Sri Lanka

GFF Helps India’s October 2022 meaningful engagement

MOBILE LIBRARY

Like every month, this month too the Mobile Library visits were made in the SOGG Learning & Information Centres of Bong, Chibbo and Pudung. Old books were replaced with new ones in all the 3 centres. This time a new Intern of GFF Helps, Ms. Surabhi accompanied the GFF Helps team. She also got to learn about the project and experienced it for the first time. The students were happy to interact with her and receive new books.

Computer Classes

The computer classes in all the 3 learning Centers have been ongoing since the month of September. While the 2 Centres Bong and Pudung had a computer teacher since the beginning, Chibbo had a volunteer teacher for a month. From 10th October, Ms. Teresa Lepcha has been appointed as a computer teacher in the Centre. The students of all the 3 centres have been learning Computer. GFF Helps India has provided each Centre with basic computer books. The project will end after 3 months of completion.

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

The World Mental Health Day is celebrated on the 10th of October every year. This year a Darjeeling based NGO DLR Prerna had organized a program remarking the day on 17th of October 2022. GFF Helps India Representative, Ms. Nikita Rai attended the program in Drajeeling. The theme for this year was “Make Mental Health & Well Being for all a Global Priority. There were various guest speakers who spoke on various issues, causes, solution and their experiences. Schools, colleges and social organizations were present from Darjeeling and Kalimpong Districts.

MOBILE LIBRARY IN DEBANJAN SHARE GIRLS ACADEMY

Debanjan Share Girls’ Academy is a year old residential girls’ football academy where 18 girls have been accommodated in their hostel at present. It is a collaborative effort of Debanjan Sen Foundation and Share Football Club and is the first residential football academy in West Bengal. Mobile Library Project was introduced to them by GFF Helps India on 19th October 2022. The main aim to implement the project there is not only to improve their English language and vocabulary but also their imagination and creativity. The books were handed over to the incharge Ms. Sushan, who will be coordinating and keeping the records as well. The managing team of Debanjan Share Girls Academy and the girls were glad to have started the project. Every month books will be given to them and reading sessions will be held along with storytelling sessions.

AWARENESS PROGRAM BY IL&FS

GFF Helps India has been collaborating with IL&FS (Skill Development and Training Institute) from the very beginning. There are various courses through which dropout students can get employment through. Awareness programs for these courses have been done before in Chibbo and Dabling villages. Similarly this time on the 21st October 2022, an awareness program was held in Bong village in the SOGG Centre. There were 22 women participants from the Self Help Groups who were active participants of the program. They were mostly interested in the tailoring and beautician courses. Ms. Mamta Cgettri of IL&FS gave clear information about these courses. After the Diwali break, followup needs to be done on these 2 courses. These kinds of skill development and employment opportunities have given direction to those who have dropped out of their school and colleges.

REGULAR HEALTH CHECKUP IN THE VILLAGES

The regular health checkup project started during the CoVID19 pandemic in April 2021. The project still continues to reach the vulnerable section of the society in Bong, Chibbo and Pudung villages. Blood Pressure and Sugar tests are done in regular basis of the sick and elderly population of the villages. The project has made it convenient for the people to take benefit of the health checkups especially for those whose Hospitals and Health Centres are far from their houses and during emergency situations. The Staff of SOGG Bong, Chibbo and Pudung have been volunteering since the pandemic and have been serving their community.

SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP

As we move towards a digitalized era, there is a need for us to move towards building virtual connection with our sponsors, friends and beneficiaries. Therefore on the 1st of October 2022, to address the need, a seminar on Social media was organised by GFF Helps India where the main resource person was Mr. Joe Fisher (former GFF Helps India volunteer). It was held in the GFF India Office in Kalimpong from 10:30am-12:00pm. The GFF Helps team from Philippines, Nepal and Sri Lanka attend the seminar through online mode while GFF Helps India and SOGG L&I Centre team physically attended the seminar. Mr. Saom and Ms. Minket were also present and were the moderators for the seminar.

Mr. Joe conducted a very interactive session with the participants and covered various important topics such as Capturing great footage, Goals for social media and Case studies. There were many participants’ queries and doubts cleared.

Joe FisherGFF Helps India’s October 2022 meaningful engagement
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Sri Lanka focuses towards youth education in October

English For Village Program – Ekiriyagala Village

In order to build up reading skills among the village students, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka actively collaborated with Ekiriyagala SANASA Society and the village to encourage Mobile library with the students. And to facilitate the lack of educational resources within the village, every week a reading sessions with the Ekiriyagala village students are conducted. GFF HELPS Sri Lanka Representative provides the story books for the village students. It has been observed that with such reading practices, they have considerably improved their reading skills and building their story-making abilities. Currently, there are ten secondary students engaged with the Mobile Library project.

GFF HELPS Srilanka conducted the English for village program to enhance the English language abilities of village students. Creative sessions were prepared weekly and activities were conducted according to the structured syllabus. GFF HELPS Sri Lanka team collaborates with Ekiriyagala Sanasa Primary Society and Sanasa Campus. Every Thursday and Friday, the program with Ekiriyagala village Students are conducted.

Alphabet, Colors, Numbers, and phonics were completed by the primary-grade students. And storytelling sessions, grammar lessons were completed by the secondary grade students. To measure the impact of the English for village program, a mock examination for the secondary grade students were conducted. This program is conducted by an English tutor, Mrs. Reshani Tamasha at Ekiriyagala SANASA cooperative society for the kids in Ekiriyagala and nearby villages.

English For Village Program – Udovita Village

On the 07th of October, Udovita SANASA Society was involved in the English for village project. The Srilanka representative was able to communicate with the Sanasa society and the young people in the village and decided to establish the English for village program in Udovita village. During the discussion, the participants were very excited and interested in GFF HELPS projects. In the meeting, a volunteer was interested to start the program with village students. Currently, the program is running with 20 village students. GFF HELPS Srilanka representative engages every week with the program and Udovita village people.

Mobile Library

Technology Capacity Development Workshop

According to GFF HELPS Sri Lanka and Sanasa Primary Society meeting, on the 29th of September, the Technology Capacity Development Workshop was conducted. The main objective of the workshop was to implement a Technology Capacity Development Workshop about the Usage of Smartphones in an appropriate manner and also to promote the importance of technology in society. GFF HELPS Sri Lanka collaborates with the Higher Education Institute Society Linkages Cell (HEI-SL-Cell), Center for Cooperatives and Community Studies (CCCS) & Sanasa Campus. The program was conducted at the Udovita Village with 30 young ones in the village and rural community members. The highest percentage for the training program has been recorded between the age groups of 20 and 29 54.2%. And the least amount is associated with the above 50 age group.

To measure the impact of the program, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka used an online survey. Finally, according to the views of the members of the overall training program, a number of 19 (79.2%) have commented on the program’s explanation. The program has received positive feedback. According to the available data, the 05th graph shows the awareness of the members regarding E-Business, WhatsApp Business, Cyber ​​Security, and the Internet after the program. A higher percentage has gained very good awareness about the above topics. Also, most people were very well informed about the Internet.

Joe FisherSri Lanka focuses towards youth education in October
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GFF Helps Sri Lanka bridges literacy gaps

English For Village Program

English is used all over the world by speakers of many languages because it has multiple uses and benefits. In order to build up language skills in Ekiriygala Village Students, GFF HELPS Srilanka conducted the English for village program. Learning a foreign language enhances ones cognitive and analytical abilities. There are several factors that make the English language essential to communication in many situations. Week by week, the creative sessions and activities are prepared. GFF HELPS Srilanka team collaborates with Ekiriyagala Sanasa Primary Society and Sanasa Campus. Every Thursday and Friday, the program is conducted with Ekiriyagala Students. We received newcomers for the program. There are primary grades and secondary grades students. Offered activities like helping to improve their reading skills, writing skills, and vocabulary abilities. The children were individually guided to deliver essays and practiced paragraph reading. They learned grammar lessons as well.

This program is conducted by an English tutor, Mrs. Tamasha at Ekiriyagala SANASA cooperative society for the kids in Ekiriyagala and nearby villages. The number of kids is increasing day by day and they are actively participating in the sessions.

Mobile Library

Reading is a good therapy to improve own focus, memory, empathy, communication skills also language skills. In order to build up the confidence in reading English and stories among Ekiriyagala village students, GFF HELPS Srilanka collaborates with Samasa Campus and Sanasa Primary societies, and successfully conducted the Mobile library. In Ekiriyagla Village, there are primary and secondary students engaging with GFF HELPS Srilanka Mobile Library. The main purpose is to build up warm and happy associations with books, increasing the likelihood that kids will find more and more knowledge. Currently, There are 150+ Storybooks, and week by week kids are receiving the books from the GFF HEPLS Srilankan Coordinator. Reading increases vocabulary and can be a good self-esteem to build good communication skills.

It is very especially important for children to read as much as possible because the effects of reading are cumulative. Recently got newcomers for the Mobile Library and they are really interested in the Facility. They are gradually improving their reading skills through the mobile library. GFF HELPS Srilanka hopes to expand the Mobile Library to more Sanasa Primary Societies.

Capacity Development Workshop

GFF HELPS Srilanka collaborates with Higher Education Institute Society Linkages Cell (HEI-SL-Cell), Center for Cooperatives and Community Studies (CCCS) & Sanasa Campus. The workshop was based on Usage of Smartphones in an Appropriate Manner for the Udovita Village and young ones in the village and rural community members in order to fill the discrepancies due lack of technical knowledge.

The main objective of the workshop was to implement a Capacity Development Workshop about the Usage of Smartphones in an Appropriate Manner and also to promote the importance of technology in society. GFF HELPS Sri Lanka aims to provide necessary knowledge and workshop where it is needed. It is essential to have the knowledge to have a proper usage of social media and create awareness about E-Business, E-Communication, etc.

For that GFF HELPS Srilanka and Sanasa Primary Society had a meeting to plan and discuss the Capacity Development Workshop. So we hope to conduct it on the 29th of September 2022 with 45 young people in Udovita Sanasa Primary Society Cooperative Building.

Joe FisherGFF Helps Sri Lanka bridges literacy gaps
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Storytelling Gala Session

It was during the pandemic that the storytelling session had begun and it was these stories that got us together. All respective representatives and volunteers got together and they started narrative storytelling sessions online in their respective countries. It has been two years that the pandemic has lessened but the relationships that we made during those times has got us really good bonds with children. Some of them stayed and some of them grew together with us. It was in the month of August that ‘A storytelling Gala session’ was organised where all the four countries came together along with their children and they shared stories of their culture wearing their traditional dresses. This was a perfect example of unity in diversity and they learned each other’s food, dress and songs.

GFF Helps India has been an active collaborator with the SOGG Learning centres of Bong, Chibbo & Pudung. They have been working in tandem on various thematic areas. Particularly in the field of education, GFF Helps India and GFF Helps Nepal have been organizing collaborative story telling session that targets the children of SOGG Learning centres since 2020. The main aim was to engage the children during the lockdown, when schools had been closed for a prolonged period of time. Other goals of the session have been to spark children’s imagination and stimulate curiosity, to help them build confidence and develop oratory & listening skills.

GFF Philippines have conducted storytelling sessions for their Philippino children and their sessions are always moral based and ends with an activity so that the children can remember the moral of the story. The children were very keen and excited to meet children from other countries.

GFF Sri Lanka is gradually going into the foray of telling stories through their English for Village Programme or Mobile Library. In the GFF HELPS Sri Lanka team, there were six students and they performed various kinds of performances. They wore Sri Lankan National costumes. Students have sung the Sinhalese song” Mage Ratata Dhalada Himi Saranai” Song (My country is the shadow of Dalada) and One student performed storytelling of the country song, another one delivered a speech about Srilanka, and there was a brief introduction about Sri Lanka. Finally one student played a Sri Lankan traditional music by using the traditional instrument in Sri Lanka.

On the 27th of August, a Grand Story Telling session was held online for the children of India, Nepal, Philippines and Sri Lanka, at the behest and guidance of a well known story teller- Ms. Minket. The aim of the session was to help children explore and understand the cultures of other participating countries, to inculcate the spirit of community and to help bring about positive influence inside the participant’s heart. 

The participants presented aspects of their respective cultures. Team India, represented by the children of Chibbo Learning centre performed a mime (guided by Mr. Raymond- an assistant teacher of SOGG centre Chibbo), a dance and made a short and succinct presentation on India. Mr. Jimmy, Ms. Priya & Ms. Vanessa (Freight System), Mr. Saom attended the session and . The curiosity filled and the occasion was graced by Sir James Keir, Ms. Priya and Ms. Vanessa (Freight System). Mr. Saom opened the session and gave a brief introduction about the storytelling while Miss Minket Lepcha moderated the session. They all appreciated the children’s efforts. The session was full of fan fare and excitement. As a marker of appreciation, the children were given a certificate of participation. 

Sessions like story telling have been a useful marker to assess the children’s progress and over the years, the children have learned about team work, polished their presentation skills, language skills which was evident on the grand story telling session. We hope to organize similar events for the children that will lead to their intellectual growth and help them develop social skills. 

GFF PHILIPPINES WITH THEIR CHILDREN

GFF INDIA WITH THEIR CHILDREN

GFF SRI LANKA WITH THEIR CHILDREN

Joe FisherStorytelling Gala Session
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Sri Lanka focus on empowering children with stories

English for Village Programme

Reading daily is one of the best habits that can improve reading skills and we can mediate our minds by reading books. Children can improve their English through reading our library books. By reading it helps to develop one’s imagination, and can improve one’s memory and focus. Reading helps to enhance the imagination and can improve vocabulary skills. In order to collect books for the Mobile Library, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka organized a book donation drive for the SANASA Campus staff and the undergraduates. Reading books expands the knowledge. To build up interest in reading English books GFF HELPS Srilanka conducted the Mobile Library with Ekiriyagala Village students. The book donation drive was held for the first week of June. With the support of the SANASA staff and undergraduates, GFF could collect 150+ story books for the Mobile Library. Nowadays at Ekiriyagala Sanasa Society, Kegalle.GFF HELPS Srilanka conducting the mobile library for Ekiriyagla village students. These books has come out to be great asset for our project. 

Physical Storytelling Sessions

GFF HELPS Sri Lanka have regular sessions as Physical Storytelling sessions so we had a Storytelling session about the explanation of the Sri Lanka country song. The children prepared on the Story about the beauty of Sri Lanka and history of Sri Lanka. With weekly practice, during the International online storytelling Gala session, our children practiced the Sri Lanka country Song and students performed it very well. It is a Sinhalese song and to perform it students used the English meaning of the song. Students are doing the storytelling sessions face to face, through that they can share the opinions and helps to improve the teamwork skills. This engagement helped to improve their pronunciation skills and reading skills. GFF HELPS Sri Lanka has been conducting the physical storytelling sessions at Ekiriyagala Sanasa Society, Kegalle. 

English is one of the most spoken languages around the world. To compete with globalized countries, we have to learn English. English has become more dominant around the world. To build up the confidence and improve the English language skills , GFF HELPS Srilanka have an ongoing English for Village Program and every week , English sessions for primary grade and secondary grade students at the Ekiriyagala Sanasegalle, Sri Lanka are conducted. Day by day they are improving their English knowledge and vocabulary skills. So many interesting activities and sessions are prepared weekly. The worksheets prepared are also distributed and the children are asked to complete the tasks and activities. Gradually they are developing and improving their writing skills, reading skills. The children play creative games to build curosity, coloring letters and writing letters. They also practicing to create the letters in a creative way so that the children remember the letters and pronunciation.

Mobile Library and Book Donation Program

My country is the shadow of Dalada

My god is the refuge of Dalada

It is a home filled with happiness

I have inherited all these by birth

At the top of the golden pillar of Dalada Madura

The whole country wakes up with lightning

At the top of the golden pillar of Dalada Madura

The whole country wakes up with lightning

Two thousand years of history

Seeha reawakens in glory

It is here that we are united as one

Fears were removed from the mind

In the shadow of the Lord, Jaya Dada joined

Victory drums were played, and victory songs were sung

Lord Shiva was victorious

Victory drums were played, and victory songs were sung.

International Online Storytelling Gala Session

On 27th of August, all the respective countries participated in the International Online Storytelling session and the GFF HELPS Srilanka team also participated. All students in every country did awesome and fabulous work. Students got new experience within the Gala Session. They really enjoyed the session. And they learnt new things about other countries.

In the GFF HELPS Srilanka team, there were six students and they performed various kinds of performances. They wore Srilankan National costumes. Students have sung sinahlese song” Mage Ratata Dhalada Himi Saranai” Song (My country is the shadow of Dalada) and One student performed storytelling of the country song, another one delivered the speech about Srilanka, there was a brief introduction about Sri Lanka, finally one student played a Sri Lankan traditional music by playing traditional instrument in Sri Lanka.

Joe FisherSri Lanka focus on empowering children with stories
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EMOTIONAL LEARNING- ASSEMBLY ON CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH

One step at a time, to empower the younger generations from community schools into becoming conscious of their emotional health. The assembly on Children’s Mental Health took place on 26th August, 2022 the audience present at the site were the entire school students and staff from Bal Kumari school. These students who are in-fact beneficiaries of ESL- educational project under GFF Helps Nepal, took the lead on sharing awareness on Children’s Mental Health and why it matters? The assembly aimed at improving the students in both public speaking and pronunciation in English Language. While, supporting the overall objective to spread knowledge Students from class VI perform an assembly on Children’s Mental Health Matters on mental health with the entire school. The use of posters illustrating imageries such as: An Ice-Berg (on the surface and within water displays actions and emotions respectively); two minds one filled with a beautiful garden , while the other filled with thunderstorms; posters that shows a cartoon boy with a message saying: It is okay to be sad, anxious, worried, confused, angry; the final poster shared the message on using words that are loving, healing, kind, caring and life giving. The ESL (English as a Second Language) and mental health sessions are inter-related focusing on both of GFF Helps Nepal -Education and Emotional Learning Projects.

Joe FisherEMOTIONAL LEARNING- ASSEMBLY ON CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH
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Eco Brick- Environmental Project with Schools and Children’s Home

Conducting session on Eco Brick with the students of class XII in Tri – Jyoti School

Session on Eco Brick with the children of Bourgandi Nepal Children Home

Most of the localities in Kathmandu is seen littered with plastic and all other types of waste. This is due to the poor waste management system and lack of awareness. GFF Helps has been conducting sessions on plastic waste

management with the children of Shree Bal Kumari Basic school, Tri -Jyoti School and Bourgandi Nepal children home in order to generate awareness and intending that the children learn from these sessions and pass on the knowledge to their peers and parents. Children have been engaged in making Eco Bricks from the discarded plastic waste in order to turn into something useful later on.

With the help of such sessions, children have been able to understand how to focus on reducing waste, reuse bags in order to avoid single use plastics and not to burn plastic in the open roads which in turn results in damaging effect on human health. The children have been able to understand how plastic has affected us in everyday life. In order to stay healthy and live a long life, it is necessary to take care of our environment which in turn affects the whole ecosystem.

 

Joe FisherEco Brick- Environmental Project with Schools and Children’s Home
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GFF SRI LANKA CONNECT DOTS WITH STORIES AND BOOKS

MOBILE LIBRARY

To improve the reading skills and vocabulary of the village kids, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka planned to build a Mobile Library. By reading story books with the village kids we plan to improve their interest in the language and improve their reading skills.

Every week we engage with them and share books and ideas. It helps to improve their awareness of the English Language.

In order to collect books for the Mobile Library, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka organized a book donation drive for the SANASA Campus staff and the undergraduates. The book donation drive was held for the first week of June. With the support of the SANASA staff and undergraduates, GFF could collect 150+ story books for the Mobile Library. Nowadays conducting at Buruluppa Sanasa Society, Kegalle, and Ekiriyagala Sanasa Society, Kegalle.

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ENGLISH FOR VILLAGE




















Excessive dependence on the mother tongue, reluctance or shyness to talk and read in English, overcrowded classrooms, and lack of confidence are the major challenges students face in Sri Lanka. Sustained access to meaningful learning that has value is critical to long-term improvements in productivity. There seems to be a disparity between Colombo and the rest of Sri Lanka in terms of English proficiency, thus, there are fewer career opportunities for a student/young professionals who do not develop their English proficiency.

The Sri Lankan partner organization of the Sanasa campus and Center for Cooperative and Community Studies as branches of the SANASA movement have long-standing experience and roots in rural and vulnerable communities that would benefit from a free English learning facility amidst the economic crisis of the country. Among eight thousand primary societies, Ekiriyagala Sanasa Society was selected for the project. Ekiriyagala Sanasa Society was involved in the English For Village Project in 201.

In order to build the confidence and improve the interest in the language of children in Ekiriyalaga and nearby villages, English classes were started on the 17th of May. Because of the instability and civil unrest of the country the English classes were started virtually. A resource person is conducting the sessions for primary students of the village. In the initial sessions, we focus on practicing tongue twisters and enjoying rhymes. Primarily it is to improve their interest in language studies. Teachers play a significant role in motivating students the learn a second language.

The resource person is Mrs. Reshani Tamasha who is a postgraduate of the University of Peradeniya. She is an award-winning Toastmaster in the Kegalle Toastmasters’ club. She is based in Kegalle therefore, it is easy to contact and coordinate the face-to-face sessions.

Joe FisherGFF SRI LANKA CONNECT DOTS WITH STORIES AND BOOKS
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GFF Helps India Celebrates Achievers

FELICITATION OF OUTSTANDING STUDENTS OF SOGG LEARNING CENTRES

Student_s felicitation 1 (2)
Student_s felicitation 1 (3)
Student_s felicitation 1 (4)
Student_s felicitation 1 (5)
Student_s felicitation 1

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I am really happy that I got 83% in my board examination. Had it not been for the teacher’s guidance and dedication, I would not have scored well.’
Smriti Rai,
Bong.

‘It is important to hold such felicitation programs, because it will encourage not only the students but also parents. They will know the value of education and in this way, there will be zero drop-out rates. Thank you for recognizing the hard work of children and teachers.’

Yugen Lepcha, coordinator, SOGG Learning Centre, Bong

GFF Helps India has been working in tandem with the SOGG Open Learning and Information centres of Bong, Chibbo and Pudung since the past two years. The areas of collaboration have been in the field of education, health, sports, livelihood, providing awareness among many others. In the field of education, the SOGG Learning centres provide free tuition classes to students with the aim of reducing drop-out rates in the villages.

Every year, the students of class 10 and 12 appear for board examinations- The scores achieved in these exams are considered very important for getting into universities, professional courses or training programs and other occupations. The teachers of the respective centres guide the students in preparing for the examination for a minimum period of one year.

This year, the students who had appeared for the board examination from SOGG Learning centres of Bong, Chibbo and Pudung did excellently well. Most of the students are first generation learners. Despite the challenges of attending classes online; their hard work, teacher’s dedication and parent’s support have reaped good fruits. Thus, to acknowledge and honour the students for their outstanding academic performance, GFF Helps Representative in collaboration with the staff of SOGG centres felicitated the students in the presence of the parents as well as executive members of managing committee of their respective villages.

As a follow up of the felicitation program and based on need assessment, GFF Helps representatives- Melissa & Nikita will thus be organizing a career guidance program/ career counseling session for the students in the forthcoming days.

Joe FisherGFF Helps India Celebrates Achievers
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Sri Lanka empowering communities through trainings

First Aid Training Workshop 

The lack of knowledge related to first aid is identified in the staff and the undergraduates of the SANASA Campus. It is necessary to have the knowledge to act accordingly in an emergency and to have an understanding of how to act with limited resources. Available knowledge of staff and students to respond to an emergency is scarce. Due to the economic crisis of the country, there is a shortage of fuel and medical supplies. By providing the First Aid training to the staff and the undergraduates, we are planning to uplift their health and hygiene capability to navigate situations with limited supplies.

In order to address this issue, a Health and Safety training initiative was initiated by GFF Sri Lanka on June 07, 2022 at Uththamavi Hall, SANASA Campus. Fifty beneficiaries actively participated in the session. Ms. Shamalee and Ms. Nimani from Red Cross society, Kegalle conducted the introductory First Aid Training.

The strong positive feedback from the participants reflected the importance of the knowledge transferred to them.

First Aid Training

ntroduction to First Aid included: 

  • Basic life support (CPR)
  • Management of wounds, bleedings and shocks
  • Treatment of Hypoxia and burns
  • Fractures and sprains
  • Poison and snake bites
  • Medical emergency procedures
  • Casualty lifting and transportation were included in the training

Farmers-Training program

Currently, the farming community is experiencing an enormous number of challenges due to the economic crisis Sri Lanka is facing. Micro scale domestic agro industries (industry connected with agriculture) are facing issues especially with importing agro chemicals and finding a market. By providing them agriculture and agro economics subject matter expertise, we are planning to develop their capability. Through the knowledge they gain, beneficiaries will have capacity to improve the production and become more competitive in the market.

To improve the livelihoods of selected pepper farmers from Ekiriyagala SANASA cooperative society, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka implemented a farmers training program in Ekiriyagala village. The farmers in Ekiriyagala and nearby villages are the beneficiaries of the program. Sixteen pepper farmers participated in the session. Ms. Indika from the Export Agriculture Department, Kegalle conducted the session free of charge.

 

These products have the potential to be further improved to meet export quality standards through further assistance. As Sri Lankan spices have a high brand reputation in the international markets, these farmers could be able to export their products directly or indirectly through a broker.

Farmers training program farmers + Ekiriyagala Sanasa employees

Farmers Training Program

Book Donation Drive and Mobile Library

To improve the reading skills and vocabulary of the village kids, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka planned to build a Mobile Library. By reading story books with the village kids we plan to improve their interest in the language. 

In order to collect books for the Mobile Library, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka organized a book donation drive for the SANASA Campus staff and the undergraduates. The book donation drive was held for the first week of June. With the support of the SANASA staff and undergraduates, GFF could collect 150+ story books for the Mobile Library.

This program was initiated in Ekiriyagala village as a part of the English for Village program on 08 June 2022. The kids in Ekiriyagala and nearby villages gathered at Ekiriyagala SANASA cooperative society to read story books. Even Though the first step started with Ekiriyagala village, we plan to expand the program to the other SANASA cooperative societies as well. As the local partner organization SANASA has long standing experience and roots in rural communities, through that, GFF HELPS Sri Lanka can reach to the vulnerable rural communities easily with support of SANASA movement.

 

Mobile Library 3
Mobile Library 2
Mobile Library - Book Donation Drve Flyer
Mobile Library - Book Collection
English for Village 1

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“A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life”

Henry Ward Beecher

English for Village

In order to build the confidence and improve the interest on the language of children in Ekiriyalaga and nearby villages English classes are continued. Focus of this project is to improve the English skills of the village kids by monitoring each kid personally. 

Due to the limited facilities and crowded classrooms teachers at school can not focus on each kid separately. Therefore, a program conducted for free of charge is a precious opportunity for them.This program is conducted by an English tutor, Mrs. Tamasha at Ekiriyagala SANASA cooperative society for the kids in Ekiriyagala and nearby villages. The number of kids is increasing day by day and they are actively participating in the sessions.

Joe FisherSri Lanka empowering communities through trainings
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