Child sponsorship update from Monaragala, Sri Lanka

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Monaragala, Sri Lanka from Winter 2008.

Dear Friends,

It’s time again for us to greet you for the season. With our greetings we also would like to share what our life at SOS Children’s Village Monaragala has been during the year which will come to an end in a few weeks time. This is a happy moment for us to share these news with you, our partner in providing care for our children both in the Family Based Care and Family Strengthening Programmes undertaken in our neighbouring community.

SOS Children's Village:
9 children, 5 girls and 4 boys found a loving home, a mother and brothers and sisters at SOS Children’s Village Monaragala during this year. The total number of children receiving Family Based Care in the 12 families is 105. This being they youngest SOS Children’s Village in Sri Lanka, youth from this SOS Children’s Village has now started to integrate and live independently. Up to now 7 girls and 2 boys have moved into the society.

Of the 3 girls who took the General Certificate of Education (ordinary level) in December 2007, 2 were qualified to continue their studies in the advance level classes. One of them Erandika, who did very well was admitted to a school in Colombo. She has now moved to a SOS Family at SOS Children’s Village Piliyandala to facilitate her schooling. 2 girls took the GCE (AL) examination in August this year. One of them has joined a renowned Dancing and Music Academy to follow course in Dancing. The other has enrolled for employment training. 6 boys will take the GCE (OL) examination in December this year.

The Village community celebrated all the national festivities in the usual festive manner like any other Sri Lankan family would celebrate these festivities. In additions, they also celebrated the two unique celebrations for the SOS Families - the SOS DAY (June 23rd) and the SOS Mothers’ Day (16th August)

The National Festival for the celebration of the Universal Children’s Day was organised by The Probation and the Child Care Department of the Uva Province to which the SOS Children’s Village Monaragala belongs to in Monaragala. At this festival the government and non government establishments which are working for needy children did exhibit their work. We are proud to say that SOS Children’s Village Monaragala was adjudged as the best HOME in the Uva Province.

Children learning skills for their future at Monaragala, Sri Lanka

SOS Youth Facility:

11 youth reside at the Youth House for boys at Monaragala. 8 of them are school and 2 are attending vocational training. The extra coaching classes are conducted at the Youth Facility for all these boys. The boys are engaged in dancing, music and art classes during the weekends and they follow according to their interests. Leadership programmes as well as awareness programmes too are conducted from time to time for the benefit of the boys. The boys join their families at the SOS children’s village, Monaragala to celebrate all the special occasions.

SOS Nursery School:
This year there were 115 students enrolled at the SOS Nursery School. Of this total, 98 children will leave the Nursery School at the end of the year to start their primary schooling. Interviews are underway for the selection of new students to fill up these vacancies. Students and the teachers continue to celebrate all the religious and national festivals as well as the special occasions of SOS Children’s Villages as part of their nursery school activities. A special mention should be made of the participation of the parents in all these activities. Parents are very active in preparation of school environment to celebrate these festivities, whilst the teachers train their sons and daughters. The teachers are modifying the SOS Nursery School syllabus to incorporate the current changes that are taking place in the early childhood learning practices.

The Medical Centre here at the SOS Children’s Village Monaragala functions mainly for the benefit of the SOS Community, it is at the disposal of the area Medical Officer to conduct various clinics and vaccination programmes to the neighbour community. This is a good example that SOS Family is always ready to share and is willing to help their neighbours in whatever way possible.