From Belgium with love:

Helping Lankans in need

Amaradasa Gunawardana

Many countries, that come under the category of developed and rich countries, have established voluntary organizations or charitable associations, to help other countries when needs arise. Such organizations are often called Non-Government Organizations (NGO). In addition to the normal social service projects, these NGOs promptly respond to natural disasters such as tsunami, floods, earthquakes, cyclones etc. In this charitable and philanthropic exercise, these NGOs adopt an indiscriminate attitude, charity and assistance is available for any and all communities who are in need.

Extremely rarely we come across an NGO, founded to assist and help the needy of only a particular country. One such organization of this rare calibre is found in Belgium. It is named Adoptie Sri Lanka Belgium VZW which is a Belgian charitable association recognized by the Belgian government working exclusively for the benefit of needy people in Sri Lanka.

This Belgian NGO working exclusively for the benefit of needy people in Sri Lanka was founded on December 20, 1989 by a philanthropist named Gaston Dillen. The founder president of this NGO, Gaston Dillen was encouraged and assisted by a large number of philanthropic colleagues in Belgium. Adoptie Sri Lanka Belgium, was the first foreign NGO to have recognition and respect for Sri Lankan tradition by producing an annual newspaper by the name AYUBOWAN. This created a typical Sri Lankan background for all their activities. They in Belgium monitored the implementation of all their projects in Sri Lanka and methodically reported through the publication ‘AYUBOWAN’.

The death of Gaston Dillen in 2010 was a great loss to Sri Lanka. The reins of leadership of the organization were taken over by Ms Linda Stable who was the Principal of a primary school when she joined Adoptie Sri Lanka in 1999. The heaviest burden of all the projects was carried by John Van Dijck the Managing Director who joined Adoptie Sri Lanka in 1997. The present president Ms Linda has decided to live in Sri Lanka (Mihintale) to co-ordinate the work while John Van Dijck visits Sri Lanka with his wife Line at least once a year. They make it a point to visit many if not all the ongoing projects in Sri Lanka.

The very first project of Adoptie Sri Lanka was named ‘Brillen Woor Dillen’ (spectacles for Dillen) which was launched in 1989. As many as 22,000 new and used pairs of spectacles were distributed after examination of the eyesight of the needy people all over Sri Lanka. This saw the emergence of Adoptie Sri Lanka Belgium.

Dillen personally took the initiative to assist 1913 destitute children under the ‘Sevana Sarana Foster Parents scheme’ an official institution managed by the ‘Department of Probation and Childcare'. In addition to this, foster parents schemes were established by Adoptie Sri Lanka in Pamunugama (260 children), Digana Aluthwaththa (127 children), Tanamalwila (71 children) and Mihintale (12 children). The 206 deaf, blind and dumb students in the Anuradhapura Deaf and Blind School were also looked after by Adoptie Sri Lanka.

Children's education

Quite correctly, Adoptie Sri Lanka in collaboration with local NGOO has given a place of high priority to the education of small children. A large number of pre-schools has been established and continuously maintained by Adoptie Sri Lanka. Special mention must be made of Galagoda Pre-school which was constructed for the children of the victims of the tsunami (2004) funded by the R O C through Adoptie Sri Lanka. This probably being the largest pre-school in the island accommodates over 100 children. It is presently managed by Lanka Mahila Samithi.

The pre-school in Vana Mee Kanda in Mirigama (58 children), Pamunugama (80 children) Kandy (20 children) Thunthalawa in Eheliyagoda (20 children) Udatenna (25 children) Mihintale (25 children) Rusirugama (25 children) are some of other pre-schools maintained by Adoptie Sri Lanka. All these pre-schools have fully equipped playgrounds. The children are given all uniforms, books and a midday meal.

Lanka Mahila Samithi, which received a donation of Rs 700,000 in 2004 to rehabilitate the centres of the organization was also given another donation of Rs 665,000 in 2011 to construct a pre-school and a day-care-centre in Kaduwela. Special mention should be made to the scholarship schemes funded by Adoptie Sri Lanka. All the children in Vana Mee Kanda pre-school received monthly financial assistance from the day they leave the pre-school to continue formal education. The number of children is presently 160. This scheme is funded by Mr and Mrs Vandijck the Managing Director of Adoptie Sri Lanka. In Mihintale we have a pre-school for 75 children sponsored by Dijkstein primary school in Scnt-Katelijne Waver-Belgium. It is managed by Missaka Belgium Confederation. This school was officially opened in July 2006. The construction of the pre-school and the Technical Training School in Belgiangama in Elpitiya is considered a remarkable gift from Adoptie Sri Lanka.

Destitute children

Adoptie Sri Lanka has paid very serious attention to this problem. A girls’ home called ‘Sal Sevana’ was established in Mattegoda for displaced orphaned girls. This is recognized by the Department of Probation and Childcare. The required funds were provided by two Flemish families through Adoptie Sri Lanka in July 1996. Presently there are 30 girls in this home looked after by the ladies of Colombo Lion's Club. A similar girls home in Kadawala Vewa in Polonnaruwa is also assisted by Adoptie Sri Lanka to look after 19 inmates in that home Sri Subodha Lama Nivasaya in Belungala is gifted with assistance from Adoptie Sri Lanka. The building was completely renovated with new doors, windows and sanitary fittings, mattresses, pillows, sheets and towels were produced for the inmates.

Drinking water schemes

Supply of drinking water is an acute problem in most of the remote village areas. Hence, Adoptie Sri Lanka paid a high priority attention to this sector.

The village Vana Mee Kanda in the Gampaha District emerged out of the thick jungles simply because of Adoptie Sri Lanka. The first drinking water scheme to this village was opened in January 2002 funded by Mr and Mrs Ruyitiens of Belgium through Adoptie Sri Lanka. The second scheme in this village was opened in February 2003 funded by Ms Aline Michiels Martens. Two drinking water schemes were funded by Adoptie Sri Lanka in the village called Thunthalawa in Eheliyagoda spending Rs 250,000 in 2010.

A complete drinking water scheme was inaugurated in Degana- Aluthwatta in April 2004. Prior to that in 1996, two large tanks to store drinking water were gifted by Adoptie Sri Lanka.

The village called Udatenna in Matale received as many as seven drinking water projects within four years from 2005 to 2009. Thus the problem of drinking water in Udatenna was solved by Adoptie Sri Lanka.

Housing schemes

Among the identified glaring deficiencies in village – communities, along with food and clothing comes shelter. Housing problem is a primary one among the urban poor as well as the poor in the village. Quite wisely, Adoptie Sri Lanka paid primary attention to the housing problem in all their project areas.

In the village called Vana Mee Kanda in Mirigama, all the families that did not own a house were given a new house each. There were 13 new houses constructed and 15 houses renovated with funds provided by Adoptie Sri Lanka in 2004 and 2005.

The village named Belgiangama (Belgian Village) is situated close to Elpitiya where some poor people live without proper housing. Belgium Sri Lanka Friendship Association in Elpitiya received assistance from Adoptie Sri Lanka, to construct 20 new houses for 20 families. The families of foster children in Wahakotte and Lunugamvehera received the land and a new house each donated by Adoptie Sri Lanka. The late Gaston Dillen personally monitored the construction of 21 new houses for 21 selected families in Sigiriya. Reconstruction of several houses in Galle and Tangalle, renovation of the pre-school building in Netolpitiya and the construction of 10 new houses in Alutwatta-Pilimatalawa was carried out with the sponsorship of Adoptie Sri Lanka.

Health services

In the very early stage of entering the social service field in Sri Lanka Adoptie, Sri Lanka Belgium had made a start with the provincial hospital in Nalanda in Matale District. A building for the O P D in this hospital was constructed and declared open by late Gaston Dillen. Even before that an electric generator, lawn mower, an ECG recorder, 31 mosquito nets, two nebulizers, seven mattresses, a computer with a printer and scanner were donated to Nalanda Hospital by Adoptie Sri Lanka. The kitchen in this hospital was renovated and the water distribution system was inaugurated in March 2006.

The toilets and bathrooms in ward no. 1 and 2 were renovated in December 2007. The labour room was renovated and a new delivery bed was installed in July 2008. New medical equipment for the labour room was handed over in 2009 and 2010. Some mere medical equipment was donated in 2011.

The government hospital in Mihintale received donations of micrometer and other material for the dental clinic, mosquito nets and 10 beds for the psychiatric unit which was renovated by Adoptie Sri Lanka. The hospital in Seeppukulama received donation of a telecommunication system, electric water pump with the installation of water supply systems and medical equipment.

The General Hospital in Dambulla received from Adoptie Sri Lanka, a container full of office furniture, a telephone exchange, a T V set, medical equipment, scanner, crutches, hospital beds, mattresses, wheel chairs etc. The hospital in Horowupathana received a refrigerator, a nebulizer and a sterilization kettle from Adoptie Sri Lanka.

The international firm Becton Dickinson donated, through Adoptie Sri Lanka, 10 blood pressure monitors, 20 thermometers, 61,000 syringes, 21,000 sterille needles, 3,200 autoguards which were distributed among the hospitals in Nalanda, Dambulla, Seppukulama and Horowpathana.

A very anxious request was made by Professor Luxman Wijeweera of the dental faculty of the University of Peradeniya to construct an OPD room and a room for the workshop of the dental faculty hospital.

A grant of Rs 2,500,000 was released by Adoptie Sri Lanka Belgium. The required building was declared open by Ms Linda Stabel on August 6, 2007. A subsequent grant of Rs 210,000 was given to supply the furniture and equipment for these two buildings. The Lions’ Club of Colombo Wekanda took a keen interest in this project.

Assistance for tsunami victims

Even before some of us got really organized to launch assistance programmes, Adoptie Sri Lanka took the initiative to promote local N G O s to get involved in assistance programme for the tsunami victims.

Through the generosity of over 1,000 sponsors in Belgium Adoptie Sri Lanka collected nearly 200,000 euros to assist the tsunami victims in Sri Lanka in 2005 and 2006. The pre-school constructed in Galagoda near Hikkaduwa was a major project sponsored by ROC in Belgium through Adoptie Sri Lanka. This school with a fully equipped play ground was declared open by the sponsors on December 9, 2005.

This school which is presently managed by Lanka Mahila Samithi can accommodate over 100 students. They all come from 600 families that were affected by the tsunami.

The educational centre in Mirissa was a pre-school, Sunday school and a vocational training centre before the destruction by the tsunami.

This place was completely rehabilitated and declared open by the sponsors on December 9, 2005. Presently this place is managed by Lanka Mahila Samithi. Managed by the Lions Club of Colombo Somerset, there were 25 new houses constructed in Siripura near Hambantota sponsored by Adoptie Sri Lanka. They were handed over to the recipients in March 2006. Sri Lanka Belgium Association constructed 10 new houses in Dodangoda for tsunami victims from Payagala.

These houses were handed over to 10 recipients recommended by the Government Agent in Kalutara in March 2007. Gaston Dillen attended the ceremony and handed over furniture and kitchen utensils for all the 10 houses. There were several other pre-schools that were renovated after the tsunami by Adoptie Sri Lanka. It is calculated that over 200,000 euros has been released by Adoptie Sri Lanka in the year 2005 to assist the tsunami victims.

Science laboratories for village schools

The students from village schools who continue higher education in Sri Lanka face the major problem of the non availability of science teachers and the non availability of fully equipped science laboratories.

On a request made by a NGO to help some schools in Polonnaruwa, Adoptie Sri Lanka released Rs 900,000 in 2010 and Rs 810,000 in 2011 to assist four schools in Polonnaruwa district with nearly 2,000 student population. Among them are the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim students. The educational authorities in Polonnaruwa have particularly thanked Adoptie Sri Lanka for this valuable thoughtful assistance.

The residential hall named Ramanathan Hall in the Peradeniya University presently accommodates over 1,000 students in that four storeyed building.

The under-graduate population of 1,000 comprised Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim girls. There was only one television set for all four floors of this residential hall. Adoptie Sri Lanka released Rs 92,400 in 2007 to purchase three T V sets, one was given to Ramanathan hall, and the other two, to two village schools in Polonnaruwa and Mirigama.

Other projects

In addition to the major projects coming under various categories there have been many ad-hoc projects funded by Adoptie Sri Lanka to assist some sectors of the needy community.

As many as 20 wheel-chairs have been gifted to needy people in Kandy, Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Seeppukulama, Galkulama etc. It is remarkable that all these wheel-chairs were brought to Sri Lanka one by one by some of the members of Adoptie Sri Lanka who visited this country.

There have been several donations to the ‘By-pass surgery fund’ and to Sri Lanka Cancer Society in Moratuwa. Sri Lanka Council for the Blind was gifted with a Perkens braille typewriter and several talking watches. St Joseph’s Children’s Orphanage in Wattala was assisted to renovate their building and equip the community hall, Adoptie Sri Lanka funded the construction of ten drinking water systems for over, 1,000 families of estate workers living in Matale area.

There are more than 2,600 children benefited by financial adoption programme each one for five years.

This is in addition to over 10,000 students who receive educational assistance in pre-schools, homes for destitute children and those who belong to scholarship schemes funded by Adoptie Sri Lanka. So far Adoptie Sri Lanka has financed the above mentioned projects, inclusive of their humanitarian action after the tsunami disaster of December 26, 2004; for more than Rs 225,000,000 which is approximately 1,500,000 euros. Moreover, on the occasions of personal visits to their foster child and its family, several of them have provided their child with housing, clothing, food and presents for another considerable amount of money. Their funds come from....

* Contribution from foster parents

* Donation by Belgium families for personal projects.

* Donations from businesses and municipalities

* Organization of ‘Sri Lanka - days’ barbecues - pancake days - lunches etc.

*Speeches and actions in churches, schools and clubs etc.

*Annual magazine ‘AYOBOWAN’

* The website www.adoptie sri lanka.lk

Regional division ‘Sri Lanka In Ons Hart’ (Sri Lanka in our heart)

The funds raised in Belgium are officially managed on bank account 733-2291195-85 of Adoptie Sri Lanka vzw. In Sri Lanka this money is transferred for approved project to eight official accounts;

* Department of Probation and Child Care services (Nugegoda)

* Sri Lanka - Belgium Orphan Children’s Trust (Colombo)

* Sri Lanka Belgium Association (Rajagiriya)

* Sith Sevana Mentally Handicapped Children’s Development

* Susith Sarana foundation (Pamunugama)

* Lions Club International - Kandy

* Lions Club International (Colombo Somerset)

* Matale Elders Benevolent Society (Udatenna)

Adoptie Sri Lanka being a public utility foundation, their accounts are audited annually by the chartered accountants Earnst & Young.

The writer is the President, Sri Lanka - Belgium Association