De kleuterschool is in december 2021 geopend. 

Livelihoodproject in het dorp Vilankulam.

Er is in dit dorp bij het kleuterschoolproject ondersteuning geboden mbt. livelihoodsupport. Er zijn zakken rijst, suiker en linzen uitgedeeld maar ook planten en kippen. Zie bij andere projecten livelihood.

Introduction

A proposal for the preschool at Vilankulam was initiated on 30^th March 2021. A proposal was sent to Need4Care, Erik Koning by April 2021. Since April 2021 until the day we have laid the foundation (30^th June 2021) number of correspondences were done on the approval of the preschool, land demarcation and getting the first installment from the SEDEC etc. During this period a briefing was given to the residents of Vilankulam regarding their involvement in the preschool construction and keeping the place tidy. Fr. Director in his address told them that the donors (Mr. Erik and his associates) in Netherlands have come forward to put up a preschool for the benefit of the children in the village and we have a responsibility to make use of the benefits for the good of the children concerned.

The first installment of the fund Rs. 1,427,960.00, we have received the leftover money from project Koppavely forwarding through the Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC account on 21.06.2021.

Since we have gone through the quotations of the contractors did the comparison and negotiated with him to come to our terms. The first advance of Rs. 600,000.00 was paid to him to purchase the materials and to commence the construction work     

Laying the foundation stone for the preschool at Vilankulam

On 30^th June 2021 foundation stone was laid for the preschool at Vilankulam around 9.35 a.m.

Due to COVID-19 Pandemic there were 04 parents, two teachers, the RDS president, 03 students and 04 EHED staff including Rev.Fr. Director

We were welcomed by the parents and the teachers and after lighting the traditional oil lamp we laid the first stones. Rev.Fr. Dunstan laid the first stone following him the teachers, one parent, a child, the RDS president one by one took turn to lay the stones.

After laying the stones when Rev.Fr. Director spoke, he told the parents to educate their children very well. They should end up their studies in the Universities. Even a child becomes a mason at the end he should end up as a building contractor. We must value education. In a palace like this normally children loose interest in studies and that should not be our motive but one or two students come up in life, there will some more to look up to their examples.

Our aim as well as the donors aim is to give our assistance for the enhancement of young one’s education. We will closely monitor the progress of this school. Finally he thanked everyone, especially the two teachers who took keen interest on constructing a preschool for their children.   

Construction at Ground Level

Just after the laying of the foundation, the base concrete and the foundation work has been completed. During this construction period the teachers and the parents gave their fullest support. With their support we were able to complete the construction work smoothly.

Brick work activities in progress

From the plinth beam the brick work has been quickly started and in no time it has shown much progress. In all the level of construction thee Director’s presence was there.  

Roof level work in progress

With the second advance we have paid to the Contractor the building has now come to the roof level and the cable has been constructed.  We hope that the construction work will be over very soon. We have to do the roof work and the finishing work with door frame and window frame fixing. Once the floor is done, door and window fixing will continue. We are satisfied that the construction will be over before the monsoonal rains come down.

The fund from Need4Care was sent and has been used for finishing work of the building. Making of play materials and finally we also provide teachers, the school furniture needed for the children and the teachers.

We are very much thankful to you for the allocation made on time

Construction has come to the Completion

The preschool at Vilankulam has seen some changes after the paint applied. Door sashes need to be fixed, and the wire mesh on both sides to be done. Most of the work pending are internal work. We are happy that the main construction has been done before the rain starts.  

The following work has also been done and given to the children and the teachers at the site

·        play material fixing

·        Furniture to the students 

·        Some main furniture to the school  and

·        Teachers chairs and table

Handing over ceremony 

Handing over ceremony of the preschool was held on 10^th December 2021. His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. V Christian Noel Emmanuel cut opened the ribbon and handed over the preschool to the community of Vilankulam. The RDS secretary, The GS of Vilankulam, the Development officer of Vilankulam and the parents took part in the opening ceremony. Rev.Fr. Director in his address thanked the back donors and the main partners Mr. Gerard and Mr. Erik Konings for their valuable contribution towards the preschool building. His Lordship while addressing told the students to study well and told them that they must bring credit to the teachers and the community

The preschool teachers have made all the arrangements for the opening ceremony. 

As we have handed over the building to the children and the teachers, we have also remembered all the donors as depicted in the stone and extend our heartfelt thanks on behalf of the Vilankulam community.  When the RDS when addressing made a request from the Director, EHED Caritas saying that the pigeons enter by the roof and dirty the floor and to do a netting between the roof and the walls. Fr. Director positively replied that he would do something to prevent the pigeons entering the building.

Thanks and Greetings

Rev.Fr. Dunstan Fredrick Joseph

Director

EHED Caritas

Trincomalee

With the second advance we have paid to the Contractor the building has now come to the roof level and the cable has been constructed.  We hope that the construction work will be over very soon. We have to do the roof work and the finishing work with door frame and window frame fixing. Once the floor is done, door and window fixing will continue. We are satisfied that the construction will be over before the monsoonal rains come down.

The fund you will be sending us will be used for finishing work of the building. Making of play materials and finally we also provide teachers, the school furniture needed for the children and the teachers.

We are very much thanking to you for the allocation made at your earliest.

On 30^th June 2021 foundation stone was laid for the preschool at Vilankulam around 9.35 a.m.

Due to COVID-19 Pandemic there were 04 parents, two teachers, the RDS president, 03 students and 04 EHED staff including Rev.Fr. Director

We were welcomed by the parents and the teachers and after lighting the traditional oil lamp we laid the first stones. Rev.Fr. Dunstan laid the first stone following him the teachers, one parent, a child, the RDS president one by one took turn to lay the stones.

12 juli 2021  optrekken van de muren.

Vilankulam Village  is situated in Kandy Road and we need to go interior for approximately 02 km. It is a war affected village and the families have been resettled in 2007. At the moment there are 75 families residing within the village. Out of 75 families 05 families are Buddhists, 05 families are Muslims and 10 families are Catholics. Rest of the families are Hindus. It is an ideal situation of peaceful coexistence. At the time of our first visit we were told there were 15 preschool children. In our recent visit we have 22 children we inquired why the change they replied that they have now enrolled year 03 + students because in the formal school they allow children only at the age of year 05. We learned two teachers are managing them. They are now functioning in the community Centre of the village. The Government has earmarked a land for the proposed preschool. The land will come under the Rural Development Society of the village

The village is in middle of a jungle and there is treat from the elephants the Divisional Secretary with his able assistance has constructed an electric fence to prevent the elephants entering into the village. The villagers’ major income comes from cattle rearing (goats and cows) and home garden.

In our prioritization we chose this village because the families are living in the village over 40 years. After the war the families were resettled and up to now no formal school is being given to the village.  The only source of education is the preschool. When time goes on there may be chances to put up a primary school within the village. We have chosen Vilankulam village on their vulnerability and our vision is also that we should work for the poor and the marginalized people.