It has been a while since our last newsletter was published; therefore, we have a lot to tell. Are you reading along with us? Thank you for your interest!
Visit to Sri Lanka
Cor and Sieni have returned from their holiday in Sri Lanka. They visited the new project there. They were very deeply moved to see the poverty in the area and a population worn down by war.
90% of the women are widowed. Sometimes they live without, but more often with children. There was one ray of hope: on November 16, when the sewing school was offically opened. Our local contact persons had waited for Cor and Sieni to perform the ceremony. The gratitude of the women c.q. students of the sewing school was impressive (the Havonos site will soon bring the account of their journey; unfortunately, due to Sieni becoming ill, matters have been delayed).
Collaboration with ZOA In a previous newsletter we talked about a possible collaboration with ZOA. In Colombo Cor and Sieni visited ZOA's headquarters in Sri Lanka. ZOA staff accompanied them on their journey through the new project area.
ZOA builds so-called “shelters” (you can hardly call them “houses”) for those who are slowly returning from the camps: complete families and groups of four people or more. Everything these people owned had been destroyed or had completely disappeared. They have nothing whatsoever. The shelters provide for a primitive roof above their heads; roofs and walls are usually made of corrugated iron and built on a small, three-brick high foundation. Sadly, there is no money for sanitary facilities and (clean) drinking water wells. Therefore, this will be our first project in the context of cooperation with ZOA: HAVONOS wants to provide for the necessary money to place simple sanitary facilities and lavatories. In addition, we want to renovate the wells, or, if renovation appears to be impossible, to build new ones. We will keep you informed about how we plan to collect sufficient money; it goes without saying that every bit of financial support is - and will continue to be - most welcome!
HAVONOS at Christmas Fair Wijhe
Unfortunately we’re a little bit late issuing our December newsletter this year. The Christmas Fair in Wijhe was on last Saturday, December 17. Havonos was there too. Louis Borgonjen, the renowned butcher and sausage maker put his gold awarded sausages at our disposal and we sold them at the Christmas Fair. The sales proved his sausages are still very much appreciated; we were able to earn a royal sum of € 280,=
Gerda and Louis and all people who made this possible: thank you very much!
Farewell to Florentina de Weerd as a Board Member of HAVONOS
Like her husband Henk, Florentina has been involved with Havonos right from the start. Together we have accomplished many things. When the projects in Nilaveli came to an end, Florentina became aware of a personal feeling of finalization. Her busy schedule at the company which she runs together with Henk as well as the desired attention for her family have urged her to make a decision: Florentina will stop participating as an active board member of Havonos on the first of January 2012. Fortunately, she will remain closely involved with the ups and downs of our organization; therefore, we can count on their continuing support and interest for Havonos.
Florentina, we are most grateful for everything you have done for us, and above all, for the people in Sri Lanka!
Season’s Greetings
For us, the year 2011 passed in a flash. It is Christmas time again and that means 2012 is readily approaching.
We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and interest during the past year. Without you we could not possibly have achieved what has been realized now. With gratitude we look back on the completion of our projects in the Nilaveli area, and with confidence we will start our new challenge in the Vanni district. We hope we may continue to count on your support of our work for our new projects in the near future. It is so desperately needed, and together we can achieve so much!
For now we wish you very nice and happy holidays and a great start to the new year. May 2012 bring you what you wish for yourself and your loved ones.
See here the Christmas greetings from Sri Lanka.
With warm Christmas greetings.
October
We have lots of news to tell and are delighted. Therefore, we will push off right away.
New member of the board
Through the Volunteers Center we have made contact with Jan Bubberman. Cor and Sieni have had several talks with Jan, and are pleased to announce Jan will take on the position of treasurer at Havonos. We heartily welcome Jan into our ranks!
New Project Area
As you may have read in previous newsletters already, we have launched activities for and within a new project area, the Vanni district. Two members of the board hope to visit the new area this very year in order to do a spot check inventory of the state of affairs. They will decide which activities primarily demand our attention. As soon as we know more about this, we will let you know in one of our next newsletters.
Trainees under Social Traineeship
In recent years, it has become mandatory for students in secondary education to spend a couple of hours per year doing a social training. For the first time in its history, Havonos was able to attract two trainees: Roy Tuten and and Koen van de Post. They will mainly be involved in photo and film materials; including writing reports and assisting with new actions. The first contacts are promising!
The Volunteers Center Again
Again through the Volunteers Center, we have made our aquaintance with Marousia van der Woerdt. She is a 20-year-old student who wants to dedicate herself to Havonos. Among other things, Marousia will help rejuvenating our website (with regard to the new project area); and she has plans to organize a major benefit action No doubt you will hear more about that later.
RCTM-schoolproject
These are the last pictures of the RCTM-schoolproject.
It looks great.
1%-Club
In our previous newsletter we wrote about Cor and Sieni’s visit tot the 1%-club in Amsterdam. We can now say that we have recently reached the amount of money needed for our second project, “Opportunities for Women: a Sequel”. We hereby want to express our heartfelt thanks to the generous givers! Of course we thank the people of the 1%-club as well for their unabating effort and support
Contact with ZOA
Several times we have had contact with ZOA (Dutch) to talk about an intensive collaboration. These contacts are promising, and there are currently two proposals for our new project area. During their stay in Sri Lanka, our board members will do a spot check inventory of the situation including the proposals; they will do so together with Gerard Hooiveld from ZOA Colombo. In one of our next newsletters we will tell you how this collaboration is being realized.
Christmas
The dark days are here again and Christmas is approaching. The time of cheerfulness, warmth and reflection. We want to remind you that dobations to Havonos are tax-deductible because we are an ANBI-organisation. Therefore, if you might be wondering how to spend your Christmas bonus this year, we would dearly like to recommend the work of Havonos to you!
So far the news of October. We conclude with thanking you deeply for your interest in and support of our projects,
On behalf of the board,
Sincerely,
September
We sincerely hope that all of you enjoyed your holidays, this in spite of the disappointing Summer weather. And that you have once again picked up on your every day-life routine, well-rested, sound and safe.
We had a couple of quiet months, during which many things happened, mainly in Sri Lanka. Preparations and launch of the projects in the Vanni district have been put in motion. Father Gunam regularly commutes between his own post and the Vanni district, in order to assist and advise his colleagues Fathers Paul, Stany and René.
Here in the Netherlands we have had our first meeting of the new season so far. We have a few heartwarming messages for you.
Visit to the 1%-club in Amsterdam
Cor and Sieni went to Amsterdam during their holidays. They paid a visit to the 1%-club there, an organisation which we owe a lot. Thanks to donations collected by the 1% club we were able to provide sewing machines to graduated women from the sewing school in Nilaveli. In addition, the education for bridal make-up, -bouquets and icing of wedding cakes has almost entirely been realized; a sum of € 485,- however, is still needed to complete the project. Who helps us to do so? See
Personnel of the 1%-club informed Cor and Sieni about an extraordinary donation indeed. Expresso, a renowned fashion (design) agency of very good repute, heard about the sewing education in Sri Lanka via the 1%-club. In order to support our project, the agency provided us a stupendous amount of haberdasheries such as zippers, sewing-threads etc. We find this an incredibly heartwarming gesture and are very grateful for it!
As size and weight of the gift are too large for us to personally take to Sri lanka, we got permission to sell part of the supplies here in the Netherlands.
As for this, who would be willing to assist at the sales? The quality of the products is first class without exception.
If you consider giving us a hand, please contact:
Sieni Schouten, tel. 0572-353447
Sponsored schoolchildren
We have been active in the Trincomalee district for a period of six years now. We were quick to find sponsors who enabled children to go to school, where they received an education as well as a good meal. At this time, the first children are leaving school, whereas some of the most talented ones will continue their education at university. This involves extra costs. Havonos supports a couple of these children, so that they will be able to embark on their future fully prepared.
Extra hands
Cor and Sieni had a most fertile holiday, for they were visited by ‘old’ acquaintances, among whom Janine Vermeulen and Jinai Loots.
Jinai has been a friend of Havonos right from the start. It was such a warm reunion that she spontaneously offered to do something for Havonos again. To be continued…!
In addition, we received an offer from a local advertising agency to produce a professional brochure for us. You will hear about this development as soon as we are able to tell you more.
So far the news of September. We would have been proud to show you the photos of the main entrance of the RCTM school, but these had not arrived at our place by the time this newsletter was issued. We hope to be able to inform you about our new sewing project and other projects in the Vanni district, and show you the first photos.
We wish to conclude this newsletter with expressing our deepest gratitude for your interest for and support of our projects.
September- Breaking news - Shortly after mentioning the sum of € 485,- which was still needed to finalize our education project (see the passage above), I can now tell you that we managed to collect the money! Thanks to an incredibly generous gift of the AdvocatenKollectief (Lawyers’ Collective), the project “Opportunities for Women, A Follow-up” has been completed. We are overjoyed with this gesture, thank you so much!
As the Havonos board, we hereby wish to thank ‘our’ project members and fellow workers of the 1%-club from the bottom of our heart.
June
It has been a couple of relatively quiet months on the project front. This has had several causes:
1. The completion of the Nilaveli projects, with the result that people there can go on with their lives independently. Naturally, Father Gunam will continue to keep us informed of the latest developments;
2. Father Gunam moved to a new area: the area where Father Gunam is currently stationed, is beyond "our" region (the North East of Sri Lanka), but within traveling distance of it. This move meant that Father Gunam needed time to settle, and -
3. - together with befriended colleagues, to embark on new projects in the Vanni district. You can read more about the latter below.
Three-year agreement signed with OMI Last week we signed a three-year agreement with OMI (Oblates of Mary Immaculate). OMI is run by friends/colleagues of Father Gunam.
Fr. P. Nadchethiram OMI
With this agreement we pledge our support to the project in the Vanni district for a minimum of three years. This is the project we told you about in our previous newsletter (April-May 2011). We are confident that we will be able to positively contribute to a better future for the people living there.
Fr. S. Stanislaus OMI
As always, we aim to improve the population’s ability to cope for itself by giving them a helping hand. We will keep you informed of developments, as you have come to expect from us.
ZOA - EO Metterdaad about Sri Lanka
In the last month of June, organisation EO Metterdaad focused on the impact of the floods in Sri Lanka. This was done in collaboration with ZOA (Southeast Asia). We have good contacts with the people of ZOA and are currently exploring possible cooperation, because we operate in the same area. Have you missed the four broadcasts of EO Metterdaad, and do you wish to see our project area, then surf online to: www.nederlandhelpt.nl/uitzendingen. There you can watch the broadcasted episodes again.
Asparagus fair and lily show at De Weerd
Asparagus fair and lily show at De Weerd family, held during the weekend of 28 and 29 May, was once again a great success. Many knew to find their - by now familiar - way to the company. HAVONOS was also present with a stand. (see photo with subtitle of Els and Wim below). We were able to have a good trade, as we collected € 250, =, selling all sorts of trinkets from Sri Lanka; and we happy to receive plenty of free gifts as well. We are very grateful for this support of our work.
We are two friends…you and I….
So far this newsletter. Will you be going on vacation or do you stay home? In either case, we wish you all a wonderful, sunny and relaxing Summer.
Kind regards and thank you for your interest.
APRIL - MAY
New Projects – RTCM School In Sri Lanka, Father Gunam is busy setting up new projects. Information can be found in this newsletter. We have also posted pictures of the RCTM school on our website.
You can now see for yourselves what has been achieved with the money we raised for this project with the support of De Wilde Ganzen (The Wild Geese). Included in our thanks are the following instances, companies and organisations: RKBS De Bolster, CBS De Schutse, De Oude Kassa (Veenendaal); all supermarkets allowing us to place our deposit slips buses, several churches in Salland and Twente, and all those who made it possible for us to do this project with the support of their donations.
Bazaar in Nilaveli
Father Gunam told us that the women of Nilaveli organized a bazaar, where they sold their homemade (sewing) products. It was a great success!
Father Gunam reported about the joy of the women. They are you very grateful to you, the loyal benefactors and supporters of Havonos, because their dream has become reality. Without your support, this would not have been possible (and that is what they tell us in the video clip).
Project Area Vanni: Kanagapuram, Selvanagar,Mulangavil en Vislivamadhu
In our last newsletter we told you Havonos will be transferring its activities to a new project area. The villages mentioned in the title of this paragraph are part of the project. The area in question is in the North of Sri Lanka and is called the Vanni district. As from now, we mean this area when talking about Vanni.
Our previous newsletter did not mention Selvanagar; this was incorrect, as we aim to start our activities in this very place.
Fathers Paul and Stany are stationed in this area. They lead an organisation which is similar to the SAC in Nilaveli and they are personal acquaintances of Father Gunam, who supports them with the projects in his function as supervisor. As a supervisor, Father Gunam will continue to be involved in the projects in the Nilaveli area.
Vanni has suffered heavily under the recent civil war, even more so than the Trincomalee district. As we mentioned in our previous newsletter, it was in Vanni where the final offensive of the war took place. Lots of children became orphans and many families lost their breadwinners. In order to remain largely self-supportive, familes tend to keep their children away from school – children, who have already been traumatised by the war.
There is a lot of work to be done and rebuilding the infrastructure will take up several years, but there is no many to pay for all that. Therefore, financial support is very much needed.
Never change a winning concept…
As the sewing school and other courses in Nilaveli have turned out to be such a great success, the people of Vanni are eager to set up similar educations in their own surroundings. In this, they were well-advised by Father Gunam.
In the next three years approximately 684 youngsters will receive an education. The advantages of this project are big:
1. The concept is familiar and therefore, relatively easy to apply;
2. Young people are offered an opportunity to develop themselves; in other words, they will find an aim in life;
3. Once they have finished their education, young people can make products and deliver services, thus earning a living for themselves and their families;
4. The positive influence of this bright spot in their otherwise bleak future is immensely valuable
The board of havonos is convinced of the importance of this new project and has decided to support it financially and morally. You understand that we cannot do this on our own and therefore ask to you help us and give your financial support once again. Together we will be able to offer these people a dignified existence.
So far this newsletter.
Kind regards and thank you for your interest.
MARCH
Time goes fast, and so it did in the months of February and March. We had only few substantial announcements to make in February; therefore, you did not receive a newsletter that month. Right now we have lots to say, so let us start immediately!
Emergency Relief
Last time we wrote about the disastrous floods in Sri Lanka and Father Gunam’s efforts to help the affected area. Father Gunam was able to do so thanks to financial aid from Havonos, which means, thanks to your support.
Below you will see the photos sent by Father Gunam; on them, you can see how the emergency aid was spent and how the goods were distributed among the population. In our last letter you could read about the floods.
A Milestone: Mission Accomplished
A short title with a tremendous impact: we are very glad and proud to be able to tell you we have recently done our last money transfer for our projects in and around Nilaveli.
Thanks to mainly your support we have been able to complete the last projects. In Nilaveli the final work is still being done. Havonos’ aim has always been to guide people in need to self-sufficiency; according to Father Gunam, many are now able to help themselves.
It goes without saying that we as well as the population of the project area are very grateful to you. (photos will follow)
Relocation of Father Gunam
The completion of financial aid to the villages in and around Nilaveli virtually coincides with the relocation of Father Gunam by the church. Since early this year he has been working in Kandy in the heart of Sri Lanka.
However, for a long time now we have known Father Gunam as an enthusiastic man who is more than willing to give his all to the less fortunate among the population. It would not be like him if he could not find a solution. And he did find a solution indeed, as you can read in the following:
1. For the time being, Father Gunam will continue to advise and support the SAC in and around Nilaveli. In addition, he will keep an eye on the projects, particularly on the agricultural projects and the (vocational) educations that have been set up. In this way, we can be reassured there will be ongoing progress;
2. Father Gunam has found a new project area, the Vanni district. This area is situated in the northern part of the country. This is where last year’s final offensive of the long-lasting war took place; it is the very area of Sri Lanka that has been devastated most. As Havonos, we want to help Father Gunam and his similarly engaged fellow-Fathers to rebuild the area, aiming to offer the population opportunities to become self-sufficient. Lots of things need to be done in this area in every respect.
Father Gunam has already sent us a first wish list, complete with budget. Among other things, it mentions setting up a sewing school again, this because of its successes in the past; and next, an orphanage for war orphans.
Of course we will inform you about these projects as soon as we know more.
The locations involved are Kanagapuram, Mulangavil and Vislivamadhu.
Foster Children in Nilaveli
Several children in and around Nilaveli have found foster parents in the Netherlands. We can well imagine that many foster parents wonder in what respect the completion of the Nivalevi project as well as Father Gunam leaving the area will affect them, and how their contributions are spent. We are still considering this issue, and have involved Father Gunam in the discussions. As soon as we know more we will get in touch with the foster parents and inform them. It is our intention to do so before Summer 2011. Until then, we will assign your contributions, as we were wont to do, to the children in and around Nivalevi. (Note: More information about the foster program can be found on our website. You will read there that contributions of foster parents will benefit several children rather than a single child only. We have chosen for this procedure in order to prevent differences in standard of living.
Deposit Boxes
Again we owe a lot to initiator Wim van de Merwe who, together with the students Metal and Painting from CSG Reggesteyn in Rijssen, made an additional six boxes for deposit slips. This time the boxes come in lively colours…they are beautiful! We have been able to place the boxes thanks to the cooperation of Geert van Ommen.
Our sincere thanks to all those involved!
Asparagus Fair
On Saturday 28 and Sunday, May 29, 2011, Henk and Florentina de Weerd will be having their annual Asparagus Fair again. Those interested can experience the beauty of lilies and the delicious asparagus in all kinds of dishes. During continuous tours you can get information about the process of growing and cultivating asparagus and there are various stands giving cooking workshops for local products. Of course, you will have ample opportunity to have a taste of the asparagus and there will even be live music on both days.
As in previous years, we from Havonos will do are very best to be represented at the fair with a booth of our own.
The address is: Asaparagus Company de Weerd, Nieuwe Deventerweg 34 in Raalte.
Charity Shop “The Old Counter” in Veenendaal
Again we were pleasantly surprised when the Charity Shop let us know that it will give half of its revenue from March 2011 to the work of Havonos. Their monthly revenue amounted to a total of € 4.000,= this time; therefore, Havonos will receive the beautiful sum of € 2.000,=!
We heartily congratulate all staff and customers from The Old Counter on this fantastic achievement. We will receive the gift most gratefully.
You could read about it: after a period of relative calm, the time has come that we have to put our shoulders to the wheel again and face various new challenges. We cannot possibly do so without your help and support. Therefore, we would like to conclude this newsletter with a heartfelt “Thank You!”.
We wish you all a great and joyful Spring, in which everything – including our work for “our” people in Sri Lanka - may prosper.
January
For 2011, we wish all of you a year of love, health, prosperity and peace. May it be a year in which we have ample opportunity to be there for each other and for those who need us.
In the month of December we frequently receive extra gifts for our work in Nilaveli and its surroundings. Hereby, we wish to express our deepest gratitude to those who gave us a special Christmas donation! Some people prefer to remain anonymous, as does the generous giver from Hengelo, who donated as much as € 500,-.
The PKN Parish Church in Raalte also surprised us with a wonderful amount of € 350,-. Our sincere gratitude goes out to all our benefactors and all of those who supported us in the past year. It is heart-warming and it gives us confidence and strength for the new year, both of which we will dearly need with a view to current developments (see below under News Project Area).
News from the Project Area
In recent weeks there has been considerable media attention for the floodings in Australia and Brazil. People there went through a terrible experience, and we deeply sympathize with those who have lost home and property as well as their loved ones on account of the devastating water floods.
The same happened in Shri lanka, but this went virtually unnoticed in the media. And yet, the water claimed many lives there as well, and railed on with an all-devastating power. How are these people supposed to survive the ongoing series of disasters? Our area has hit hard by the floods too. Therefore, we immediately responded to Father Gunam’s cry for financial aid; money gained from deposit proceeds has been sent to him as a first means of emergency relief.
When you watch the clip and photos illustrating this report in detail, you will understand we had no choice but to transfer money.
clip (source: BBC Youtube)
Photos (source: made by employees ZOA Refugee Care - South East Asia)
We will keep a watchful eye on the reports and inform you about the state of affairs as soon as the flood waters have receded and the actual damage has become visible.
The people in Sri Lanka urgently need our help; the Belgian topic site Kerknet is also aware of this, according to their message from 01-23-2011 (follow the link below) http://www.kerknet.be/actua/nieuws_detail.php?nieuwsID=97259 (in Dutch)
24-Hour-Action 1% Club If it is up to a bridal house and their splendid, brand new dresses, there will be many more weddings in 2011… (see the link at the bottom of this message)
This time, the 24-Hour-Action of the 1% club has not yielded the total amount of money needed for the projects. Nevertheless, we most dearly want to thank our promoter Iris and everybody who supported us during the action on December 9 and 10 for their efforts. As it is, we are very much pleased with everything it did yield.
In addition, this here wonderful message: the proceeds of the sales of bridal- and evening dresses (at € 300 a piece, but having an actual worth from € 1,350 to € 2,500) will remain at our disposal. We are deeply impressed by this royal gift of the generous giver.
So, if you know somebody in your environment who has wedding plans but no bridal dress, please refer her to Sieni Schouten; she will help.
New Projects for 2011? Father Gunam is currently busy providing ermergency relief in the flooded areas. Understandably, this is his priority right now. Therefore, the SAC’s wish list will remain on the shelf for a while; more about that in one of our next newsletters
All Charities Once again, we kindly bring to your attention the site mentioned in the title. The more votes we get, the higher Havonos will rise on the list. Voting is easy and will only take a minute of your time. www.allegoededoelen.nl
Thanks in advance for your support!
