SCHOOL ROOM COMPLETION REPORT

Country: Sri Lanka

Report Writer: Mr. Darshana Rathnanayaka, School Room Program Officer

Donor: HELP SRI LANKA (HSL)

NAME OF SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY

Chalo Idama Preschool

PARTNER ORGANIZATION

Reach Out / Jana Suvaya Padanama

PROJECT ID NO.

SL-SR-05-14

STATE OR PROVINCE

Southern Province

DISTRICT/ZONE

Hambanthota

BLOCK/WARD

Tissamaharama

VILLAGE/CITY

Chalo Idama Village in the Suduweli area.

LOCATION

The preschool is located in Hambanthota, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Hambanthota was one of the areas worst affected by the tsunami. It is in the lower right hand corner of the map provided (right).

Travel to this region is difficult because of narrow roads in poor condition. The drive to this region from Colombo will take more than 7 hours.

It is next to a Buddhist temple.

Map of Sri Lanka

NO. OF VILLAGES SERVED

NO. OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED

200

POPULATION OR AREA SERVED

1,850

GRADE/LEVEL

Preschool

NUMBER OF TEACHERS

NUMBER OF PROJECT TEACHERS

AGE RANGE

3-5 years old

FEMALE

MALE

TOTAL

FEMALE

MALE

TOTAL

STUDENTS/CHILDREN

FEMALE

MALE

TOTAL

DESCRIPTION OF COMMUNITY AND LIFESTYLE

Hambanthota is located along the southeastern coastline of Sri Lanka and was one of the worst tsunami-affected areas in Sri Lanka.

The people in Hambanthota work as fishermen, farmers and daily wage-laborers. Rural Hambanthota, including Tissamaharama, where the school is located, is one of the poorest areas of the country. The fishing and farming industries are low paying to begin with, and both were directly affected by the tsunami. Preschool (which is not provided by the government) is a much-needed service there.

Tissamaharama was the site of a massive preschool building project carried out by Jana Suvaya Padanama (JSP) after the tsunami to restore some sense of hope and normalcy to the people. Rural Tissamaharama is home to about 60,000 people. It is estimated that 38,844 people in 9,332 families have been affected by the Tsunami, through the loss of family members, their homes and possessions, their schools and their jobs.

CURRENT SITUATION AND REASON FOR SUPPORT

Room to Read began operations in Sri Lanka in response to the tsunami of 26 December 2004. Hundreds of schools were destroyed in this disaster and so we began by launching our School Room construction program. Our research showed that a great deal of value could be added to the Sri Lankan educational system through the construction of preschools. Access to preschool has been demonstrated to make a significant and positive difference in the educational development of young students. In addition, preschools offer an organized learning environment where small children can be left, thus freeing up parents, grandparents and siblings who would otherwise need to provide 24 hour care.

Room to Read partners with local organizations in many of the communities where we work. Through this model we are able to leverage existing local expertise, build the capacity of smaller non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and have a much farther reach. Working with NGO partners also ensures the sustainability of the project. These organizations will remain invested in the success of the project long after Room to Read has completed our commitment of support. Our partner in this project is Jana Suvaya Padanama (through Reach-out)

Reach-Out is an organization set up specifically to deal with the tsunami. (The group is incorporated in Sri Lanka but does not do any work outside of the tsunami-impacted areas). Reach-Out mobilized resources like food and medical aid and implemented longer term livelihood projects such as preschool construction and fishing boat construction for the affected people.

Reach-Out works with JSP, a local NGO in the Hambanthota district set up by the local UNP politician Sajith Premadasa. In 2005, JSP carried out a massive preschool building project, funded by various donors. JSP is currently building 170 preschools that were started in July 2005 and are currently being completed. The presidential elections in November, the general elections in March, unprecedented monsoon rains (the timing and length of which was unexpected) and the slowdown in April because of New Year festivities as well as a general uncertainty in the country since December has affected completion.

Despite the unavoidable delays, the school was opened on May 21st at a favorable time. The community was very excited and happy about opening day and looks forward to the future of the school.

START DATE

July 2005

DATE OF COMPLETION

May 2006

DETAILS OF FINISHED PROJECT

Construction of the preschool was completed after delays due to the political situation, elections and unpredictable monsoon rains. The school was constructed by a qualified local contractor, administered by JSP and Reach-Out and is located near many community-based organizations such as temple societies who maintain security and watch over the school. The building is 1,000 sq. ft. and decorated in bright, attractive colors that the children love. There is also a playground for the children to enjoy, and during the evenings and weekends, the preschool building will be used for community activities.

Teacher training will be provided through Open University in Colombo for the teachers at the preschool, and a year of the teacher's salary will be provided through installments so as to get the school off to a good start.

CHALLENGE GRANT

COMMUNITY OR SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROJECT:

Contractors were sourced locally and a local NGO took over administration without charging any overhead. The community also provided the teacher, who volunteers her time teaching in preschools.

ROOM TO READ CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROJECT:

Room to Read contributed the building, furniture, and playground and some preschool materials.

USAGE TO DATE

The school was opened on May 21^st. During the evenings, Reach-Out and JSP plan to use the building as a community center, offering activities such as sewing classes, art and dance activities on weekends, and the electrical system will allow the community to use the building in the evening as well.

COMMENTS

Preschool teacher:

We were helpless after the tsunami. Seeing our vulnerability, Reach-Out informed Room to Read of our situation. It was only then that Room to Read officials came to our village and promised a preschool. There was a condemned preschool in our village before Room to Read built an extremely good one for us. Room to Read has fulfilled our dreams in giving us a preschool with all the facilities such as a playground with equipment, desks, and chairs. We have no words to thank Room to Read and the donors who funded from overseas for the great help they have done for us. We will thank you again and again forever.

Villager :

Chalo idama is a poor village in Hambanthota district within a number of people living in dire poverty and helplessness. We have become more helpless after the tsunami and neither the government nor the politicians have directed their concern to our village. Room to Read intervened at this stage to build a preschool in our village. The preschool has laid the foundation for a good future for our children and now there is a place for our children. We can use this building as a community center in the evening too. We are so grateful to Room to Read for building us a new preschool. We thank again and again from the bottom of our hearts for both Room to Read and its donors for helping us.