Project Report WCTAG Tsunami Relief

Dear Friends and kind donors,

It has been nearly four years since the Tsunami hit to Sri Lanka and now the country is almost back to normal, while few families are still left in temporary house or camps. At the moment most of the general aid projects have finished their construction works, most of the schools, buildings have been reconstructed or rebuilt.
As a part of WCTAG tsunami relief we did lot of general help as well as a long term scholarship program to help selected 34 students to continue their studies. Our motivation was to make them independent from their lost families or their income with tuition fees, bus fare, school stationary etc., so that they can continue life on the normal way. And we are almost completing the 3rd year of the scholarships. At the moment some of the students have finished their secondary education and doing their high school educations while others also doing well in their educations. We are most grateful to WCTAG for this help.
As a part of our general help we started helping to a monks training institute in the South of Sri Lanka, which was not directly affected by Tsunami but needed help desperately. It is a place where young boys enter to an ascetic life and learn Buddhist studies and ancient languages such as Pali and Sanskrit. On the other hand this place gives security and protection to them. This institute includes total enrolment of 50 young monks and staff strength of 10. Basically this temple is supported by the village. Villages are also depending on their agricultural activities. Due to geographical circumstances this area doesn’t get enough rain throughout the year for cultivations. Hence the villages are also in a very difficult situation and they struggle with the nature to live.
Even in such a background the villages are doing their best to the institute. This institute itself has to feed to 50 young monks, look for their medical needs, cloths etc. On the other hand they have only 5 rooms for all of them to share, which is really a challenge.
As a part of the general aids WCTAG gave support to repair the roof of this hostel and to build a new shrine room to do their Buddhist rituals. We received 1300 Euros from Jan Silberstorff for this event in the year 2007 and the beginning of 2008 the shrine room was complete and the roof was repaired. (I have attached some pictures of the new shrine room and few newly ordained young monks)

With the help from the villages and other donors (they voluntarily built the shrine, when the materials were arranged) the shrine room was finished and the young monks are now using it to do the rituals.

The hostel room roof has been damaged and leaking when it is raining. And some of the donations were used to repair the roof.

At the moment there is an urgent need for a new hostel room, a room for studies and a library room.

All 50 young monks are sharing the only 5 rooms with many difficulties. And at the moment there is an urgent need for a new hostel room with at least 10 rooms.

The school has only one room for conducting the classes and all 7 classes are conducted in the same room with many difficulties. And a separate hall is needed with a separate room to study.

And the school doesn’t have a library room. They are encouraged to develop their reading; though they got books they don’t have a library to keep them organized and use them. A library room is also compulsorily needed.

We are most grateful to everyone who gave support to continue our good work, and I request help to continue this work. And help is still needed to this institute to fulfill the above mentioned facilities. And I do hope that all the kind donors will help us with the endeavor, while the student’s scholarship pregame is also running.

Finally I would like to thank WCTAG association for the encouragement and support given towards this meaningful work, especially Mr. Silberstorff for organizing the whole event.
And lot of thanks and blessings from the monastery, the students who are receiving the scholarships and families who gained help since the Tsunami hit in 2004.

Sujith Jayasekara
Project Manager – WCTAG Tsunami relief, Sri Lanka
2008/10/20

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Project Report WCTAG Tsunami Relief

Dear Friends and kind donors,

I would like to start my project report by thanking you for your kind donations you gave us towards our general project works. Apart from our sponsorship program we have been doing lots of general relief work since Tsunami hit the south cost of Sri Lanka. On our general projects we received another 130,000 LKR (about 1000 Euros) on the 11th July 2006 from WCTAG members.
It has been nearly one and half years since Tsunami hit to Sri Lanka. Most of the families which were directly on the coast had gotten lot of support.
After Tsunami hit as I was living in the south of Sri Lanka I came across some families which was not on the coast but effected from Tsunami. I have used the above mentioned money to help these families to start small scale business to be economically independent and also to get house hold goods.

Mr. R.P Sirisena, father of three daughters, lives in Matara south of Sri Lanka. He was selling goods by using his bicycle; he lost his bicycle by Tsunami as well as the goods. He had no income apart from that. Our project gave him 25000 LKR in order to get a new bicycle and start his business again.
Mr. R.P. Ariyawathi, mother of 2 sons and 2 daughters, lives in Weligama, close to Matara south of Sri Lanka, her husband also was a labor worker. On the Tsunami day he has been working close to the cost and by the hit his leg was broken and can do the labor work any more. Our project gave her 25000 LKR in order to start a family business (making ropes)
Mr. Thushara Pradeep who 22 years old. His small business (shop) was completely destroyed by the tsunami hit. And because of the shock he didn’t want to start the same thing again. Out of our donation of 15000 LKR he started making cement blocks at his home and sell it to the customers.
Still some families were waiting for our support in Hikkaduwa area (one of the most effected areas in Sri Lanka). It was one of our main helping places also.
In Hikkaduwa area we have distributed household goods (such as plastic chairs, pots, plates cloths ect) among 10 families worth 55000 LKR (5500LKR each family). Other expenses such as transporting, food and accommodation to helpers about 10000 LKR

Here by I wish to thank all our donors and look forward your help on our sponsorship program. Also the people who gained your kind help wanted me to convey their kind regards and they appreciated your kind help when they were in real disaster. Also thank you very much Mr. Silberstorff for organizing all the help and donations towards Sri Lanka on Tsunami hit in 2004.

Sujith Jayasekara
Project Manager – WCTAG Tsunami relief, Sri Lanka

2007/01/31

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WCTAG - TSUNAMI RELIEF REPORT - 2006

Our ongoing Tsunami relief is the kids/students sponsorship program. At the moment we are supporting 34 students financially every month by in total 680.- €/month. Our support covers their tuition fee, travelling cost, school uniforms, stationeries, food and so on.
Most of our students those who we selected for this program have lost either a parent, parents job, lost the house or so.
There are three coordinators who are helping in this issue. Besides one monk and a schoolteacher, who also lost a child and her husband by tsunami, the third is a student who is doing computer studies at the moment.

They wanted us to thank all the sponsors who are helping them. And they requests to continue the support you are giving to them. Many thanks again.

Sujith Jayasekara
Project Manager – WCTAG Tsunami relief, Sri Lanka

2007/01/31

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WCTAG Tsunami Relief

December 26th 2004, an unforgettable day for the mankind. The Tsunami hit changed many lives of the globe, every one worried as it was a disaster for the whole mankind. Sri Lanka the second most effected country by the Tsunami hit, many thousands of people died, tsunami kept another part homeless. Children lost their parents, parents lost their children. Every one cried losing their beloved ones. Some had only the clothes which they were wearing.
People were crying when they see some their own people effected by this disaster, It was emotional but it was also time to get together and help to them as they were desperately in need of help from the others.
In this issue, to help to the people in Tsunami effected people in Sri Lanka, World Chen Taiji Association - Germany started their Tsunami relief work with the Lewella meditation Centre, kandy. Mr. Jan Silberstorff was the main project leader and I (Sujith Jayasekara) was organizing the helping work in the south of Sri Lanka.
As I was involved with some social welfare work with some organizations before Tsunami, I knew some people and some contacts who lived in the south of Sri Lanka. I started my Tsunami work the day after the hit, also I contacted Mr. Jan for raising funds for the work.
During the first trip I visited the people whom I knew before and organized them the necessities, and could organize loads drinking water and dry food. But it was very difficult for me also to see such a lot of dead bodies, broken houses, crying people who are looking for help.
When I met Mr. Silberstorff a few days later I had a discussion with him and we continued the necessary relief work. The places we were helping based near Galle, Matara, Hikkaduwa, Hambantota. Mostly on these aid trips we distributed dry rations, clothes, medical supplies ect. As we got lot of donations from the members of WCTAG we could organize lot of necessary help. And I personally would like to take this opportunity to thank all the donors who donated money for this event.
During my aid trips I met some students (some had lost a parent or both, some lost their houses and so on) and they were not in a position to continue the education in any way. In this circumstance we started a sponsorship program to some of the selected students those who had effected by Tsunami. At the moment we support 25 Students. During my trips I had met some people from the above mentioned areas whom supporting me with the sponsorship program. The money which is given to the students are spent on their educational needs, such as Tuition fees, bus fee, stationary, school uniforms and shoes and so on.
It is almost two years since the Tsunami hit. When I look back I feel very much happy that I could do some thing. I was then 23 years old. But when I look at the things I could do (I should not forget the support I gotten from the manager of the Lewella meditation centre and some of the friends of the centre) and also to see the smile of the students whom we are supporting and to see their success it is so beautiful. And all this I could arrange because of WCTAG organization. I could work because of you, for me it was a challenge. But when I look back I see it was really successful.
I would like to make this an opportunity to thank all the donors who donated the money on the general aid projects and all the “God Fathers” who are mainly sponsoring the students in Sri Lanka: Thank you very much! Thank you for bringing back a smile on the students who had tears on their eyes. Look forward your support in this event, and we do hope to continue the sponsorship program for some years.

Many thanks ones again.

Sujith Jayasekara
05th December 2006, Hamburg

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Dear friends and donors

of WCTAG-Tsunami relief scholarship porgramme,

let me begin the letter by thanking each and all of you for your kind support you gave towards us to Sri Lanka when we faced the Tsunami disaster. From the first moment onwards I was not alone, Mr. Jan Silberstorff and his students, and members of WTCAG did give great support so I could do lot of relief work for lot of people who were in need of help.

As a respond to my idea to start a scholarship or sponsorship progamme for some selected Tsunami affected students, Mr. Jan Silberstorff organized necessary arrangement, and now we are supporting 26 students they get monthly support financially and other ways, so they can continue their lives and studies. I am in touch with them regularly and I really see the improvement.

Shan Lahiru, for example, when I first met him he had decided to not to continue studies but with the sponsorship programme I told him that he is not alone and there are some people not in Sri Lanka but in Germany who are giving us support. So he continued he passed the higher education examination, followed an English course, at the moment doing a computer course. He is very good in English now and intending to continue studies. Most of the students are like this. Now they know they are not alone and there are people who are looking after them.

I saw them soon after Tsunami, and I see them now. There is a big change in them for good. And they have promised to continue their studies.

A Buddhist monk and widow lady (her son died on Tsunami and her husband died exactly after 3 months after tsunami by a heart attack as he was only thinking of his dead son) are helping me organizing the whole thing, and also they are aware about the students. And Shan mentioned above also helping as he is the eldest in the programme.

Dear friends, thank you very much for every thing. Your help could make a smile back on their faces. They are happy now, continuing their studies and they know they are not alone. I am on process of making a small video of our sponsorship programme, once it is finished I will make sure it reaches you.

Wish you all the very best to you, warm regards from all the students and their families to all of you. They wanted me to thank you from the bottom of their hearts, and they wanted to say “May Triple Gems Protect You At All Times”

Yours truly,

Sujith Jayasekara – WTCAG Tsunami Releif
03rd of February 2006 – At Matara, Sri Lanka

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Pateneltern?

Es werden dringend noch 2 Pateneltern gesucht.
Wer Interesse hat meldet sich bitte bei Jan Silberstorff unter: 0172 / 4326626

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Liebe Pateneltern,

seit ein paar Tagen bin ich zurück von meiner jüngsten Sri Lanka Reise im Januar und Februar 2006. Ich habe alle „unsere“ Kinder besuchen können und feststellen können, dass durch Eure Hilfe tatsächlich große Fortschritte erzielt werden konnten. Es gab leider auch traurige Schicksalsschläge, so ist z.B. der Ehemann unserer Koordinatorin des einen Dorfes noch drei Monate nach dem Tsunami an den seelischen Folgen des Verlustes des Sohnes (durch den Tsunami) gestorben. Doch umso mehr hilft Euer Angagement.
Es ist mir gelungen, von jedem Patenkind einen Brief an Euch mit zu bringen. Im Anhang findet ihr schon eine Vorschau mit allen Briefen, Euer persönlicher Brief wird Euch nach und nach zugestellt werden. Entschuldigt bitte, wenn dies ein wenig dauern wird, da ich nur kurzfristig in Deutschland bin und sicherlich nicht mehr alle schaffen werde, vor meiner erneuten Abreise zielgerecht zu versenden.

Vielen Dank für Eure Geduld und Eure Hilfe,

Jan Silberstorff

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Liebe/r Webseitenbesucher/in, (01.01.2005)

alles Gute für Dich im neuen Jahr.

Ich bin jetzt in Sri Lanka, aber Du brauchst Dir keine Sorgen zu machen. Für mich persönlich ist alles ok, aber für sehr viele Menschen ist es hier sehr schlimm.
Ich arbeite an einem Hilfsprojekt mit und mache dann mein Retreat. Bin daher ab sofort bis Februar nicht mehr zu erreichen.
Ich helfe hier an einem Hilfsprojekt der Mönche mit, welche direkt mit einigen sehr schlimm betroffenen Dörfern außerhalb der Touristenzentren betraut sind und direkt helfen können. Die Arbeit hier ist in direktem, persönlichem Kontakt mit den Betroffenen und langfristig. Also auch dann noch, wenn der Schock vorbei ist, die Überlebenden aber immer noch obdachlos sind, die Spenden aus dem Westen nachlassen und das Geld fehlt. Die Menschen werden jetzt notversorgt und dann wird begonnen, für sie wieder Unterkünfte zu errichten.
Falls Du Lust hast, Dich bei der Hilfe zu beteiligen, frage bitte Deine Schüler, vielleicht auch Freunde oder was Dir sonst noch sinnvoll erscheint, eine (vielleicht zusätzliche, falls schon woanders geschehene) Spende an uns zu entrichten.
Viele Häuser hier sind so komplett nicht mehr vorhanden, dass man nur noch den Fußboden sehen kann, nicht mal mehr den Ansatz einer Mauer. Es sind immer noch überall Tote zu sehen. (nicht hier in unserem Tempel bei Kandy, keine Sorge)
Eben habe ich mit einem Überlebenden gesprochen, der sich gerade noch auf einen sehr guten Baum retten konnte und mit ansehen musste, wie etwa 1000 Menschen um ihn herum sterben mussten.

Vielleicht kannst Du ein bisschen Geld sammeln, ich melde mich dann im Februar bei Dir und wir lassen es gezielt den Leuten zukommen. Das Ziel dieser Aktion, mit der ich mich an Dich wende, ist es, das Geld erst in vier Wochen zu benutzen. Jetzt wird täglich viel getan und es gibt viele laufende Aktionen. Aber es ist gut, auch langfristig zu denken. Sonst müsste die Hilfe mitten drin abbrechen.
Ich denke jedoch, es ist sinnvoll, jetzt schon zu sammeln, da die Menschen zur Zeit gerne geben. Später ist es vielleicht anders, wenn im Westen andere Nachrichten in den Vordergrund gerückt sind.

Ob ein bisschen oder viel, jeder Euro hilft.
Alles weitere, was ich hier mitkriege, erzähle ich, wenn ich wieder da bin.
Aber eines ist klar: Es wird viel Hilfe gebraucht.
Natürlich ist auch die Arbeit der großen internationalen Organisationen und die Jetzthilfe sehr wichtig. Spenden dieser offiziellen Art sollen natürlich nicht vergessen werden. Beides zusammen ist sehr wichtig. Das Eine soll also das Andere nicht notwendigerweise ersetzen.

Da wir von der WCTAG seit drei Jahren mit diesem Tempel zusammen arbeiten, ist es quasi auch unsere Gemeinschaft geworden.
Kurz: Wir haben dadurch die Möglichkeit, ganz direkt, konkret und persönlich zu helfen!

Unser Mönchsprojekt kann zur Zeit gut arbeiten, die Angst ist nur, was in einem Monat ist, wenn die finanzielle Hilfe nachlässt. Genau hier können wir helfen, denke ich.

Vielen Dank und alles Gute,

Bis bald,
Jan

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Liebe Freunde, Schüler und Lehrkräfte, (04.02.2005)

inzwischen bin ich nach fünf Wochen wohlbehalten aus Sri Lanka zurück und freue mich riesig, dass der etwas kurzfristig spontane Spendenaufruf zu unserem Hilfsprojekt bereits über 3000.- € aufbringen konnte. Etwa ein Drittel kommt über das Internet von „Verbandsfremden“, was mir auch noch einmal ein gutes Gefühl gibt, dass sich hier wirklich etwas machen lässt! Alle, die bereits etwas überwiesen haben, sei hier schon einmal sehr gedankt (ich werde dies später in einigen Fällen noch persönlich tun), die anderen, die ich gebeten habe, mit der Überweisung noch zu warten, bis ich mich melde, möchte ich jetzt bitten, dass Geld an unser Geschäftskonto unter dem Stichwort „Sri Lanka Hilfe“ zu überweisen (bitte denkt daran, beim Empfänger „Silberstorff“ und nicht „WCTAG“ einzutragen, da es sonst zurückgeschickt wird).
Bitte sendet auch eine separate E-Mail an mich (jan.silberstorff@t-online.de), dass ich direkt über Eure Überweisung Bescheid weiß und mich persönlich bei Euch bedanken kann.
Schon auf meinem Hinweg konnte ich eine spontane Spende einiger Schüler und Freunde inkl. meiner selbst von 750.- € überbringen, welche inzwischen allerdings aufgebraucht ist. Über überwiesene Summen gibt es selbstverständlich Spendenbescheinigungen, welche gesammelt im Zusammenhang mit einer ausführlichen Dokumentation über das Geschehen und die Verwendung der Spenden im Internet veröffentlicht wird. Wer eine persönliche Einzelquittung braucht, gibt mir bitte kurz Bescheid, auch das ist kein Problem. Wer möchte kann das gesamte ungekürzte Dokumentationsmaterial auch für 5.- € Selbstkostenbeitrag im Briefumschlag als CD bei uns bestellen. Zu unseren Reports finden sich hier noch unzählige Fotos und einige Videos über unsere Arbeit, welche wir im Internet nicht veröffentlichen können. „Grösseren“ Spendern werden wir diese als kleines Dankeschön automatisch zusenden.
Ich muss mich auch entschuldigen, dass wir mit meinem ersten E-Mail-Aufruf nur einige Lehrkräfte erreichen konnten, da wir nicht alle E-Mail-Adressen hatten. In Kürze werde ich mich aber auch noch mal bei den „übrigen“ melden.

Zur Aktion: Unser Projekt konzentriert sich vornehmlich auf zwei Bereiche. Der erste sind Fahrten durch das Katastrophengebiet. Bei diesen Fahrten halten wir Ausschau nach Familien und Landstrichen, an denen die internationalen Hilfsorganisationen nicht Halt gemacht, bzw. die übersehen worden sind. Soweit es uns möglich ist, versuchen wir dann spontan vor Ort das am meisten Gebrauchte zu organisieren und/oder finanziell unter die Arme zu greifen. Es ist wirklich schwer vorstellbar: Noch nach fünf Wochen ist es ein nicht aufhörender Pfad von Schutt und Trümmern (vor ein paar Tagen, am 31.1.05, sind wir u.a. acht Stunden Auto am Stück gefahren und zu jeder Zeit war rechts und links nichts als Zerstörung und Not zu sehen. Damit hatten wir gerade mal die Hälfte des betroffenen Gebietes durchquert). Die einstigen Häuser, nur noch Ruinen und oft bis auf den letzten Stein schlicht nur noch der Boden selbst, sonst nichts. Die Familien, bzw. der Teil der Überlebenden campieren so gut sie können vor Ort, in vielen Gebieten haben internationale Hilfskräfte Zelte aufgestellt. Oft sieht man gerade alte Leute mit Stühlen auf „ihrem“ Fußboden sitzen. Gerade dort, wo vorher wohl das Wohnzimmer gewesen sein muss. Wenn wir halten immer ähnliche Situationen: Der eine hat seine Ehefrau verloren, viele Kinder ihre Eltern, viele Eltern ihre Kinder – wie die Häuser teils vollständig, teils halb und manchmal auch zum Glück nur schwach beschädigt sind, genauso hat es die Menschen um ihr Leben getroffen. Manchmal ganze Familien, sehr oft Teile von Familien, manchmal auch „nur“ Verletzte. Es gibt Häuser die fast heil stehen, während zwei Meter daneben alles mitgerissen wurde. Von dem Eisenbahnzug, in dem durch den Tsunami mindestens 1500 Menschen umgekommen sind, fehlen immer noch zwei ganze Wagons, die vermutlich ins Meer geschwemmt wurden. Auch hier haben wir gehalten. Die Menschen kommen ans Auto, erzählen ihre Geschichte und bitten um das Nötigste: Nahrungsmittel, Kleidung, Unterkünfte. Wir versuchen zu organisieren, was in unserem Bereich möglich ist. Oft ist Geld auch eine große Hilfe. Denn trotz großer Zerstörung ist es oft nicht weit, um sich im nahe gelegnen Binnenland viele Dinge besorgen zu können, wenn man Geld hätte. Denn es ist buchstäblich alles weg. Einfach alles. Kein Haus, keine Möbel, keine Kleidung, keine Arbeit, kein Geld. Und so sitzen die übrig gebliebenen Familienmitglieder auf ihren Grundstücken, es wird dunkel, es wird versucht ein Feuer zu machen, manchmal kommen schlimme Regenfälle. Sechs dieser Fahrten sind bereits unternommen und gerade jetzt wo ich (wieder in Frankfurt) hier sitze und dies schreibe ist der Bus zum siebten Male aufgebrochen.
Der zweite und langfristig wesentliche Bereich unserer Hilfe bezieht sich auf 20 Kinder, die ihre Eltern verloren haben und denen wir versuchen für die nächsten Jahre ein Leben zu ermöglichen, dass ihnen ihre Eltern zwar nicht wiedergeben kann, aber es ermöglicht alles in vorherigen Bahnen weiterleben zu können. Durch unsere Hilfe wird es ihnen möglich sein, weiterhin zur Schule gehen zu können, einen abgesicherten Lebensraum an Wohnung, Kleidung und Nahrung zu haben. Ohne ihre Eltern ist an eine weitere Schullaufbahn oder ein Leben in normalen Bahnen nicht mehr zu denken. Diese Hilfe wird sich vermutlich auf einen Zeitraum von fünf Jahren erstrecken.

Anbei findet ihr noch den Bericht von meinem Partner aus unserem Meditationszentrum, Sujith, über unser Hilfsprojekt. Von uns (WCTAG) und über Analayo (der Abt „unseres“ Tempels) kommt fast ausschließlich die finanzielle Hilfe, Sujith organisiert die Projekte vor Ort und ein weiterer Mönch und eine Mutter, die selbst einen Sohn verloren hat, kontrollieren vor Ort den sachgemäßen Umgang mit den finanziellen Hilfeleistungen von Seiten der Betroffenen. So ist sichergestellt, dass wirklich Hilfe pur stattfinden kann.
Ich bin darüber sehr glücklich, zu erfahren, wie alternative Hilfe in Harmonie mit den großen Organisationen, ganz direkt und unbürokratisch von Statten gehen kann. Und ich gebe zu, dass mich trotz der großen Verzweiflung der Menschen vor Ort, die Lebensnähe und Wärme, die die Menschen in der Not zusammenbringt und uns so sehr entgegen strahlt bei jedem Halt, in seinen Bann geschlagen hat und wäre tatsächlich am liebsten jetzt wieder mit unten im Süden, bei den Menschen an ihrem Lagerfeuer.

Da wir uns auf ein langfristiges Hilfsprogramm eingestellt haben, brauchen wir weiterhin viel Unterstützung. Daher freuen wir uns über Spenden sehr. In Kürze werden wir eine eigene Kontonummer hierfür haben, bis dahin (wer möchte) überweist bitte an unser Geschäftskonto Jan Silberstorff, Haspa, Ktnr.: 1251-496392, Blz 20050550, Stichwort „Sri Lanka Hilfe“.

Im Internet werden wir über alle Aktionen regelmäßig informieren und über alle Gelder entsprechend gesammelte Empfangsbestätigungen, bzw. Überweisungsquittungen abdrucken.

Vielen vielen Dank für all die Unterstützung, ich bin glücklich, zu erfahren, das eine Verbandsgemeinschaft und eine Taiji-Familie effektiv helfen kann und sehe auch hier die WCTAG noch einmal in einem völlig neuem Licht.

Vielen Dank und alles Liebe,

Jan Silberstorff

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Simple Wisdom and WCTAG Project for Tsunami effected areas in Sri Lanka.

Bericht des Projektleiters Sujith vor Ort

Simple Wisdom was founded by Florian Palzinsky (was a monk in Sri Lanka), and have been doing small scale of social welfare projects.

• Supporting kindergartens, school children, university students, monks, monasteries and a home for handicapped children.
• Helping families in need with shelter, clothing, food, medicine, etc and supporting them to become financially independent.
• Supporting prisoners by teaching them meditation
• Supporting the Veddhas, the native people of Sri Lanka (printing a small book for the young generation about their traditional way of life, language, etc.).

After Tsunami attack on the 26th of December 2004, we expanded our project works as it was necessary and needed. Our head quarters in Colombo, and from Colombo Florian and Mrs. Theja Weeratna (his co-worker for Colombo) are running the project, and as a branch of the project through the Lewella meditation centre some more activities are going on. From this WCTAG has become our most importend financial support now.

Basically on Tsunami victims we tried to organize basic needs the very first days, such as dry foods, cloths, medical support etc.

From Lewelle meditation centre we have made 6 trips till today (31th of January 2005)

1. During florian’s stay in Sri Lanka he had some contact with people who were living in south cost of the island, soon after Tsunami, we tried to get in touch with the people whom we knew and tried to organize help they needed. But due to technical problems (telecommunication) we didn’t have a choice unless we go there and find out what happened. During our first trip (from Kandy) we Organized dry foods, baby food and medical supplies as well as cloths.

This family was known to florian while he was living in a temple in Tissamaharamaya in south cost of Sri Lanka. They hadn’t lost their lives, but they had lost their crops completely as their field situated very close to the beach. They didn’t have any income there for we started our help project from her, as we first visited them.
From the news go gathered from her we got information about the area and there were two camps where the refugees were staying. The first visit we gave all the things we had left to the camp as they were very short with goods and there were nearly 100 families camping there. As our goods included with baby milk and baby medical supplies, were really useful to the camp, as they didn’t have any of them. (Later on some support came)
The other day of the first trip, we organized the breakfast to the other camp where nearly 200 people were staying. As they didn’t get any support that morning we took over the responsibilities of that we donated the breakfast to them. (What we only could find was some buns and bread only)

Since then when we are planning a trip we always had some parcels of dry foods, cloths and other basic needs. (Toilet needs, soap, under wears etc.) There were three main places we supported, after two and half weeks one place was shifted to a temporary housing scheme with all the necessary support, now we concentrating on two main places. One in Hikkaduwa and other is in Hambantotoa (South of Sri Lanka).

Our target was to get in touch with people to gather information about the places. Since we are in touch with the head monk of the temple from Hikkaduwa and the head master of the Sunday School on Hambantota our work has become easy as they are our coordinating persons. With the information and the help from them we could continue our work more meaningfully.

While this was happening another subject came across, is that the children who are schooling are really in need of support. Even before Tsunami these people had to have really a fight to live. After Tsunami the situation have become even worse now. Since that subject came up, we have been collecting some information about some students and families which really in need of long term basis help.

Now our part from the project mostly trying to organize support for children who need help in long terms (scholarship type)
From grade 1-9 monthly about 10 euros
From 9-11 monthly 15 euros
After the ordinary level examination in grade 11 if they pass and selected to the advance level examination will be given 20 euros
Finally if they selected to the university monthly 25 euros till they finish studying at the university.

At the moment there are nearly 17 students whom we have selected (whom have lost their parent/s or whom have lost their properties and belongings and who really in need of support)

This boy is 5 years old and lost his father because of Tsunami, and mother is jobless.		She lost her mother and brother, and living with her grandparents.	He has lost his father, he is studding in Grade 10

Like this there is a database we have made. Apart from that we will be organizing stationeries and school items such as shoes, school bags, and other things.

Above images (of schooling children) were made in Hambantota, and other place there are 10 students.

Following are some of the image impressions which we made during our trips with help to Tsunami affected areas.

Before that we would like to thank behalf of the simple wisdom (kandy branch) for all your kind contribution from WCTAG on this situation to help to our people when they were in need.

Wasantha, one of my helpers from the Lewella meditation centre with our parcels at a camp in Hambatota.	Wasantha is distributing some stationeries among the kids at the Hambantota camp.

Not knowing what has happened, a little girl whom we met at the above mentioned temporary housing scheme was really exited to see us.	This is a temporary housing scheme which was organized for the first camp we helped. They have got all the basic needs now and are given food, and all the other support including security.

This is what Tsunami has left for them. A mother with her two kids, waiting at the camp in Hambantota, till some body to come with help. They have totally lost their belongings.	It was amazing to see how the little ones are facing the problem. They are more relaxed and happy with what they get. But the elders have to solve hundreds of problems to look after them.

We have to share their feelings, especially when they don’t get enough support we talked with them and gathered information. We are planning the next trip accordingly.

Some sweets for every one.	An old man with our dry food parcels.

My co-worker Wasantha, with part of our donations, and part of the people of the camp.

What is next??????

And old man whom we met at our Hambantota branch. Who helped us with our projects even though he was very old. His smile was the only gift he could give us back.

Sujith

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Spendenquittungen

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Report über die Ausgaben der Spendengelder in Sri Lanka

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