Hilfsprojekte Village of hope
The Village of Hope
The project
were made orphans in the wake of the tsunami flood. In Batticaloa, a town in Sri Lanka’s
northeast, we have purchased a parcel of land of some 22,000 square metres in size
on which ten houses will be built for ten orphans each, one foster mother and one helper.
The village will include a water tower, water treatment plant, power generator, hospital ward, small assembly room including a church for all religions, a preschool (the estate is located in the vicinity of a school that is easily reached on foot, and is some 3 km from the beach), an administrative building and everything else that is needed. Orphans will be admitted irrespective of their race, religion, caste or confession. A Buddhist, a Catholic and a Hindu nun will live in the village both to support the children and to further the community. Promises to this effect were made by the different orders.
location 1 of the 10 houses
The first houses
The main office
Administration building
Laying of the cornerstone
The following objects were placed into the earth when laying the foundation stone:
Nine gemstones, representing the nine planets
- Five metals: gold, silver, copper, iron and lead
- Three different types or kinds of soil
- Different types of lentil seeds (staple food in addition to rice)
- Holy water and holy ash
All of these objects originate from the earth. They have now been returned
both as an offering to God and as a prayer for his blessing.
The following persons were present at the ceremony of laying the foundation stone:
- The bishop of Batticaloa
- A Buddhist monk
- A Hindu priest
- A Muslim representative
- Sister Placida
Official inauguration of the first construction phase on 22nd November 2006
Guests:
- Kinderhilfestiftung e.V., Frankfurt
- Sri Lanka Hilfe e.V., Bad Honnef
- Representatives of AMV, Italy and Kazakhstan
Guests of honour:
- The bishop of Batticaloa
- Dr. Swampillaí
- Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim representatives
At present, thirty children (tsunami orphans) live in our village.
In due course, 80 to 100 children will find their home in the new houses.
The following buildings have been completed:
- 10 houses for children and mothers
- Administrative building
- Sisters’ house
- Generator building
- Water tower
- Roads and paths
- Playground
- 2 guesthouses
We now need donations for the second construction phase and sponsorships for the children!!!
Management: Sisters of the Holy Cross
The overall costs
of the project, including the parcel of land, will amount to approximately € 250,000. A list of the individual cost items is in our hands, and we are kept informed about the progress of the construction work. The project is financed in part by the Pattakannu Foundation itself, but the largest portion of funds will be raised by the children’s aid foundation Kinderhilfestiftung e.V. Our organisation, Sri Lanka Hilfe e.V., will bear a smaller portion of the funds. Donations will, of course, be needed for this purpose as our funds – as explained on a previous page – have been used for a number of immediate measures.
Follow-up costs
The annual follow-up costs must, of course, also be taken into account. Approximately € 50,000 will be needed to run the village for 1 year, including all foodstuff and convenience goods. Sponsorships for each child are being considered in order to provide a certain guarantee for the village’s continued survival.
Sponsorship
Sponsorships for each child are being considered. For example: 100 children are looking for a sponsor. More than the amount needed would be raised if 10 sponsors were found for each child, paying an amount of only € 5 per month.