It has been a while since we updated you on the developments in Sri Lanka and in our project area. If you have been following the news you know Sri Lanka is in chaos. The country is virtually bankrupt and the current government declared a state of emergency some time ago. Topics we cannot ignore, but about which it is not nice to report on. Despite all misery and setbacks we are still active and you can read about it in this newsletter.
- The current situation in Sri Lanka
- Geert van Ommen, our new Secretary, introduces himself
- New emergency request Wilde Janzen(Wild Geese) and SEHH (Foundation A Helping Hand)
- Classrooms Sieco Center finally ready (and soon to be opened)
- State of affairs project Batticaloa
- Bee-project in Mullikulam and Iyakachchi
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The current situation in Sri Lanka (first-hand) The above is just some of the information we received first hand. There is much more to share. Fortunately, the media and all kinds of agencies are now paying attention to the situation in the country. Like the ‘Stichting Kerk in Nood’ (Church in Need foundation) for example. |
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Geert van Ommen, our new secretary, introduces himself
In the March news item we told you that we had found a new secretary in Geert van Ommen. Geert hereby introduces himself:
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My name is Geert van Ommen. I am 65 years old and married to Ditty for 41 years. We are the parents of 4 children and 4 grandchildren. Since May this year we live in Apeldoorn. Since March this year I have been part of the Havonos board as secretary, but I have been involved in the Havonos foundation for a longer time, since 2008. Partly because of my faith ‘looking after our neighbor near and far’ is an important rule of life. Therefore I hope to be able to contribute to the aid in Sri Lanka. Things I find pleasant and important are gathering and transferring knowledge and the maintaining and expanding of contacts. I like to take the initiative and to pioneer. The focus is on achieving results and being an example to others in attitude and behavior. I wish everyone who contributes in any way to the Havonos Foundation much blessing and happiness in life. |
New (urgent) application (with Wilde Ganzen and Stichting Een Helpende Hand)
Although our contacts at OMI are occasionally desperate because of the situation in their country, they never lose sight of their goal: caring for the poorest and vulnerable among the population. This has for example led to the fact that this week we have submitted an urgent application to Wilde Ganzen for a project that we want to realize together with Stichting Een Helpende Hand (SEHH): 'Livelihood assistance and nutrition program'. In short, the program includes the following:
- Life-sustaining support for families in which a woman is head of the household (175 households)
- Nutrition for the poorest children (200 children) and 100 elderly people in northern Sri Lanka
The project includes:
- FAITH (Food Always In The Home): setting up vegetable gardens for and by the women-led families and assisting them in keeping chickens. The women also cook for people from the community who do not have a vegetable garden and therefore cannot find food;
- Providing the families with fishing nets, so that they can catch their own fish;
- A program aimed at repairing bicycles, so that people are mobile, now that fuel is hardly available;
- For the children and elderly: at least 2 times a week delivering a nutritious meal.
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The fact that Wilde Ganzen makes an exception for this project proves that Wilde Ganzen is very committed to the fate of our people in Sri Lanka. Wilde Ganzen will not contribute the usual 30%, but in this case has increased the required amount to 50%, for which we are very grateful. |
Classrooms Sieco Center finally ready (and soon to be opened)
In light of the foregoing, the following message may seem out of place: finally, the classrooms at the Sieco Center in Mullikulam are ready and will soon be in use. Considering that hunger and despair rule the people of Sri Lanka, the above may indeed seem somewhat out of place. But make no mistake about the power of every bright spot, every signal of hope for a better future. The fact that the classrooms are now finally finished, after a long delay, is such a bright spot for the people in the area. In addition to regular courses, OMI uses the classrooms to offer people programs in which they can talk about what they themselves can do to improve their situation, and for programs to focus on processing trauma or sharing grief and worries. In short: the fact that the classrooms at the Sieco Center are finally ready is not only a sign of hope; it is also very useful in dealing with the difficult circumstances our people in the area are confronted with.
State of affairs project Batticaloa
In our previous news item we wrote about another project that we are realizing together with Wilde Ganzen: the construction and set up of a clinic in Batticaloa, which will be run by our partners in Sri Lanka, the Fathers of OMI. The clinic will offer shelter to people who are suicidal, addicted and traumatized by their hopeless situation.
Although the priority right now is understandably on survival and our new project, the construction of the clinic has begun. However, due to the state of emergency and the financial crisis, raw materials are still hard to come by. Construction is therefore proceeding slowly - and steadily.
Bee project in Mullikulam and Iyakachchi
We started this news item with gloom and want to end on a positive note. We do that for example with the bee projects in Mullikulam and Iyakachchi. A befriended Dutch organization has already set up several bee projects and hopefully they will now advise us in setting up similar projects in our project area; at the Sieco Center and at the learning/working farm. Besides being good for the ecosystem, the bees provide honey for the local people. The OMI Fathers are very enthusiastic about this project. We are still looking for a sponsor for this bee project.
Cooperation with supermarkets
Once again a word of thanks to the supermarkets is in order. Many supermarkets have chosen to campaign for Ukraine on packaging materials in recent months and we certainly understand that. However, we are pleased and grateful there are also supermarkets that support us in funding the projects aimed at emergency relief, such as the project we are realizing together with Wilde Ganzen and SEHH. Without this help and support we too are powerless in our efforts to support our people in Sri Lanka.
So much for the July 2022 news release. We thank you again for your interest in and support of our work. Your donation to alleviate hunger remains very much needed, so please keep giving. On behalf of the people of the North and East (Batticaloa is in the East) of Sri Lanka: Thank you very much!
Kind regards,
The Havonos board