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Club News
German Rotarians join Lankan counterparts in Rs. 100 m service
project
Beverley Jansz
The Rotary Clubs in Germany led by PDG. Kerstin Jeska-Zimmermann of
Rotary International District 1950, Germany together with the members of
the Rotary Club of Colombo handed over three container loads of 15 tons
of valuable medical equipment to the Mahamodara Maternity Hospital,
Galle. This was subsequent to the immediate supply of two container
loads of urgent medical equipment made in January 2005, after the 2004
tsunami devastation.
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At the Mahamodara Maternity Hospital, Galle, in the picture from
the left are Dr. Nandana Liyanapathirana, Senake Amerasinghe,
Dr. Waduge, Nimal Samarakkody, Kerstin Jeska-Zimmermann, Nalin
Fernando, Mallika Jayasinghe, Herbert Paulas, Rev. Fr. Victor
Navaratne. |
Dr. Nanda Waduge, Director of the Mahamodara Hospital in Galle was
highly pleased when he received the medical equipment from
Representatives of Rotary - PDG. Kerstin Jeska-Zimmermann of RI District
1950, Germany, President Rotary Club of Colombo Rtn. Nimal Samarakkody,
PDG. Nalin Fernando and President Elect Rtn. Senake Amerasinghe of the
Rotary Club of Colombo in the presence of the Hospital Staff and members
of the Rotary Club of Galle. Sixty five Hospital beds, four modern
operating tables from the Company Thrump, two incubators etc. were
donated.
This consignment of medical equipment from Germany is worth Rs. 32.6
million.
President Elect of the Rotary Club of Colombo, Rtn. Senake
Amerasinghe, and Past President of the Rotary Club of Galle, Rtn.
Herbert Paulas, are at present obtaining the necessary BOQ’s to renovate
a large building at the Mahamodara Maternity Hospital which was damaged
by the 2004 tsunami. The Dr. Helmut Kohl Foundation based in Germany
will contribute Euro 100,000 (Rs. 16.3 million) through Rotary Germany,
to carry out the necessary renovations to the building and to purchase
26 additional delivery beds so that the hospital could continue to
provide the best possible medical care at the existing/renovated
Mahamodara Maternity Hospital until the planned Maternity Hospital in
Karapitiya, Galle is completed.
Thanks to a Matching Grant of the Rotary Foundation of RI, partnered
by RI District 1950, Germany and the Rotary Club of Colombo, Sri Lanka,
a further donation of Rs. 51.75 million worth of much needed medical
items/equipment is to be provided by May, 2010. During the visit of PDG.
Kerstin Jeska-Zimmermann, guided by the Ministry of Health, the
Technical staff, Doctors and the Director of the Mahamodara Maternity
Hospital, the Rotary Club of Colombo called for and received the
quotations on behalf of RI District 1950 of Germany for the required
medical equipment for the project subtitled “Mother Care”. The equipment
will help to equip three new delivery rooms and four new operating
theatres that are desperately needed to cater for the current patient
intake at Mahamodara Maternity Hospital, Galle.
The German Rotarians working together with their Sri Lankan
counter-parts hope to complete the renovation of the damaged large
building and re-open it as a well equipped and fully functional building
of the hospital by end December, 2010. After completing stage one
“Mother Care” at a cost of over Rs. 100 million in total, Rotary will
undertake stage two “Baby Care” and usher greater relief not only to the
poor mothers but also to the new born babies as well.
Inner wheel Int’l President’s visit brings honour to Lanka
Beverley Jansz
International Inner Wheel President Anne Fryer visited Sri Lanka last
week. She was accorded a warm welcome by President Manel Rodrigo and
members of the Inner Wheel Clubs of Colombo West, when she visited the
Shilpa Trust, Narahenpita, to see the projects implemented by the Inner
Wheel Club of Colombo West.
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Anne Fryer with the widos who learned to make mosquito nets. Others in the
picture are Nirmalee Gunatilleke, Manel Rodrigo and Nirmal de
Silva. |
Inner Wheel IP, Anne Fryer informed members that her theme for the
year was “Help brings Hope”. She said that she was very impressed with
the service projects implemented by the Inner Wheel Club Colombo West to
empower women by teaching them income generating skills. Anne Fryer was
particularly interested in the program which had been carried out to
help underprivileged children to learn English and information
technology which are vital not only for the day but for the future
development of children.
President, Inner Wheel Clubs of Colombo West, Manel Rodrigo explained
that in planning their activities on an old Chinese proverb which came
to mind. “If you give a man a fish, he will have a meal for a day, but
if you teach a man to fish, he will have food for a life time.”
Therefore we decided to focus on Education and Teaching skills, so
that there would be sustainability and long term benefits from our
projects.
Further we felt it was important to have a hands on approach in
implementing these programs.
Since the Inner Wheel Club is a leading Women’s organization in the
World, we decided on a project to empower women by teaching Income
Generating Skills to needy women.
This would not only give them some financial security, but also make
them self reliant, give them confidence in themselves and make them an
asset to their families and society.
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Children following the English and Information Technology
classes organized by the Inner Wheel Club of Colombo West.
Others in the picture are from left Ramani Wickremanayaka, Manel
Rodrigo, Anne Fryer, and Kumudini Kulasinghe |
There were many women who were eager to learn some income generating
skills, and with the support of the Ranaviru Counselling Service and the
Shilpa Children’s Trust, we have been able to teach approximately 50
widows how to make mosquito nets. Some of them have already been able to
generate an income by marketing these nets said Mahel Rodrigo.
Mosquitos have been the bane of our lives in Sri Lanka, spreading
disease, and sickness and these nets protect those who use them, from
these insects. With all the fear of the Mosquito menace, this project
has been a success. We commenced the training at Shilpa in Narahenpita
and about 25 widows learnt how to make various types of nets.
Since we believe in a ‘hands on’ approach, our members were there
with them, cooked lunch for them talked to them, and we became friends.
A group of widows from Kurunegala heard about this program and
requested us to train them as well. Our members went to Kurunegala and
another 25 women were trained. Some of the women who have been trained
are already marketing their products and earning an income.
Two more groups in Kandy and Galle have heard about the success of
these programs and have requested us to teach them as well.
Plans are underway to train approximately 50 more widows in Kandy and
Galle. The first program is scheduled for mid February.
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At the donation of sewing machines, in the picture are Anne Fryer, Manel
Rodrigo, Sumitha Samanmali and her daughter. |
The widows who are being assisted under the District Program too,
participated in the program and learnt these skills.
The second program we are focusing on is to teach English and
Information Technology to less privileged children, as English is an
International language and IT is the langauge of the future!
The children selected for this program are from three small schools -
Sri Saddharmodaya Maha Vidyalaya, the Nugegoda Tamil Maha Vidyalaya and
St. Claires Wellawatte.
The children come from all ethnic groups and about 30 children have
been given the opportunity to learn English and IT, at the Shilpa Home.
These programs will not only help them today but will also pave the way
for a better future.
These programs are being carried out by qualified teachers - but more
importantly, members of our Club have been visiting the Shilpa Home and
liaising with the children and teachers to maximize benefits.
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Members of the Inner Wheel Club of Colombo West with Anne Fryer,
Inner Wheel International President. |
The Club also has programs to coincide with each of the major
religious festivities. A Muslim Home for differently abled children was
assisted for Ramazan, For Christmas a Childrens Home for differently
abled children was provided with refreshments for their Christmas
activities. Programs are planned for the Buddhist season of Wesak and
the Hindu Thai Pongal festival.
All these programs would not have been possible without the
commitment and dedication of our members, who have assisted in numerous
ways. We are also thankful to the Ranaviru Family Counselling Service
and the Shilpa Children’s Trust, for all their ready help and support
which they have continuously given us.
Most of all we are thankful that the Inner Wheel Club which gives us
the opportunity to ‘Help bring hope’ to those in need, Manel Rodrigo
said.
Rotary Club of Kandy - donation to ENT Uni
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At the donation of the Hearing Aids, in the picture are Dr
Ranjan Fernando, President, Rotary Club of Kandy Rtn. Ayesha
Wijeyeratne, Vice President, Rtn. Shamil Peiris, Rtn. Lareef,
Rtn. Wigneshwaran and Rtn. Ajith Jayasinghe. |
The Rotary Club of Kandy has provided substantial support to the
E.N.T. Unit at the Kandy General Hospital.
A major project was the “Hearing Care in Sri Lanka” which spanned a
10 year period and provided improvements to the value of Rs. 35 million
working together with the Government of Sweden, the Rotary Foundation
and the Rotary Club of Waxholm in Sweden.
This project was recognized as Candle No. 65 under the Rotary World
Candle series which showcased World Class projects to celebrate the 75th
Anniversary of Rotary.
A further consignment of Hearing aids worth Rs. 50,000/- was handed
over recently which was a donation from a Sister Club. The Rotary Club
of Bangalore South in RI District 3190 - India. |
