click here - Stichting Weeshuis Sri Lanka

HIGHLIGHTS IN THE YEAR 2007January- The first perches in have been reserved as a result of this new sponsor proposition.By “buying” a piece of land with a surface of one perch on the premises ofSomawathi Holland House of Hope, the foundation is supported with € 2,500.- The Foundation had a stand on the Travel Event in a big conference hall inAmsterdam. 30 Volunteers represented the foundation with the motto: Help us tohelp.- In co-operation with NRV Holiday a special tailor-made trip for friends of theSomawathi is organised regularly. Sponsors but also other people that areinterested can visit the orphanage and attend special ceremonies.- Public broadcasting company TROS pays special attention to the foundation and theorphanage by inserting adoption forms in the weekly magazine (400,000 members).February- On February 15 the Medical Post was ceremonially opened by Mr Jos van Dalen ofthe Dutch association of Pharmacists. The ground floor has 6 treatment rooms, adentist room, a dispensary, vaccination centre, waiting room, toilets, administrationoffice and reception. On the first floor there is a storeroom, relax room for themedical staff and a room for physiotherapy.- On 16 February a Medical Camp is organised for the entire area. More than 800people have registered for free consultation and 300 spectacles were handed out.- Mr Peter Derks, architect at Twynstra Gudde, travels to Sri Lanka to check theinvestments and expenses of the new buildings and to certify these buildingstogether with a local architect. Every expense or investment has been registered in aBill of Quantities prior to starting the construction and has to be checked on the useof the right materials and the quality of the construction compared to the quotation.This is important for our accountants in order to being able to make the annualreport. All has been certified.March- Many needs or things we wish for are summarized in the document SponsorPropositions. Labelled donations to enable companies to invest in corporate Socialresponsibility through packages that are tangible, identifiable and tailor-made.- Media attention: thanks to an anonymous sponsor a television commercial has beendonated on the commercial television stations to support the project. GoedTV(www.goedtv.nl) also broadcasted a documentary about the Somawathi HollandHouse of Hope.April- On 14 April the Singhalese New Year is celebrated in Sri Lanka. Many festivities areorganised such as a cricket match, grandparents day en a visit from close relatives.- Four new children arrive that brings the total number to 77 children, 39 boys and 38girls.- A fulltime GP has started in the Medical Post. All in-home and out-home childrenhave been examined.May- All caremothers have been given a budget for the dinner expenses and take theelder children to the market to go grocery shopping. This way the children will learnthe value of money and to negotiate about a kilo of rice or vegetables. Surely it is animportant responsibility to enable the children to be independent when they are 18years old so that they can be self supporting.- On 23 May the nursery has been officially opened. Now Somawathi offers 70children from the area to attend the Montessori nursery and Pre School.- A few new members of staff have been hired : a maintenance manager, threeteachers for the nursery, four caremothers, a pharmacist, an assistant for theMedical Post and a female dentist.- Apart from financial, medical and dental help to the out-home children, we havestarted to extend the post school tuition programme. Mathematics, chemistry,English, examination training and computer lessons will start. A total of 21 classes10