Czech NGO People in Need has begun construction of a new primary school in Kuchaveli, Trincomalee District
Veronika Dvorackova
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Stone-laying ceremony in Kuchaveli
Luxmanan Sasiharan
Luxmanan Sasiharan
The Czech humanitarian and development agency, People In Need (PIN), accompanied by local government representatives, has launched the construction of a large primary school in Kuchaveli that will accommodate more than 500 students. The project will give students the opportunity to study in a new and modern facility. At present, classes are held in the old, partially damaged school and in a nearby shelter built after the Tsunami.
The Divisional Secretary of Kuchaveli, along with more than 1 000 students, their teachers, religious leaders and other members of the local community participated in the stone-laying ceremony. The former school principal, who was serving his last day on duty, came along with his replacement. "I am leaving very satisfied," he said. "My school had hard times last year, but all that seems to be solved with a new, equipped school on the sea shore that PIN will construct," said Seiyad Mohammed.
PIN has been working in Sri Lanka since January 2005 to assist people affected by the Tsunami in Trincomalee district. "A large part of our current activities are in the educational sector. Improving the level of education means improving the standard of living in the district and also supporting the stabilization of the area shaken by conflict." says Matej Novak, Head of Mission of PIN.
In the past year, PIN has built nine new schools and pre-schools and reconstructed many. Currently, another school is being built in Kalmunai, Ampara district, which will accommodate 200 school children. PIN's other education-related activities include vocational training, development of the school and pre-school sectors and English teacher training. All projects are funded from the public collection called "SOS Sri Lanka" launched in the Czech Republic just days after the Tsunami hit, during which the inhabitants of this small European country donated more than 5 million dollars.
For more information contact:
Matej Novak, Head of Mission in Sri Lanka
Cell: (+94) 773 548 425
For more information about People in Need activities visit www.peopleinneed.cz.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
