|
In one of our latest reports, we wrote to you about the crises we faced in the wealthy Netherlands. Now, March 2020, our world is upside down by the Covid-19 virus. We are experiencing on of the most unreal periods in our history. The world has come to a standstill and we are no longer allowed to go to work. Staying at home is the urgent advice, social contacts are kept to a minimum. In this difficult time, we realize how important contact with our loved ones is. Wonderful initiatives have arisen to protect and care for each other. Connecting with each other is more important than ever. We live in a country with one of the strongest economies in the world and we should be grateful for that. It gives hope and confidence that we will recover together, partly thanks tot the support for each other and from our government. |
 |
The Covid-19 virus has also struck in Sri Lanka. A lockdown has been established and schools and shops have been closed immediately. Supermarkets open only a few hours a day. Tourism has come to a standstill and there are no social services, so no work means no money. Living in a former war zone, still recovering from the tsunami and last year’s attacks, with sometimes only one real meal a day and a great lack of medicines, people of Sri Lanka are more vulnerable than ever. It is a disaster for these people and they need our support more than ever! Let’s work together to ensure that these people also get the hope and confidence that they are not alone and that they will overcome. That, even now, there are people who support them..
We (Havonos, SEHH and Rockids) will prepare that we will again provide emergency assistance, just like after the tsunami, will you help us?
The SEHH board members we work with have recently been to Sri Lanka and have also visited our projects, you can read the travel report attached below:
 |
Berkstraat 21 2565 MR Den Haag
|
FOUNDATION A HELPING HAND VISITS SRI LANKA 2020
|
In January 2020, chairman Piet Houtenbos, his wife Lydia van der Kieft and board member Sita Kooij paid another visit to the aid workers in Sri Lanka. The tour also went through projects of the Dutch Foundation Havonos (Heart for North East Sri Lanka) and Rockids, two organizations with which SEHH works closely. That took us to the north of the country the area between Jaffna, Puttalam and Trincomalee. A bloody civil war ended there ten years ago. A lot has to be done for reconstruction, especially in areas of education, social construction and mental support. This report presents the highlights of the trip and shows the progress of the projects. |
 |
The visit to OMI, the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate”
The north of Sri Lanka is underdeveloped due to the years of struggle between Tamil rebels and the government army. One of the organizations that works on building up with and between the residents is OMI. The “Fathers” are active in various locations in rural areas. They engage in community building, provide instruction, help small farmers and exploit agricultural land themselves. SEHH works closely with Havonos from Raalte (chairman Sieni Schouten) and Rockids from Hilversum (chairman Marjolein Meijer).
We spoke with the head of OMI in Jaffna, Provincial Father Edwin, about the progress of the projects, but also about other topics such as obtaining funds from our own country, cooperation with other religious aid organizations in the region and their financial independence long term. They must be prepared for financial aid from abroad to come to an end, especially now that Sri Lanka is becoming more prosperous.
We then visited two projects in progress.
Mulankavil: Pre School
The school for toddlers, sponsored by Havonos, Wilde Ganzen and SEHH, is under construction at the time of our visit. OMI has submitted an application for purchase of furniture (to be manufactured by the local carpenter) and the construction of a playing field. We take that as new wishes.
 |
| Fr. Patrick en Fr Seeger at the school under construction |
Iyakachchi: Nesakkarankal leather work farm
A real farm with animals and growing crops. The cows provide milk, the pigs reproduce and become fat and the chickens lay eggs and go for slaughter. Local woman, often widows, work there and learn how to set up a similar business at home. At the same time, courses are given at the complex and children from the surrounding area receive extra lessons, now also on the computer. Havonos, Rockids and SEHH sponsor the farm.
We see plenty of construction activities: new animal shelters, a fence around the site and security cameras all around. The building for computer lessons has been taken into use and the guards` residence is ready. The solar panels and an extra classroom will follow soon. Everything is tackled energetically and the end is in sight. The site is approximately 40 hectares (80 football fields) and for the most part still unexplored. Fr. Avalin wants to culture it in the coming years. It provides employment and, if things go well, money. Mind our conversation with Fr. Edwin about these kind of companies, we ask the ambitious Father to turn to the Sri Lankan government for his plans, which makes funds available for this. We await his initiative.
 |
| The leatherwork farm in Iyakachchi: a jewel of the Oblates |
 |
| The future computer teacher and Fr. Avalin in front of the plaque of the new computer classroom |
 |
| The chicken coops under construction and many hectares of land are waiting for cultivation |
Computer education
In Mannar we witnessed the first lesson for some twenty eager learners. It is nice to see how they take the first steps on the digital path in a concentrated manner. Teacher Nerojan van Caritas, trained by Rockids in the Netherlands, moves professionally between the students to give instructions. The preciously donated computers and tablets are bearing fruit here. So does another Rockids student, Miss Cani of OMI, who teaches at the OMI Youth Empowerment Center (YEC) and at the farm in Iyakachchi. In this way, children of poor backgrounds are introduced to new techniques in an affordable way. It gives them an edge on the job market!
Father Jeyabalan
In Vavuniya we first met this energetic Father. With the help of Rockids, he succesfully oranizes microcredits and grants scholarships to students. We were originally received in his “tree house”next to the church and discussed his plans. Small-scale help with a big multiplier effect!
Looking back
The journey was once again valuable. Always good to see the results with your own eyes and to discuss the prospects face to face with our relations. We also present them with a future in which they must be more independent. We will of course continue to assist our aid workers with advice and assistance, but they must also think of their own income and assistance from their own country. We would like to help them with that.
In the meantime, we continue to cooperate with our partner organizations Havonos and Rockids. We draw inspiration from these contacts and new initiatives arise. And that remains urgently needed for the disadvantaged inhabitants of Sri Lanka.
The travel companions: Piet Houtenbos, Lydia van der Kieft and Sita Kooij.
February 2020
For more information about the SEHH foundation, please visit www.sehh.nl and Rockids Foundation at www.rockids.org