, coupled with discouragement from security forces means that most IDPs have not yet returned home.

That's the school building on the left. Note the power lines just across the street.

Sri Krishna Vidyalayam (School) serves the elementary school-aged population, both of locals and IDPs. Currently there are 95 children in attendance. In June of 2007 AmeriCares built a fine new two-story school building. It is equipped with ceiling fans, a water pump to fill the large water tanks on the roof, energy-efficient lighting, and so forth. However, no provision was made to hook the school up to the electrical grid.

As a result, the students swelter during the day in the dark, and must use the property’s single tube well, which doesn’t pump sufficient amounts of water. The spigots in the toilets don’t work as they rely on water pressure from the tanks on the roof, which can not be filled because the water pump has no power. The kitchen, which provides breakfast and lunch to the students, suffers from a similar water problem.

The vidyalayams' principal (left) and head teacher (right).

The Program Director sees this situation frequently; for whatever reason the sponsor(s) of a project will not arrange for the delivery of electricity. Perhaps it is a funding or accounting issue, but many new public buildings, including schools, are never powered up.

OK so it's not a dramatic picture, but those are the power lines that now connect to the school.

To visit the school is an exercise in the ridiculous; you have a wonderful brand-new building with all sorts of supplies and equipment to enhance the learning environment and none of them can be used. All for a lack of an electricity connection that can be arranged through the Electricity Board for around $150US. It’s just crazy, considering all the money put into building and furnishing the school.

ABDF.org was happy to provide the money for this electrical connection. To do otherwise would result in a tremendous waste of people’s time, energy and money. And most of all, it would deprive the students of a functional learning environment.

Hi there! Some of the schools' students.