Projects

Rebuilding pre-schools

Over twenty pre-schools destroyed in the Hambantota District need to be rebuilt. At a cost of around of around £ 5600 each, they are essential in providing care and stability for the very young children affected by this disaster. It also enables parents to work and older siblings to return to school.

Senahasa Trust has undertaken to rebuild six in the Hambantota District in April 2005 and all six are now complete. Each pre-school will have 30-50 children and two teachers. Five pre-schools are built on land given by and in the local Buddhist temple and one is built on land donated by an individual..

Parents and children attended the opening ceremonies with great excitement. Following a traditional Buddhist blessing, a brass lamp was lit and kiribath (milk rice) was served to bring good fortune. Each opening ceremony was carefully planned to take place on an auspicious day and time – a custom in Sri Lanka.

The pre-schools are now a safe-haven for the children but they remain a shell. Typically these pre-schools have little or no toys, some basic furniture and not materials. Senahasa has commissioned and supplied "home corners" for each school and has sent donations of suitable toys to equip them. Each school will have building blocks, lego, picture books, musical instruments and other educational toys which will complement the home corners. The pre-schools are slowly developing into great places for the children to go to. The next step will be to provide the teachers' with further training so they feel confident to encourage children to learn through play rather than by rote.

Two new pre-schools in the Galle District.

Two new pre-schools have been completed in the Galle District. The Singithi Pera Pasala (pera pasala means pre-school) has been built in the grounds of the Siri Kettaramaya Vihara (vihara means temple) in Thittagalla, Ahangama. It is a beautiful location - the temple is literaly built on "island" surrounded by paddy fields and a tea plantation. It is hopes that this will be complete by mid July. The Unawatuna pre-school is being built above a new community centre which is currently being used as a temporary location for the children. It is sited very close to Unawatuna Maha Vidyalaya (UMV) and many of these pre-school children will attend UMV.

Eight pre-schools now open and operational


Medaketiya pre-school opened on 14th July 2005	Wevudutta pre-school opened on 15th August 2005

Palla Mallala pre-school opened on 21st August 2005	Mayurapura pre-school opened on 15th August 2005


Teachers at Mawella pre-school, opened on 27 October 2005	Children at Kahandamodera pre-school, opened on 26 January 2006

Tittagalla children eating special apples while exploring the new toys delivered to their pre-school from UK donations	Unawatuna Pre-school newly completed above a community centre