IOM refurbishes Jaffna Pre-school

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) handed over the refurbished St. Isidore pre-school to the community of Earlalai East in the Jaffna district recently.

The pre-school, the only one in Earlalai East, was damaged during the civil strife in 1996. Although repaired subsequently, it still lacked the basic facilities for preschoolers and their teachers. For instance, the pre-school was housed in an old building and it lacked a well or a toilet in the premises.

IOM together with the Catholic Youth Club of Earlalai - Soorawathai and Local Government authorities provided the pre-school with a toilet, overhead water tank, furniture and play material including children’s plastic toys, a see-saw, swing, matslide, climber and a merry-go-round.

To coincide with the opening ceremony, the pre-school, attended by around 30 children, held their annual sports meet on the same day. “As the pre-school in our village did not have the basic necessities we had to send our children to a pre-school in the next village although it was inconvenient.” said a parent of a preschooler.

“But I am sure with the upgrade to the building and all the new play material they will now enjoy attending the St. Isidore Pre-school,” she said.

The project, aimed at creating a better learning environment by providing early childhood development facilities, was funded by the UK Home Office and the European Refugee Fund under the “Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme - UK” programme.