Link Overseas Exchange
Tsunami Appeal
BUILDING WORK AT LINK’S TSUNAMI CENTRE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
The latest news from the Centre, provided by the contractor in May 2007, is that construction at Samanikethana has reached second-storey level. Below are photos taken at the building site by Andrew Greaves, John MacKenzie and Sundeep Salins during their visit in March 2007.
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The hope now is that the centre will be completed and ready for use by December 2007.
SCOTLAND - COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY – SRI LANKA
Link volunteers have been involved with tsunami-related issues from Day 1 of the tsunami disaster, engaging with the homeless, orphans and other affected people.
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Link has been working with Sri Lankan partners for the last 8 years and therefore has acquired in depth practical knowledge of Sri Lanka. This has enabled appropriate aid initiatives to be developed. The Tsunami Project has emerged from these long-established links.
TSUNAMI CENTRE
Link has raised £90,000 mostly from the Tayside and Fife areas, to build Samanikethana Dundee International Centre. Samaniketana means House of Peace.
Where?
The centre will be built near Anaradhrapura in central Sri Lanka. This is an ideal area for serving people from all parts of Sri Lanka.
How?
The concept of the centre is to provide a place where skills can be transferred to and from Scotland at a localized level, thus enabling those attending courses at Samanikethana to acquire the necessary skills to earn a living. It is anticipated that the relevant skills which are found on the east coast of Scotland will be in areas such as education, medical instruction, crop research and computers and technology. The concept is backed by many partners.
Tony O’Brien (Director of the British Council in Colombo) said “This has the potential to make a real difference to the lives affected by the Tsunami and to develop capacity in key educational institutions in Tsunami affected areas. It would be great to see British and Sri Lankan experts sharing knowledge in how to build community.”
Why?
Interaction and understanding between cultures are absolutely crucial at this time of increased global concern and tension. Samanikethana will be a focus for enlightened aid and cultural awareness. The underlying dynamic for Samanikethana will be for it to be enduring, self sustaining and practical and instrumental in building relationships.
Thank you!
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We extend a huge thank you to everybody who has contributed to this fund so far. The current total is £90,381.81. We always knew it would be a long term project; however 2½ years after the tsunami, construction of the project is well underway. The hope is that it will be completed by December 2007. |
There were too many individual donors to list, but we have included some of the organizations below.
August 2006 – Lloyd’s TSB Scottish Foundation is funding a coordinating role between Scotland and Sri Lanka for Dundee’s Samanikethana Centre over a 3 year period. This will involve the transfer of skills and the establishment of management systems.
Dundee City Council have donated £50,000
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Girls Brigade, West End Community Council, Rotary Club of Kirriemuir, Sponsored Golf, Dundee West Church, St. David’s High Kirk and a group in Edzell.
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If you would like to make a DONATION to the TSUNAMI APPEAL or organise a fundraising event please contact Vicky Greaves on 01382 203192 or e-mail vgreaves@linkoverseas.org.uk
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