A great idea and a great sign and business-type front!
This place now is sadly neglected and not maintained
Maybe it’s a CEGA/ABTA PVC Recycling project?
Above is just ONE example how a very good idea has gone wrong at Arugam Bay.
CEGA established a Herbal Garden in the back of AbTa’s new, unmanned office building.
This demonstration plot was useful, well thought of and very well established.
But: So was the idea of Tourist Guides, Trash removals, etc…..
However, perhaps unknown to the kind donors of Bergamo, Italy it appears that the wrong local partners were selected:
For many months now, this project has been neglected and the garden is a wasteland.
Nobody watered the plants, nobody seems to be interested in keeping this good projedct going.
Lesson:
Do not expect to come from any civilized Country and establish ANYTHING in Sri Lanka and then walk away from it!
Like the Tourist Guide project, the rubbish removal system & donated tractor and dozens more:
Nothing will ever work unless a system is left in place to continue the operation.
Sad but true!
What to do?
(As one says in Ceylon)
written by Anil Wickramasighe, Colombo
Here is yet another garden project:
Nutritional Security and Economic Recovery
This initiative is helping both tsunami- and conflict-displaced families in resettlement areas in Ampara District. These beneficiaries have not received a basic infrastructure package (toilets, kitchens, and water supply) or any other substantial assistance (financial or otherwise).
Additionally, the project addresses the nutritional security of school children through gardening.
Furthermore, the project addresses distributive equity through working with both tsunami-affected and conflict affected populations, all three ethnic communities (Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala), and lesser-affected communities in divisional secretariats where humanitarian and relief agencies have exerted little effort despite the fact that there are numerous needs to be met.
School gardens
Following an earlier request by the Solidar partner, Rainforest Rescue International, Solidar explored the options for a project to establish school gardens to ensure nutritional security in school feeding programs conducted by World Food Programme (WFP). The gardens provide green vegetables 2 days per week as well as educating students and teachers in gardening techniques.
The selection of 6 schools for gardens took place in consultation with the Zonal Director of Education in Akkaraipattu and the WFP in Ampara District.
4 of the schools are located in tsunami-affected villages. Each ethnic community is represented by 2 schools, and the two Sinhala schools have been selected for equity issues in a non-tsunami area in Lahugala Division.
Approximately, 3,088 students from Grade 1-9 are benefiting through the WFP school-feeding program. In addition, agricultural students in Grades 9-11/12 will learn about the establishment and management of vegetable production and organic farming technologies.
The agricultural teachers and members of the school development society will also benefit from this project, since they will receive capacity building training in balanced nutrition, practical teaching methodologies, organic farming technologies and natural resource management. This includes the economic and ecological aspects of the use of water and organic wastes.
Training is being provided through Rainforest Rescue International and The Gami Seva Sevana Ltd., a rural service centre specialized in organic farming technologies with working experience in Ampara District. The day-to-day liaison, monitoring and hands on practical training is being undertaken by project staff.
Income Generation
Families that moved into resettlement villages face additional challenges to their income-earning capacity because the new location makes it harder or impossible for them to work in their usual profession or sector.
This project assists individuals and families who need special attention, support and assistance about how to restructure their income generating activities in the new location or to develop new business ideas and acquire new skills to embark on alternative income generating activities.
A rapid needs-assessment carried out by Save the Children, UK of people affected by the tsunami in Ampara identified fishing, general wage labouring, and skilled labor as the main sources of livelihood.
The project focuses on unskilled casual labourers, who form a substantial part of the population but are at the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum, but who were least assisted by aid efforts.
They are employed in a variety of activities, some of which are seasonal, such as house/garden cleaning, assisting masons and carpenters, assisting fishermen, and harvesting nearby rice fields. These groups include a large proportion of the female-headed households and households heavily dependent on income from female-income earners, which are among the poorest in such communities.
Restoring the income of these groups requires a small-scale cash fund including business development advice.
A business-counselling component assesses the current situation of beneficiaries regarding their income sources, financial resources, skills, capacities and business ideas and develops strategies on how to improve the income generation situation of the family.
A cash grant of Rs. 35′000 on average per family is provided for restarting or expanding their livelihoods. The project aims to assist up 300 of the most vulnerable, but since cash is of value to everyone, selecting specific groups will be a major challenge. Clear criteria for vulnerability have been defined and the selection of beneficiaries will be the direct responsibility of the project. The experience of the Helvetas Cash for Livelihood project in Ampara is being used.
Access to financial institutions and loan and leasing facilities are facilitated for individuals who do not qualify for a cash grant or have bigger capital requirements than the cash grant.
The project also gives access to training and support services in business development and vocational skills. Potential service providers are other INGOs or the District Chambers of Commerce and Industries (DCCI).
dear fred,
you dont publicity about other doing okay,
do your owne busines
i think you trying to make bad name about arugambay but you cant any way you will be feel one day about arugambay people.
dear fawas,
what has my article to do with fred?
are you running cega or what is your concern
if you have anything to say or comment please stick to the subject in question
that would help.
thanks
anil