Child sponsorship update from Piliyandala, Sri Lanka

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's VIllage Piliyandala, Sri Lanka from July 2008.

Dear Friends,

It is this time of the year that we share our achievements and setback with our partners, our dear sponsors. It would be difficult for us to achieve what we have, without the support and commitment of you, our sponsors and donors. I believe that you share our joy and our concern as we share the life at the SOS Children’s Village Piliyandala during the first half of the year 2008.

At present there are 141 children in our 16 SOS families. 7 new children found a family at SOS Children’s Village Piliyandala during the first 6 months of the year. 4 boys and 6 girls moved to their respective Youth Facilities. Children attend to their regular activities - education, sports and recreation as usual. The SOS DAY - 23rd of June is usually celebrated in a very grand scale in the past. However, taking the present situation in the country, we decided to make the usual celebration, but to do something different. It was a unanimous decision that we renovate the children’s ward at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital where we too go for medical treatment. Older children, mothers and co-workers volunteered to clean and colour wash the ward as well as help repair 45 cots and admission beds in the ward.

Since there were no proper seating arrangements for the adults accompany the children, chairs were donated. The medical officials also requested for a water boiler and a 20 litre water boiler too was donated. Every one was happy that by providing a lean and colourful place, we were able to contribute in a small way to lesson the pain the children feel while undergoing medical treatment for various sickness. The kind gesture from the children, mothers and co-workers was very much appreciated by the hospital authorities. This also helped our children to understand that they too have a social responsibility to help others.

Giving security and love to children in Sri Lanka

SOS Nursery School organised a “Sil” Campaign (Buddhist observe 8 precepts taught by Lord Buddha) to mark the Vesak festival in May this year. The Nursery School premises was decorated with beautiful “Vesak” lanterns, and flags. A unique feature of the decoration was the “Sal Uyana” which portrays the 3 important stages in Lord Buddha’s life -The Birth, The Enlightenment and the Death. The idea of recreating a “Sal Uyana” is to make the young children to understand the importance of this religious festival. All the kids were dressed in white and were wearing an “Uthuru Saluwa” and “Pathkadaya” (the attire normally worn when observing “Sil”). The little ones sat on the ground in a meditative posture - the teacher helped the children to do this. The present 142 children attend the nursery school and they are divided into 8 classes.

SOS Medical Centre in partnership with the Medical Health Office (MOH) of the area conducted a “Parent Craft Programme” - the objective of the programmed was to equip the parents to be with regard to the care, both prior to birth and after the birth. This “Parent Craft Programme” is a special programme implemented by the MOH to make the parents aware that they play an important role in not only bringing a happy human being to the world, but nurturing the child to live a happy and contend life.

The subjects discussed at this programme were - importance of the mother being healthy during the pregnancy, the difference stages of the development, ailments that the pregnant mother could develop, the role of the husband during the pregnancy, preparation for the birth of the child, the importance of breast feeding management and strengthening the family bond for the betterment of the growing child. The membership at the Medical Centre is 265 individuals at present.

The Youth Facility for boys at Piliyandala has 30 youths residing. 5 of these youths are 1st year students of the SOS Scholarship and the rest are SOS Youths from all the SOS Children’s Villages in Sri Lanka. 8 youths - 2nd year students of the SOS Scholarship - are residing at a rented house closer to the Youth Facility Piliyandala. 7 youth who are attending various training programmes reside at another rented house further from the Youth Facility Piliyandala and they are under the supervision of a Co-worker. 2 youth found employment whilst 2 other youths were married during this period. The boys join all the main celebrations with their SOS Families.

Of the 10 girls residing presently at the Youth Facility for Girls at Katubedda, 3 are attending training/employment training. 7 of them are working. These girls too join their SOS Families to celebrate all the national and religious festivals.

Programmes are arched for these youths both girls and boys in enhance their knowledge in adolescent, hygiene, ways and means to enrich one’s life etc. They also have regular leisure activities which they participate with much interest.

Supporting the community at Piliyandala, Sri Lanka

A new religious Shrine was constructed at the SOS School, Piliyandala and the opening ceremony of this Shrine took place on the 16th of June 2008, amidst a large gathering of students, teachers, parents and the co-workers of SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka. The statue of Lord Buddha was brought to the school in a beautiful perahara (pageant) which had all the traditional dances, drummers and flag-bearers. The opening of the Shrine in the month of June coincided with two great events. On the religious point, the month being important for the Buddhist because of Poson Poya (full moon day) - which marks the arrival of Arahath Mahinda to Sri Lanka to spread the word of Buddha.

247 children in 119 families continue to receive support under the Family Strengthening Programmes at SOS CV-Piliyandala. Assistance is provided for these children and parents in education, counseling, hygiene, family planning, self employment and savings. Partnerships with local micro financial companies are formed to help these families to start self-employment - the first step towards being self sufficient.

The above are some of the main activities that took place in the SOS Facility you continue to support financially. It is also our belief that all our activities at SOS Children’s Village Piliyandala continues to remind us as to what could be achieved through co-operation of people form all over the world. Thank you for supporting the work of SOS Children’s Villages.

With best wishes;

Yours Sincerely,

(Anura Munasinghe)
Village Director