HelpAge housing scheme for tsunami affected elders

HIKKADUWA: The handing over ceremony of the second cluster of 25 houses built by HelpAge Sri Lanka in Sirikandurawatta Hikkaduwa for tsunami affected elders and their families was held recently.

Chairman, HelpAge Sri Lanka Tilak de Zoysa, and Chief Executive Officer of HelpAge International, UK Richard Blewitt staff of HelpAge Sri Lanka and HelpAge International Tsunami Operation Unit were present.

The cluster which commenced its construction in December 2006 marks the handing over of the second completed cluster of a series of 10 clusters. All 10 clusters will have 25 houses each plus their own community centre.

HelpAge is the only organisation building houses concentrating on vulnerable and marginalised elders and their families.

The cluster housing together with Senior Citizens Committees established by HelpAge Sri Lanka will provide chance for senior citizens to experience communal living in an environment that is age friendly and caring to their exclusive needs.

HelpAge has plans to complete 150 houses in the Eastern Province and 100 houses in the Southern Province.

This ratio is made on the basis of a higher number of Tsunami affected older people in the East and differing needs resulting form the relative poverty and lack of development in the East.