Orphans in Sri Lanka are allotted 10 Rupees ($ .10) per day to cover all living expenses. A pair of school shoes costs 569 Rupees ($ 5.69) a month supply of rice for 30 orphans costs 1,975 Rupees ($19.75). Without outside support orphanages in Sri Lanka are unable to care for the children in their charge.
March 2007- Yasodara Girls Home, Sri Lanka
C.O.L.O.R. donated much needed goods to the Yasodara Girls Home. A month supply of rice, dahl, milk, onions, and tea were given as well as new plastic plates and cups. The girls (31 total) also received new shoes and dresses. Two of the girls were also in need of new school uniforms, socks, school shoes, backpacks, pencil boxes, water bottles, and lunch bags, so C.O.L.O.R. fully equipped them for school. In addition, we donated 100 school workbooks, bundles school paper and notebooks, as wells as 4 boxes of pens, bulk markers, watercolors, pastels, and school glue. We also purchased a new t.v. antenna and had it installed. During one visit we gave the girls a special surprise and showed up with 2 tubs of ice cream which they thoroughly enjoyed.
March 2007 - Baddagama, Sri Lanka
C.O.L.O.R. is further helping the Baddagama
Children’s Home by completing their computer lab. Again a well intentioned
non-profit organization donated computers without ensuring there was
infrastructure to support them. C.O.L.O.R. has installed window glass, a
ceiling, power, cooling, and technical support to get the lab up and running.
We have also purchased grass, fertilizer, and irrigation equipment for the
adjacent playground to try and keep the dust to a minimum. In addition we
purchased sand and 20 bags of cement for their vocational program. They plan to
build decorative fencing and benches for the playground with it. We also
purchased wood, paint supplies, and hardware for the construction of 96 new
school desks for the children, as well as 10 new geometry equipment sets.
The children each received new clothing (110 outfits total), as well as socks,
underwear, and new toothbrushes. For fun, we purchased a volleyball net, 2
volleyballs, 2 soccer balls, 6 new cricket balls, and 6 checker and chest sets.
January 2006 - Baddagama, Sri Lanka
On our first trip to Sri Lanka immediately following the 2004 tsunami, we visited many different orphanages and homes for children. One that stood out was the Baddagama home for children; the clientele where boys and girls ages 8-16. The conditions were very poor; the buildings were in a bad state of disrepair. The children lacked even the most basic necessities like mosquito nets to protect them from illness. The rooms for the children where more like prison cells; they had bars on the windows and padlocks to secure them.
There were very little activities for the children; no play equipment and very little vocational training or equipment was available. We watched as a group of teenage girls took a lesson in knitting, for the class of 12 there was one pair of knitting needles, and a small amount of yarn. Each girl would patiently wait till it was her turn to knit, while the other girls watched on and struggled to stay alert. The corrupt system that was at hand made it difficult to improve the conditions and our attempts to make donations where thwarted at that time.
We however are happy to report that conditions have changed significantly and that a new system of accountability has been put in place by the Child Protection Services that assures donations are received and used properly. It also placed strict restrictions on foreign volunteers’ ability to access the children. The new policies arose after C.O.L.O.R. volunteers uncovered a US sex offender and known con man running a neighboring orphanage (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8007512/ ).
On our last visit the Baddagama home had been completely transformed through the help of other foreign nonprofits. We were very impressed with the work that had been done. The buildings had been completely updated and repaired. Padlocks had been removed and the walls were painted in lively colors. The home had added an entertainment area with a television and a performance stage. New vocational training programs had begun and a computer lab was going to be installed shortly. The playground also featured equipment and toys. We were so impressed with the changes. C.O.L.O.R. was able to provide new clothing and underwear for all of the children (80 +) along with materials they needed for their new vocational classes.
-C.O.L.O.R. Volunteers, Scott and Jennifer Longheyer
January 2006 - Baddagama, Sri Lanka
No Photos of children are permitted
Locks removed Playground Equipped
March 2005 - Baddagama, Sri Lanka
Padlocked Doors Empty Playground Kid in his room Boys sharing a book