Attitude Development, Leadership and Counselling Training Programme on Teachers for President junior School in Tissamaharama (Hambantota District ) under the Misereor DRR Project.

A Board of Directors’ meeting of Caritas Sri Lanka (SEDEC) was held  at Caritas SED Galle Staff Room on 26th August 2023. It was a truly a memorable occasion as it was the first time a Board of Directors’ Meeting was facilitated at Caritas SED Galle.

This Programme was held at Nadiganwila  Primary School with the participation of students sitting for 5th Year Scholarship Examination this year from Nadiganwila, Andaragayaya, Kirindagama and Abeysekeragama Primary Schools in Hambantota District. Students of Grade 4 from Nadiganwila School also participated as this programme was held at Nadigamwila.

Teachers and parents of these students also took part in this Programme.

A number of  nutritional awareness programmes  were conducted by these Community Medical Officers attached to the Provincial Department of Ayuveda  in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka targeting  mostly pre-school children of pre-schools, their mothers and families in villages where we conduct food security related activities with the objective of  improving their nutrition levels. These  nutrition related prorgammes were conducted  in collaboration with Caritas SED Galle.

We are most grateful to Mr Gerard Chitty of Irasil Foundaiton of  Australia for granting financial assistance to improve the quality of  paddy seeds to increase rice production of paddy lands in Hambantota District in Sri Lanka.

We have identified many issues in relation  to agriculture especially in  paddy farming. One main issue is Inadequate income  to cover expenditure due to increase  in agricultural input prices. Due to the present economic crisis, inability to purchase high-quality seeds   has resulted  in the decline of yield significantly. The service charges of tractors and harvesters  have also increased three times due to increase in fuel cost. Falling prices of paddy at harvest time,  exploitation due to  monopoly by large-scale traders and increase in wages for workers  are some of other issues faced by farmers.

The lack of clean drinking water is a persistent issue in many of the schools in Hambantota District in Sri Lanka. The water supplied to schools at present is unfit for drinking purposes due to its high salinity level.

Caritas Humanitarian Aid &  Relief Initiatives, Singapore (CHARIS) came forward to assist the students of most remote villages who are from most poor and vulnerable families to have access to clean and purified drinking water facilities. As a sustainable solution, a number of Water filtration units were installed in three such schools namely Samanalagama Primary School, Hedawinna Primary School and Andaagasyaya Primary School. The students and teachers are very thankful to CHARIS Organization as now they enjoy clean and purified water.

A Training Programme on production of  vermicompost (worm manure) was conducted on 3rd May 2023 by  Mr Rasika Rukshan ( one of the very experienced farmers  in Hiyare who has achieved a remarkable  success  in producing vermicompost). This programme was conducted at a model farm belonging to Mr Kalinga at Kanampitiya . A total of 40 Members of Arunalu Agrcultural Society,  farmers in and around Kanampitiya participated at this programme organized by Caritas SED Galle.

Career guidance & Leadership training workshop for youth under the conflict mitigation project.

Caritas SED Galle distributed Dry Ration Nutrition Packs and Model Question Papers to students who are due to sit for 5th-year scholarship examinations in the year 2023 from 05 Primary Schools ( 32 students at Nadigamwila Primary School, 54 students at Andaragasaya Primary School, 22 students at Kirindagama Primary School, 16 students at Abeysekaragama Primary School and 39 students at Wanigasiri Primary School totaling to 163 students on 28th April 2023 under Caritas Korean Primary Education Development Project.

We have established a Model Home Garden at Caritas SED Galle Premises as a Production Model . This Model Home Garden has now become a well-developed Home Garden. This was developed under the Food Security Project (Addressing Causes for Poverty and Ensuring Food Security Security for Farming Communities in Sri Lanka) funded by Caritas Norway/NORAD.

Awareness Training Programme for zero Budget Farming,Traditional Seeds Protection and Eco Frendly Family Garden Development at Mahagalwewa,Koswatta, Patna and Beminiyanwila VLEGs on Environment Project.

The Project of “Addressing Causes for Poverty and Ensuring Food Security for Farming Communities”  funded by Caritas Norway is being implemented by  Caritas SED Galle to establish 2000 Home gardens in Galle,  Matara and Hambantota Districts. The Home Vegetable Garden Program seeks to increase access to healthy food for low income residents through establishing home gardens and providing one on one garden support at family homes, Community Knowledge Centers, Schools and Religious Institutions. Program participants are provided free seedlings, seeds, and other necessary tools and supplies as well. As necessary trainings,  home gardening provide participants with opportunities to build resilience through increased community engagement, opportunities for inter-generational experience and improvements in their health from exercise and increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
This partnership (Between University of Colombo Institute for Agro-technology and Rural Sciences, ,Weligatta and Caritas SED Galle &) will be paired with a garden mentor to provide extra support to help them reach their goals, whether it be help with water management, soil erosion control, pest management, or spending more time with their families outside.

All Parishes in the Diocese of Galle too commemorated the Easter Sunday  attack on 21st April 2023  by  candlelight vigils, prayer services, marches and displaying  banners in the three districts of Galle, Matara & Hambantota. Banners were   displayed  in three languages (English, Sinhala and Tamil).

A special new unit was declared open to learn computers at CODESEP on the 10th February 2023.

Distribution of Food pack for selected 45 needy families in Ambalantota DS Division under Mesereor DRR Project

International womens day celebration programme at Hambantota.

CBO leaders, members, farmers  and 6 Agricultural Development & Research Assistants   attached to different  Agricultural Zones  in Hambantota District and Caritas SED Galle staff  went on an exposure visit to a large Agricultural Farm at Pannala belonging to Mr Premaratne (a Resource Person) on 11th and 12th February 2023... Food Security Project

A Capacity Building Training Programme was conducted at Government Agricultural Farm at Labuduwa  under “Food Security Project – Addressing Causes for Poverty and Ensuring Food Security For Farming communities) on 15th February 2023...

A  practical training programme on home garden development was conducted at Hiyare, Galle on 26.02. 2023 under the Food Security Project..

A water filtration unit was also donated to  Vijaya Vidyalaya at Ambalantota in Hambantota district. Necessary financial assistance was provided by an individual donor ( Mr Geraad Chitty, a resident of Australia).

Two laptop computers were also donated to two children at a Buddhist Temple at Suriyawewa who obtained 3 A passes in  GCE (Advanced Level) Examinations ...

Dry food packs were also distributed on 6th January 2023 by Most Rev Dr Raymond Wickremasinghe (Bishop of Galle) for  55 vulnerable families at Bundala Junior School in Hambantota District.

Bishop of Galle visited Tissa Kirindagama Primary School in Hambantota on  6th January 2023 on an inspection tour to monitor the progress of  the Primary Education Development Project funded by Caritas Korea.

On 6th January 2023 a tree planting program was also conducted at a Buddhist Temple at Suriyawelana with the participation of Most Rev Dr. Raymond Wickramasinghe (Bishop of Galle).

Most Rev Dr Raymond Wickramasinghe (Bishop of Galle ) handed out school equipment on 6th January 2023 for 55 children of  most vulnerable families at  Suriyawelana...

Programme - Formation of village level Environment youth group
Project - DRR Project
Location - Sooriyawewa

Programme - Formation of village level Environment youth group
Project - Environment
Location - Walsapugala in Sooriyawewa
#of Participants - 25
Date - 08th February 2023

Programme - Village Level Environment Group refresher and monthly meeting
Project - Environment
Location - Walsapugala in Hambantota
Date - 08th February 2023
#of participants 30