ABDF

Hi everybody!

The following is the text of an email I received this morning. Several of our projects have been in conjunction with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which works among the most impoverished of Batticaloas’ poor and disenfranchised; in particular orphans, widows, and the aged. Mr. Gabriel is the President of the Society, which is located at Thandavanvely Church, on the border of Batticaloa Town. (For those of you who have been to Batti, it’s the big church on Trinco Road, just down from Sunshine Bakery.)

Dear Mr. Ben,

Wish you A Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year 2010.

Vantharumoolai (Van-TAH-roo-moo-lie) is a village about 18 miles north of Batticaloa, site of last year’s computer lab.

The school is run out of these half-finished block-style buildings.

The town is mostly made up of rice farmers, a handful of small shopkeepers and craftsmen (mechanics and such), and a few employees of Eastern University, which is some 5 miles south. The school at Vatharumoolai serves the entire community, starting with kindergarten.

The students have to use this stairwell to get to class.

Vantharumoolai (Van-TAH-roo-moo-lie) is a village about 18 miles north of Batticaloa, site of last year’s computer lab.. The town is mostly made up of rice farmers, a handful of small shopkeepers and craftsmen (mechanics and such), and a few employees of Eastern University, which is some 5 miles south. The school at Vatharumoolai serves the entire village, starting with kindergarten.

Thirruper (tee-roo-pair), short for Thirruperruntharai, is a suburb of Batticaloa, about 5 km (3 miles) north of town center. Strictly a residential community, it’s home to mostly lower middle class working families; small shopkeepers, trishaw drivers, teachers, construction workers and the like. Many commute into Batticaloa for their work.

Our water tank partner, Prabha, peers down Thirruper’s well.

As with much of the District, the 8 month long dry season means severe water shortage. The local District Secretary does provide potable water to Thirrupers’ residents; the 6,000 liter truck visits Thirruper three times a day. The problem is one of storage and distribution.

• Project Completed!
• Location: Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
• Recipients:1,500 students
• Objective:Replace school’s musical instruments
• Final cost:$2,500 US

This was truly a last minute project. After the St. Cecilia’s Multimedia Project was completed, there was a balance of funds left over. The project sponsor, Angela, had donated a quantity of funds to be used specifically for St. Cecilia’s Girls’ School, with the multimedia equipment as the priority. Next was the schools’ music program.