Galewala Livelihood
The main project has now been completed successfully and all of the main objectives were met. Please click here to read the final project report to find out more about how the objectives were met.
Shining Life Children’s Trust worked on a project in the Galewala area, with its long-term partner the Foundation for Human Development (HDF, Manawa Sanwardana Padanama). This is the fourth project that Shining Life has worked on with HDF. The project built on the success of its first project in the Galewala area. It worked with three villages in the same area: Silvathgama, Nuwanpura and Yatigalpotta supporting Children’s Clubs, income generation activities and micro credit savings schemes.
CASE STUDY: SEWING PROGRAMME, GALEWALA PROJECT
29 year old Mrs P.P.D.G.M Thakshila Priyadanshini Jayasooriya residing at 154/A in the Ibbankatuwa Division, has studied up to the GCE Ordinary Level. Although she was keen on sewing she did not have any technical knowledge about it. In 2009, Shining Life Children‟s Trust (SLCT) with the support of the Human Development Foundation (HDF) started a project in the Ibbankatuwa Division. This was of great service to her.
Mrs Thakshila, who was unemployed, was able to follow a course in sewing in the same district. She was able to master this subject and subsequently commenced cutting and sewing in her own home. The machine that she purchased from Singer Company on an easy payment scheme was a great boon to her. She has now started to sew for the market. Daily, she sews five garments and sews children‟s, ladies, school uniforms and even undertakes sewing orders.
Her financial position is gradually improving. She is indebted to HDF and SLCT for helping her to improve her sewing skills, she extends her heartfelt gratitude for their support.
Galewala is situated three hours' drive north-east of Colombo, near Dambulla. An initial six-month project ran from February to July 2013. The main project started in October 2013 and is scheduled to run until March 2016.
The project has the same basic elements as the previous project with HDF, including programmes to help improve the lives of children in the three villages in the following areas: education, health, finance and employment and the environment.
This year a mid-term review was carried out to assess the impact, success and limitations of the project to date. This review showed the project to be on track to success, having already delivered one major outcome on Children’s Welfare; the project introduced boys and girls to different sports, games and music giving them a broader experience and showing them the potential of their capabilities. The remaining 13 outcomes are on track to delivery over the next year.
Some examples of the change that we have already supported on this project include:
- Mother’s education in nutrition, dental and health care. We have seen the benefits from this training already as children now brush their teeth twice a day in the villages.
- Health training for women and children in which they learn about infectious diseases and prevention of illness through diet and hygiene.
- Libraries have been established in Silvathgama, Nuwanpura and Yatigalpotta. The children have been trained in how to maintain them and manage the system of borrowing library books.
- The roof has been changed on Silvathgama’s pre-school roof ensuring the school is now protected from the rain.
- Training programmes in income generation have been very successful and as a result many women have started their own small enterprises which have helped to increase their income. Loans are being paid back and members of the savings helped the school have a greater prominence in the community and the children enjoy being there.
Please click here to read the full mid-term report.
Please click here to find out more about the key achievements of the first Galewala project.