Helping hand from Pamunugama to courageous people in the East and North Central

Training on organic farming

Group from PamunugamaYMCA  (Ridma, Shelton, Ranjith, Asela) visited it's service centers in Alagollewa, Horopathana (North Central Province), Gomarankadawela and Ottichchakulama (Eastern Province) from 1st to 4th October, 2011. Lakpriya and Tiron also joint the group as resource persons from MONLAR. First stop of the long journey was Alagollewa where YMCA is working to promote Organic Farming through a sustainable agricultural project. There are around 50 families involved with the project through small groups. Groups have started savings among the smaller groups and they will be provided with loans, knowledge and seeds to start farming using organic methods in the future. At the same time they will be supported with common equipment and needs such as water pumps and farming wells. 

Farmer's Well

Then the YMCA group resumed their journey to Horopathana where YMCA has provided flood relief recently. Group met  Hon Piayarathana Thero of the Horopathana temple to discuss on further assistance to repair damaged houses and provide livelihood assistance with the support of the National Council of YMCAs of Sri Lanka. Group also did visited few houses which were repaired and due to be repaired.

Green chilly Farm at Ottichchakulama

Then the group proceeded to Gomarankadawela area where YMCA has been involved with educational programmes, Scouting and agricultural programmes. Group visited 3 schools (Kivulakada, Sinhapura, Medavachchiya) in the area and met children and teachers who are involved with our educational programmes through extra classes for Mathematics, Science and English as well as scouting. At the same-time group had a fruitful discussion with Sumanasara Thero of the Medavachchiya Temple on the activities carried-out in the area.

Educational Programme at Sinhapura

Group also had the opportunity of visiting Ottichchakulama which locates 15 Kms North of Gomarankadawela. Group met farmers there and came to know about the outcome of YMCA assistance for farming. Group witnessed the success of some farmers as well as failures they faced due to bad weather. Two huge farming wells are about to be finished building and the farmers are very much hopeful that these two wells will help them to get through dry seasons in the future. Before they returned to Pamunugama group visited few houses repaired after the floods in the Gomarankadawela.


As usual the group returned home with mix feelings. From one hand it was satisfaction after seeing the amount of work done. At the other hand  the amount of work is huge to make those people liberate from their hardships.