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Much later than you are used to, we inform about our activities in 2019. In the first months of this year there have been several visits to the projects in Sri Lanka, about which we would like to report here. In this news item you can read about the following topics:
We wish you a lot of reading pleasure! |
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At the moment you read this, luckily the misery is over. At the end of February we received a message from our provider that our website was hacked. Immediate action was taken by Hinse van Dijk from www.moustaccio.nl and Diederik de Zee www.shockmedia.nl and they closed the website. However, it took several days before the problems were solved. If you experienced that the website was not accessible, then it was not your fault. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Foundation A Helping Hand (SEHH) visits the projects
In January 2019, chairman Piet Houtenbos and his wife Lydia van der Kieft visited our (and their own) projects in Sri Lanka. They visited the YEC under the guidance of our partner organization OMI, the learning / working farm, the Sieco house in Mullikulam and Anna's Home for Children. They also met Marjolein Meijer of Rockids, with whom we also keep warm contacts (see later in this news item). Piet has written a nice report of his visits. You can read that report here. We from Havonos liked both the report and the photos we got from Piet and Lydia. After reading everything, we felled extra energy to continue with the cooperation with SEHH and on the other paths we have chosen.
Visit the Rockids delegation at the learning / working farm, and more
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Marjolein Meijer from Rockids Foundation (www.rockids.org) was also in Sri Lanka in January 2019. There she visited, among other things, the learning / working farm in Iyakachchi. The children of the widows who work on the learning / working farm, receive extra lessons, including computer lessons. Rockids is enthusias about making computer education possible. Havonos, SEHH and Rockids have found each other in the ‘Train the trainer-program’ that Rockids is setting up. Teachers from Sri Lanka come to the Netherlands, where they receive a training program. |
Start training 'Beauty Culture' Kilinochchi
We received the message from Father Seger that the first Obtec training for 'Beauty Culture' in Kilinochchi has recently been completed. The training was set up by Father Seger at the request of the students and proved to be a great success. Probably there will be a sequel.
Presentation about Havonos at PCOB
On 11 February, board members Sieni Schouten and Toos Swart, chairman and treasurer of the Havonos foundation, gave a presentation for the members of the Protestant Christian Elderly Association (PCOB). With great interest and enthusiasm the attendees followed the story about our projects in Sri Lanka. Especially the videos made a big impression on the audience. We look back on a successful presentation.
Building of a waste pit and a guard house at the learning / working farm
There were complaints of local residents about stench from the learning / working farm in Iyakachchi. These complaints were taken over by the local government, as a result of which suddenly the necessity arose to construct a (lockable) slurry pit. The slurry pit has now been completed and put into use. The learning / work farm has become so extensive, with buildings, animals and crops, that it is necessary to place a guard house and a guard at the entrance, to keep uninvited visitors (human and animal) outside the gate. The first stone for the guard's house has been laid.
Inauguration of 3 new computer labs at the Youth Empowerment Center (YEC)
Sometimes things go very fast: during the visit of Piet and Lydia to Sri Lanka, the 3 new computer rooms of the YEC were not completely ready. Now they are. The building is consecrated and opened on February 19, 2019 by the 'General Counselor' of OMI from Rome, who at that time made a working visit to Sri Lanka. The fact that he led the consecration ceremony was a very special honor, both for the YEC as for the Fathers OMI. Click here for more pictures of the ceremony.
Visit board member Mirjam to the projects
At this moment, board member Mirjam visits the projects in Sri Lanka. Her main goal is a visit to Anna's Home for Children. Mirjam is a teacher at SBO de Horizon in Raalte, which has organized various activities with the aim of raising money for Anna's Home. We are curious about the stories of Mirjam. You will undoubtedly read more about this in the next news item.
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New request for projects The many enthusiastic visits to the projects often also mean that visitors from Sri Lanka return to the Netherlands with new wishes. Piet also writes about this in his report. In March, Havonos and SEHH will have a meeting during which we will list all the new wishes. We will test them for feasibility, necessity and compare them with our objectives. One thing is certain: together with SEHH, we are going to rebuild a part of the pre-school, about which we wrote earlier, and partly renovate it. For this project we also hope for financial support from the Wilde Ganzen. In the next news item you can read more about all the plans and developments. Sincerely, |