ABDF

• Project Completed Update! (See below)
• Location: Mangikkadu, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
• Recipients:30 students, two teachers
• Objective:Security fence for a school
• Final cost:$590 US

The school and weakly fenced in grounds.

Mangikkadu, the site of one of our water tank projects, is a village of 127 households about 9 km west of Batticaloa. It is on the opposite (“land-side”) shore of the lagoon that separates Batticaloa from the interior. Until 2007 it was LTTE-held territory. This meant that development was almost non-existent before the government re-took the area, and today development is an extremely slow process.

The villagers are served by one small one-room community center that during the day functions as a preschool and kindergarten. Although many area children, even small children, regularly work in the fields alongside their parents, they do attend school most days. On a typical day there are 30 students in class.

The children that attend the school in Mangikkadu.

In late 2007 the community center was completed. The school has been operating from the building since 2008. The grounds are notably lacking in effective fencing. In Sri Lanka fences are required by law around schools; otherwise they face a cut-off in funding. In rural areas fencing is especially important to prevent animals, both wild and domesticated, from destroying school property, as well as to provide security for the students during the daytime.

Currently the school has a makeshift fence of tree branches with a bit of wire strung between. It does not meet government standards, nor does it prevent the odd cow or goat from entering the property. (One night the school was visited by a wild elephant!) Thus village leaders approached ABDF.org and requested we provide them with proper fencing.

Just wood and wire, not the best protection.

Another view of the sad little fence around the school.

Fortunately, our project in tandem with the Jephcott Charitable Trust (UK) at Peryapullumalai resulted in both a bit of a balance in the bank account, as well as excess concrete fence posts and rolls of barbed wire, enough to surround the Mangikkadu property with a quality secure fence. Jephcott has generously offered the remaining funds and materials to be used at Mangikkadu. Project costs will be cut down considerably; rather than buying everything new, we will pay for the transport of the extra materials from Periyapulmalai to Mangikkadu, and will only have to buy concrete for the foundation of the fence. Labor costs too, will be significantly reduced. We anticipate this project will start in July 2009.

ABDF.org wishes to thank our friends at Jephcott, and also in particular Jerry and Sue Allen, on behalf of ourselves and the people of Mangikkadu.

Project Completed Update - September 5, 2009

The beautiful and secure new fence!

Checking out the new fence.

Today our new fence around the school at Mangikkadu was completed. Just in time too; school starts Monday!

Compare to the pictures above, and you can really see the difference between the old rickety fence and the new one!

The sturdy fence should do a good job of keeping animals out and kids in. The Divisional Secretary for the area, as well as the village head and ABDF, wish to thank Jerry and Sue Allan, as well as Heather and David Taylor, for providing the school its fence. Great going guys! Thank you!

Another view of the new fence.