Projects

Rebuilding pre-schools

Over twenty pre-schools destroyed in the Hambantota District need to be rebuilt. At a cost of around of around £ 5600 each, they are essential in providing care and stability for the very young children affected by this disaster. It also enables parents to work and older siblings to return to school.

Senahasa Trust has rebuilt six pre-schools in the Hambantota District since April 2005. Each pre-school has 30-50 children and two teachers. Five pre-schools are built on land given by and in the local Buddhist temple and one is built on land donated by an individual.

Parents and children attended the opening ceremonies with great excitement. Following a traditional Buddhist blessing, a brass lamp was lit and kiribath (milk rice) was served to bring good fortune. Each opening ceremony was carefully planned to take place on an auspicious day and time – a custom in Sri Lanka.

The pre-schools are now a safe-haven for the children. Typically these pre-schools have little or no toys, some basic furniture and basic materials. Senahasa has commissioned and supplied "home corners" for each school and has sent donations of suitable toys to equip them. Each school has now received building blocks, lego, picture books, musical instruments and other educational toys which will complement the home corners. The teachers have received further training so they feel confident to encourage children to learn through play rather than by rote.

Since they first opened in 2005 and 2006, all the pre-schools have become well established in their communities and some our over subscribed. They all have excellent teachers and the children seem to be happy. Senahasa funds the

Palla Mallala Pre-school today


The band rehearsing for the end of year concert	Children enjoying singing and dancing

A parent brings in a meal for the whole class everyday. Today they are having stringhoppers made from rice flour	The theme this week is flowers and the children are drawing a flower garden. They each have a crayon so their garden will only have one colour

Two new pre-schools in the Galle District.

Two new pre-schools have been completed in the Galle District. The Singithi Pera Pasala (pera pasala means pre-school) has been built in the grounds of the Siri Kettaramaya Vihara (vihara means temple) in Tittagalla East near Ahangama. It is a beautiful location - the temple is literaly built on "island" surrounded by paddy fields and a tea plantation. It is now flouirsishing. The Unawatuna pre-school is has been built above a new community centre which is currently being used as a temporary location for the children. It is sited very close to Unawatuna Maha Vidyalaya (UMV) and many of these pre-school children will attend UMV.

Eight pre-schools now open and operational


Medaketiya pre-school opened on 14th July 2005	Wevudutta pre-school opened on 15th August 2005

Palla Mallala pre-school opened on 21st August 2005	Mayurapura pre-school opened on 15th August 2005


Teachers at Mawella pre-school, opened on 27 October 2005	Children at Kahandamodera pre-school, opened on 26 January 2006

Tittagalla children eating special apples while exploring the new toys delivered to their pre-school from UK donations	Unawatuna Pre-school newly completed above a community centre