I-FREED in collaboration with ADIC (Alcohol and Drug Information Center) a recognized non-governmental organization in Sri Lanka is building temporary shelters for fifty affected families with children in the Southern Province. Click here to view the project proposal. [Update: 02/04/2005] US$ 20,000 was released to ADIC today for this purpose. [Update: 02/27/2005] ADIC commenced the project on the 10th of February with the receipt of funds from I-FREED. At the onset it self many barriers were faced by ADIC, especially with regard to finding land for building. The government’s declaration of a 100-meter buffer zone prevents the majority of the affected people from returning to their properties where their houses were previously situated. The temporary shelters put up in the buffer zone, has been pulled down and no organization or individual is now putting up such shelters in the said area. The affected families are still continuing to live in 8' x 8' tents in temples, churches or on private properties and tend to cook their food outdoors. This situation has got worse with the rains coming down which confines the adults and the children to a small tent and being unable to cook. Project Location 1 - Thelwatta, Galle [Update: 02/27/2005] On 23rd of February, 2005, a site was selected in Galle, at Thelwatta where the train was derailed causing a large number of deaths. In this location 15 families have been located and their houses will be put-up in their own properties using timber for poles and walls, and tin sheets for the roofs. ADIC staff, volunteers, prospective owners, and professional carpenters are all working side by side in putting up these temporary structures. The structure is put up either on their foundation or very close to it so that people are able to look after their own property and also overlook the rebuilding of their permanent structures from this temporary structure within the next six months. Not only does these houses provide these affected people with a secure place to live, but it empowers them as a community to work together to build their own dwelling. This will also help them in the healing process. The structure planned is of 10 feet by 15 feet and is supported on 8 wooden poles. The structures will have two doors and two window frames. It will be 8 – 10 feet in height, so that people will be able to walk in and out and not creep in like in to the tents. The 15 houses are being built simultaneously but in stages to ensure that people form all 15 houses are involved in building not only their own house but also the houses of the entire community. Currently the poles of all 15 houses have been set up and now the second stage has commenced in setting up the wooden side panels. Once this stage is completed for the fifteen houses then the roof will be set up with tin sheets.
[Update: 03/16/2005] Three more families were identified and the number of houses were increased to 18. ADIC has completed building these 18 temporary dwellings at Thelwatta (project location 1). Seven toilets were built as part of this phase and the villagers decided on this number. They have agreed to share the toilets among them. The work was delayed due to rains that caused seawater to rise again in this area causing a panic among the people, who promptly returned to camps and temples. However, this crisis is over and the houses are now complete. Ten ADIC volunteers as well as their project coordinating staff were involved.
[Update: 04/10/2005] Pictures of some of the completed shelters with the families who now have roofs over their heads, protection from the elements, a place to cook and keep their belongings and sanitary toilets. As these shelters are in their properties, they can now look forward to building their permanent house with the assistance of funds that are expected to be provided by the government soon. The shelter will not go to waste as it can be used as a part of the final house (eg: out house or kitchen).
Project Location 2 - Thelwatta, Galle [Update: 03/16/2005] The second phase of the project has been started at a site one kilometer away (also in Thelwatta, close to Ambalangoda). ADIC staff has commenced building at this site. They have currently identified 14 affected families, but expect this number to increase up to 22. These temporary dwellings will be similar to the houses built in the first phase. ADIC is currently in the process of identifying a site in Ahangama for the third and final phase of the project. [Update: 04/10/2005] (overall status) ADIC has now completed building all temporary houses and has exceeded their original target of building 50. Expect details of the completed project at Thellwatta and Ahangama with photographs soon. All in all, ADIC has completed 68 houses. [Update: 06/14/2005] (Project Location 2 cont.) ADIC completed 15 houses at this site and all 15 families are living in the shelters. Project Location 3 - Ahangama This location was selected due to a request from Venerable Asjee Thero. 23 shelters were built at this location with his help and coordination. His assistance towards this project is greatly appreciated both by ADIC and I-FREED. The temple and the temple volunteers assisted in the project. Project Location 4 - Thelwatta, Galle Project location 4 is in reality an extension of the project location 1. At this site, an additional 15 shelters were constructed. The demand for these houses came in the wake of the initial recipients moving in to the shelters and progressing with their lives. All 15 houses are occupied by families. Donation of Furniture At the end of the project, at the request of the home owners, ADIC with the approval of I-FREED diverted some funds to provide basic furniture to some of the shelters. As the monsoon rains were starting, some families especially with children were finding it hard to sleep on the ground. 22 bunk beds have been distributed to these families to date. ADIC Staff Contributions I-FREED would like to extend its warm appreciation to the ADIC - 15 staff members and 20 volunteers as well as to the board of governors of the organization for their contributions towards this project. ADIC contributed financially to this project especially with regard to absorbing a large amount of transport related costs. The staff gave an extensive amount of their personal time towards this project amidst their day to day work. Their contributions with regard to loading and unloading of lorries with wooden poles and wooden planks, assistance with clearing land, distribution of material to the aid recipients, supervision, relationship building, conflict resolution, documentation and follow-up is much appreciated. Project Cost Project Outputs
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