Child sponsorship update from Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka from Summer 2008

Dear Friend,

It is with joy we write to you about the activities that took place during the first half of the year at your sponsored SOS Children’s Village at Nuwara Eliya. We are sure you will be pleased to hear that all activities at all SOS Facilities here at Nuwara Eliya went on well and we would like to describe some of them in this letter to you. We hope you will enjoy reading our letter.

The SOS Children’s Village Nuwara Eliya has eighty children living in the ten houses. Seventy four children attend twelve different schools in Nuwara Eliya, Hatton, Kandy and Colombo, two children attend SOS Kindergarten and four children attend a special school for mentally challenged children. This school helps them to improve in academics and their day to day work so that these children will be able to attend normal schools. Nine children, five girls and four boys were brought home during the six months. They have settled well with their new SOS family and are happy with their new brothers and sisters. Two youth moved to the Youth House from their family home on reaching the age of 14. Two youth from SOS Children’s Village at Monaragala Village too moved to the Youth House, Nuwara Eliya to continue their studies. The wedding bells rang for two boys during this period and one of them had the home coming party in his SOS Family home.

In commemoration of the death anniversary of our founder we had religious programmes at the SOS Children’s Village on 25th April 2008.In the morning of 25th April, Hindu religious prayers were conducted at the Mothers’ Retirement Home invoking merits on our Founder. In the evening Buddhist monks visited the Village and religious activities were conducted where the whole SOS Community participated.

Children's health and education

March 31st, 2008 saw two long standing SOS mothers at SOS Children’s Village Nuwara Eliya step down from active role as SOS Mothers. Vijayalakshmy and Sushila are the first two mothers to take residence at the Mothers’ Retirement Home. Vijayalashmy counts 24 years of service whilst Sushila counts 23 years of service and each of them have natured 19 and 35 children respectively. Both of them are grand-mothers now and it was a happy large family that got together to celebrate the well earned retirement of these two worthy ladies. Farewells were organised by the SOS Family as well as the children of the two SOS families. It was very heart warming to see that the children come together to thank their SOS Mother for the commendable service she gave them in bringing them up in their SOS Families. Though gifts were presented, the most valuable gift was the bond that the children had for their SOS Mother as well as for each other, which demonstrate the value of belonging to a family – what SOS Children’s Villages wants for every child. We would like to take this opportunity to say "Thank You and Well-done" to Vijayalakshmy and Sushila and wish them both all happiness in their well earned retirement.

The SOS Nursery School has 73 children in attendance and children learn in both - the Sinhala and the Tamil medium. The SOS Nursery School conducted many programmes for the children. For the Sinhala and Tamil New year, a grand New Year festival was held in the SOS Nursery School premises. All the parents co-operated to make this celebration a big success. All the children were dressed in their traditional dresses. The school was decorated with flowers and other decorative items. Many traditional games were held for the children. To mention some games: marking the eye of the elephant, weaving mat, selection of the New Year Prince and Princes, eating buns and drinking milk. The games for the parents were tug of war and filling water in a bottle by hand. All the kids were given gifts which they really liked. A table was set with all the traditional food items, such as milk rice and oil cakes. All children, parents and teachers really enjoyed themselves.

The Medical Centre continues its services where the SOS children and mothers get all their medical care. The doctor visits the centre three times a week. Medical Clinics such as Dental and ENT was conducted for the Village community. Our Medical Centre also provides service for outsiders too. The Medical Health Office has chosen our Medical Centre to provide vaccination facilities to the children in the neighbourhood.

Supporting children and communities at Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

The Family Strengthening programme continues in Nuwara Eliya with 72 schooling children receiving assistance under this programme. In January, children were given school bags, shoes and school stationary. The children are given a midday meal during school days. A new Family Strengthening Centre commenced at Balathotalla (A village closer to our Youth Project at Malpotha). New play frames were fixed in the Balathotalla primary school. 104 Children are benefited through this new centre. They too get a nutritious midday meal. They also received school stationary and are helped with their studies at special tuition classes held in the afternoons.

The Youth Facility is resident for 23 youth. 16 of them are schooling in Nuwara Eliya, 2 are boarded at private schools studying for their A/L’s and a boy is in the University of Sabaragamuwa following business Management. A youth is following Vocational Training in Nuwara Eliya. One youth is at St. Vincent Boys Home Maggona a special school and 2 youth are following job training after their O/L’s. The youth were very active in organizing the alms giving to commemorate the death anniversary our founder. For Vesak (Festival of Lights) they enjoyed making beautiful lanterns and decorating the Youth Facility and the SOS Social Centre. Some of the youth are coached in football and attend regular football practices.

SOS family, Nuwara Eliya join me to thank you for your continued support and would like to wish you and your family all the very best.

With best wishes; I remain,

Yours sincerely

M. Kumar
Village Director