This is our first newsletter in 2016. We are a bit delayed, because we decided to wait for pictures from our projects in Sri Lanka. We wish you all the best for this New Year. We hope it will be a good year, not only for ourselves but especially for the people in the Vanni, for whom we are doing so much efforts.
In this newsletter, we inform you on:
• The state of affairs on the Widows Project that we are carrying out with the revenues of the Harvest Festival (Stöppelhaene) 2015, of the Development Aid Raalte (WOR), together with Wilde Ganzen;
• The start of the realization of the Youth Empowerment Centre (YEC), which we also will realize with the help of Wilde Ganzen and the donation of the Foundation 'Stichting Hazewinkel'.
• The purchase of the Musical Instruments for the Community Centre in Mullikulam with the donation of the Association 'Vereniging Trein 8.28 H.IJ.S.M';
We hope you will enjoy reading this newsletter.
The Widows Project 'Building a new life from the ground'
The Widows Project is currently in full progress! Many widows, with or without handicaps and with or without children, already are profiting from this project. They have been given their own cow, chicken, goat or seeds. OMI coordinates the project. The women who participate were carefully chosen with the support and aid of the local communities. They were very happy and grateful. Some pictures are dropping in. We expect to receive and share more of them with you, in order for you to see the results of your donation.
More pictures you can see here.
The YEC (Youth Education Center): a new tecnical handicraft school
Earlier we wrote about our dream to do something for young men and boys in the Vanni.
Due to the war and the aftermath of it, many boys and young men couldn't receive professional education. They have little prospects and very few opportunities to work. It is our wish to change this situation and now we have an opportunity to contribute to the building and realization of a YEC where they can learn technical skills, because there is a great need for technical experts. Besides the idea that young men, and also girls, can learn a profession we think it will also help healing their trauma’s.
This week we received the news that Wilde Ganzen made the first money transfer to OMI, which means the building can start. The preparations of the building process already started. We received pictures of it this week. Beautiful is also the picture with the bus stop, which is located very close to the location. This enables youngsters from the wide surroundings to visit the YEC and learn a profession, which is the main function of the centre.
Foundation Hazewinkel informed us that we will receive 5.000 Euros for the realization of the YEC. Fantastic! We are very thankful and we wish OMI a successful building and realization of the center.
Of course we will keep you regularly informed on the progress of this Education Centre.
Aanschaf Muziekinstrumenten
|
Association 'Vereniging Trein 8.28 H.IJ.S.M' made us very happy when they informed us: ‘we have donated 2.500 Euros for your proposal!’. |
Music connects people. The instruments are used in music lessons and also for trauma healing. In the community centers people with different religious and cultural backgrounds come together.
Differences can drive people apart, but together making music has proven to be a powerful way to connect people. More pictures
Thank you, 'Vereniging Trein 8.28 H.IJ.S.M', for your generous gift and the invitation to apply for subsidy again.
------------------------------------
Here we end our newsletter of January. Behind the stages we continue to work.
Speaking of work, we have also placed a message looking for volunteers, at the Volunteer Centre Raalte.
We are urgent in need of:
• a secretary, who is able to make notes at the Havonos boards meetings that we have once every two or three months, and who is able to write letters on behalf of Havonos.
• an organizational talent, who knows how to work with Excel, who is able to coordinate our activities to find sponsors weekly.
Are you interested, or do you know someone who is interested, please contact Sieni Schouten (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 0031- 572-353447) for more information. You would do us a great pleasure!
Thank you for your attention and until next time.