Planning a schedule and buying supplies: Tucker's January 17th report

January 17th 2005

After a much needed day of recuperation and planning, the team members of Serendib Sri Lanka held another emergency meeting today at the camp headquarters office in Ratnapura to decide the agenda for the remainder of the President of Serendib-USA’s stay in Sri Lanka. It was decided, among other things, that the team would continue its efforts in the domain of children’s education in the areas most affected by the tsunami.

According to reports from the UNDP and other sources, approximately 35,000 homes were completely destroyed in the area surrounding Batticaloa on the eastern coast. Nearby Ampara was also hardest hit, and Trincomalee further North up the coast, with one of the world’ most perfect natural harbors, also suffered heavy damage. Matara, on the southernmost end of Sri Lanka, was also leveled in several areas.

The team members of Serendib Sri Lanka came to several conclusions: 1) the flow of humanitarian aid directed to the most basic needs of food, water, and shelter are being met, 2) other needs of children who are now being asked to return to school – supplies, uniforms, stationery, etc. are not being met, 3) Serendib is prepared to help meet these children’s needs by providing them with supplies that were washed away in the tsunami.

It was also decided that a program of activities – similar to English Camps – can and should be conducted by the talented members of Serendib Sri Lanka in order to lift the spirits of children in the refugee camps and provide them with a sense of purpose and hope. This, it was affirmed in our last trip to Kilinochchi, will play a crucial role in the rehabilitation process of Sri Lanka.

It was therefore decided that in the remaining time of the President’s stay in Sri Lanka, three trips to four destinations would be organized to distribute the aid of school supplies and also to conduct mini-Camps in these locations. The projected itinerary follows:

January 19th, 20th, 21st - Trincomalee
January 23rd, 24th - Batticaloa
January 25th, 26h - Ampara
January 27th, 28th - Matara

At each of these stops it will be the job of the relief team to locate one hundred (100) students to whom we will provide all the necessary supplies for returning to school. A team of approximately 10 to 15 expert resource persons will also be on board to conduct mini-Camps and other activities in English for these children, some of whom may not have had the chance to return to school.

As such, the entire day was spent purchasing items for the journey from various stores in the Ratnapura locale. And, as mentioned, the members of Serendib Sri Lanka attended an emergency meeting at 6 p.m. Tomorrow’s activities will be composed of packing and preparing for the launch on Wednesday to the northeast.

Tucker


[Webmaster's Note: Please click on the following link to see the pictures relating to this report. A brief description of these pictures by Tucker follows the link]

http://www.serendib.us/tsunami/11605/page.html

Photo 1: A look down Main Street in Ratnapura, home of Serendib-Sri Lanka

Photo 2: Darshena in the three-wheeler with notebooks for the children

Photo 3: Ratnapura police station

Photo 4: Planning center at headquarters

Photo 5: Another open air market shot of downtown Ratnapura

Photo 6: At the ayurvedic medicine shoppe

Photo 7: Counting 100 toothbrushes!

Photo 8: Measuring and cutting the cloth for school uniforms

Photo 9: Taking a break from folding

Photo 10: White is the traditional color for school dress

Photo 11: At the textile shop getting school bags

Photo 12: Bandula and Dinuka with the water bottles and lunch boxes

Photo 13: Calculating the bill!

Photo 14: Our newest volunteer arrival from Thailand – Miss Chonnikarn

Photo 15: Jesu adjusts the map for the emergency meeting

Photo 16: Books waiting to be collated and packed

Photo 17: Carrying the lot up to the fourth floor office

Photo 18: Chonnikarn lends a helping hand

Photo 19: The emergency meeting of Serendib Sri Lanka

Photo 20: Udaya from Kegalle District

Photo 21: Achini is our meditation expert

Photo 22: The lady teachers making last minute phone calls

Photo 23: The complete shopping list for Trip #1