SNIA-Europe Five-a-Side Football Tournament Bisham Abbey, Buckinghamshire, UK Friday 8th July at 1.00pm.

Sponsored by:

The profits raised from the 5 a side tournament were donated to Volunteers International, who have a series of relief projects in Sri Lanka.

Nina Farrell travelled to Sri Lanka to action some of those schemes. The difference that she made with the aid of your donation is highlighted below.

The Tsunami killed over 200,000 people, over 40,000 in Sri Lanka with millions of people left homeless.

In May I travelled to Sri Lanka to offer my skills voluntarily for Volunteer Internationals post-Tsunami projects. Volunteer International (VI) is private organization based in Colombo, owned and managed by Sri Lankan people. Established in 2000 VI offers gap year students or individuals looking for a change of vocation, work experience in Conservation, Journalism or Tourism in Sri Lanka.

After the Dec Tsunami the VI team traveled South offering support and aid to charities delivering medical, food and clothing supplies. The impact of the Tsunami affected the VI team to such an extent that they decided to open part of their offices and invite English speaking worldwide volunteers to come and help. VI had the experience of previously working with volunteers and a vast network of contacts.

Volunteer International decided to focus their projects in the Moratuwa district 30 miles South of Colombo where 3,500 people lost their homes. There are currently 15 refugee camps with various stages of housing projects from:

Emergency tents
Borrowed/Emergency housing - Community centers, schools
Temporary wooden structures.

It has been predicted that most people will inhabit Temporary housing for 1-2 years.

Temporary Housing - Refugee Camp, Moratuwa

Up until July the Worldwide pledged money had still not been distributed. All housing projects are currently funded by Non Government Organisations including charities, private organisations and individuals. VI has worked with charities such as Concern and the Red Cross in the past on building projects in Moratuwa.

Where your donation made a difference : Projects

VI projects are funded by volunteer’s donations and raised sponsorship money, as VI receives no external funding. Through the money that was raised from the 5 a side football tournament I was able to fund and set-up a small School for refugee children from the ages of 3-6 years old. The Montessori School opened in June 2005 and currently has 39 pupils. Part of the money that was raised paid for restoration work, furniture, games and puzzles, stationary, milk and Teachers and Teachers Assistant salary for 12 months.

Another project that I was able to contribute my efforts to, was a housing project in the town of Galle in the South. Galle was very badly hit and thousands of people died hundreds thousands more lost their home. One of the many projects that your donation was used towards was a roof for a family of 8's new concrete house.

Montessori School, Moratuwa Refugee Camp.

Workshops for tsunami children
Afternoon activity sessions are on a daily basis for the children living in camps. A workshop session usually lasts 1 ½ to 2½ hours. Activities are often dependant on the space and the number of children. Volunteers take along art supplies, music, bats and balls, etc. to engage the children in planned activities. Singing and games help the children to familiarize themselves with the English language whilst also trying to move on, step by step from the traumatic events that affected everyone's lives.

Animal Mask workshop, Refugee camp Moratuwa




Delivering Baby Kits to Fathers to be for pregnant mothers in Refugee Camps

Direct Aid Response: This project obviously changes from week to week. Generally VI aim to meet any direct needs within camps. For example, VI supplied ten 1000 litre water tanks, a water heater panel, 600 school uniforms and book supplies etc. Once a need has been identified volunteers raise funds through either contacting local organizations or holding fundraising events, which is where your contribution has made a difference.

Back to work project:

The aim is to help individuals return to their previous vocations. Providing the opportunity to earn a wage not only enables people living in temporary accommodation to better support their families but it also goes some way to replacing the dignity they have lost through the devastation of the tsunami.

In order to do this a database of camp residents and their trades is compiled. Funds are raised to purchase the necessary materials or tools. For example we have provided tools and supplies to a variety of people who have a variety of jobs e.g. nets and floats to a Fisherman, we provided baskets to another person who sells fruit.

One of the children at Playground refugee camp, Moratuwa

Many thanks for your company donation, as you can see the money was spent wisely and went to a very good cause. It was a fantastic experience and although at times very emotional, albeit a wonderful life-changing journey.

With thanks,

Nina Farrell