Editor,
This letter is in response to Joan Forry's letter to the editor last week in The Chief inquiring whatever became of our work in Sri Lanka following the devastating Tsunami that occurred in the region on Dec. 26, 2004 ["What's up in Wanduruppuwa," The Chief, Jan. 8].
Our 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 community raised almost $200,000 following the Tsunami and these funds allowed us to carry out the following good works in the name of the 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 Humanity Village Society (SHV). Many smaller, equally important, generous initiatives also took place, however these are the larger SHV accomplishments:
120 homes were built or rebuilt in Wanduruppuwa
The local hospital was given numerous upgrades, and a considerable amount of supplies were purchased to allow the hospital to better serve the residents of Wanduruppuwa
A entire new library was added to the local elementary school and completely furnished with books and other materials - as many of you are aware, when our small delegation visited Wanduruppuwa, we arrived with a dozen large containers of local books that children in 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 had donated to the children of Wanduruppuwa and to this day, those books remain a key component of the only school library these children have ever known
The local temple in Wanduruppuwa was repaired and restored after incurring considerable damage, other agencies and individuals were also able to assist us in this project
Three pre-schools in the neighbouring communities were also built and 80 scholarships were provided to local grade six girls to attend to their elementary school studies through a partnership we developed with Room to Read, an international agency who work diligently to provide quality educational infrastructure and opportunities to impoverished communities around the world.
By any measure these are significant accomplishments during a time of terrible tragedy. The many generous 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 citizens who worked with us on this project to make it happen deserve all of the credit for making the lives of complete strangers half way across the world from us, a priority in their lives during the last many years.
Our SHV work was formally concluded in the fall of 2008 when all SHV funds on hand had been entirely allocated. To this day, we remain in touch with many members of the SHV team here in 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 as well as our key partners in Sri Lanka.
Our friends in Sri Lanka report the community of Wanduruppuwa is doing well and we are frequently asked to pass along their gratitude for all that we did for them during an incredibly difficult time.
One more important point we would like to make; in the life of the SHV project no money was ever paid for any administration fees at any time. As we learned in launching, developing and progressing with our humanitarian work, this is unheard of in the world of non-government agencies and non-profit entities.
Whether through corporate donations we received or from young children donating through their local schools here in 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 or by selling hot chocolate outside their homes etc., 100 per cent of all funds went directly to Sri Lanka for the above-noted projects and initiatives.
I thank Ms. Forry for her letter to The Chief last week, which has allowed us to give you this brief update on this wonderful grassroots 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 humanitarian initiative.
Jeff Dawson
老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料
