YMCA team visits service centres in the dry zone

YMCA team visits  service centres in the dry zone.

5 YMCA leaders including the President, General Secretary and 4 youth visited Gomarankadawela and Alagollewa areas in connection with the following programmes from 9 - 11 July, 2011.

Demonstrating the Pedal Pump

1. Introducing Pedal Pump to farmers

YMCA of Pamunugama is in the process of supporting farmers in Ottachchakulama and Alagollewa areas who are restarting their livelihoods after the war which lasted for 3 decades. With the support of Don Bosco Institute Pedal Pump was introduced to farmers in the villages of Alagollewa and Ottachchakulama which will enable them to irrigate their agricultural activities. 

2. Organising a YMCA group at Alagollewa

Meeting with villagers at Alagollewa

At the request of Fr. Mahendran an introduction to the YMCA was made for the village Community of Alagollewa. The villagers were enthusiastic and expressed their willingness to start a YMCA in the village and a committee headed by Mr. Robert was appointed to organise the would be members.

3. Starting scouting at Alagollewa.

Fr. Damian Fernando, the Principal of Alagollewa school requested for assistance in introducing scouting for the students. Accordingly a training session for the students was conducted for the students to understand the preliminaries in scouting. 30 students participated.

4. Monitor programmes at Ottachchakulama

Agricultural activities.

The farmers whose efforts were washed out due to floods at the beginning of the year have restarted their activities with renewed hopes and requested the YMCA to help them in completing the work on two agricultural wells.

Agricultural wells

Two wells were dug  and need to be completed with the brick work. The YMCA will have to raise funds for the purpose.

Construction of Community hall

Community Hall

The construction of the community hall has reached the roof level. Once the roof is in place  the farmers will have their own place for their meetings and other common programmes.

5. Educational Programmes at Gomarankadawela

The classes for Maths, Science and English are been continued for the O/L students of the schools at Sinhapura, Kiwulekada and Madawachchiya. A new programme for teaching English for the students of Grade 3 and 4 has been introduced recently at the same schools.

6. Scouting in Kiwulekada school

The scouting started at Kiwulekada school is progressing and in this matter the Scout Master at the Madawachchiya school is extending his support.

7. House repair at Horowpothana and Madawachchiya

House to be repaired

18 houses damaged by the floods in Horowpothana and Madawachchiya have been selected to be repaired. The repair work has been started and soon the affected families will have a roof over their heads.

Rev. Sumanasara Theto and Rev. Piyarathana Thero are extending their fullest corporation and support in this programme.

8. Assist Alagollewa school

At the request of the Principal of Alagollewa school, Fr. Damian Fernando, the YMCA assisted the school to have its electricity connection enabling the students to acquire computer knowledge. All this time they were denied of this facility as the computer lab has been kept closed for want of electricity.