The Czech humanitarian and development agency, People In Need (PIN), accompanied by local government representatives, school directors and students handed over nine new and rebuilt schools in Muthur town in the Trincomalee district. Thanks to donations from Czech people (public collection SOS Sri Lanka) these new schools can accommodate 840 more students. "Schools were destroyed by the tsunami in December 2004. Then, in spring and summer of last year they were further deteriorated by war, conflict and IDPs, who used school buildings as temporary accommodation," said Matej Novak, Head of Mission of PIN.
"We are happy to have normal classes after so many months of moving and teaching in the open space. Of course a director can be a director without a school," smiles director of Al Manar School Mr. Iqbar. "And students can pass their term exam in the new buildings now," he said. This year People In Need has built six new school buildings, five more have been fully reconstructed and in addition two schools now have hygienic facilities.
PIN has been working in Sri Lanka since January 2005 to assist people affected by the Tsunami in the Trincomalee district. "A large part of our current activities are in the educational sector. Improving the level of education means improving the standard of living in the district. In Sri Lanka we are mainly focused on preschools, the school sector and of course in Vocational training" says Matej Novak, Head of Mission of PIN.
In addition to the eleven schools built or reconstructed, PIN has built two new schools and pre-schools and repaired many more since the Tsunami. Currently, another school is being built in Kalmunai, Ampara district, which will accommodate 200 school children. PIN's other education-related activities include vocational training, development of the school and pre-school sectors, and English teacher training. All projects are funded from the public collection called "SOS Sri Lanka" launched in the Czech Republic just days after the Tsunami hit, during which the inhabitants of this small European country donated more than 5 million dollars.
For more information contact: Matej Novak, Head of Mission in Sri Lanka Cell: (+94) 773 548 425 For more information about People in Need activities visit www.peopleinneed.cz.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
