Thursday, April 10, 2008
Sri Lankan New Year
This week is the Sri Lankan new year so all the schools are closed for a week, a rest for the children and staff after the first term in the new school buildings.
Both are still settling into their new enhanced school enviroment.
Both are still settling into their new enhanced school enviroment.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Latest Pictures from Sri Lanka
Pictures show the teachers and children in the new classrooms at the KSV.
Unfortunately due to UNICEF pulling out of the deal to supply new furniture to all twenty five Rotary schools the Sri Lankan Education Department have installed the only furniture that was available and this is poor quality and second hand.
The children are shown with the pencils and coloured crayons donated by the Derwent Pencil Company - this was a brilliant gift and greatfully received.
Unfortunately due to UNICEF pulling out of the deal to supply new furniture to all twenty five Rotary schools the Sri Lankan Education Department have installed the only furniture that was available and this is poor quality and second hand.
The children are shown with the pencils and coloured crayons donated by the Derwent Pencil Company - this was a brilliant gift and greatfully received.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Newsletter Five - Spring 2008
Newsletter five has now been produced and will be circulated over the next few weeks, the school is now complete and the children are using all the new enhanced facilities.
This school is a wonderful gift to the children of Batticaloa and I thank all the kind people of Yorkshire that have donated to the appeal as their gift has changed the lives and education at the KSV forever.
This school is a wonderful gift to the children of Batticaloa and I thank all the kind people of Yorkshire that have donated to the appeal as their gift has changed the lives and education at the KSV forever.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
School Furniture.
The Yorkshire School has no desks and chairs for the children as UNICEF have pulled out of the agreement to supply them to all the schools in the Rotary Sri Lanka reawaken programme.
We have recently been informed by Rtn Ian Rule that RIBI (Rotary International Great Britain and Ireland) have agreed to take on the role of supplying all school furniture out of their residule Tsunami funds, to all twenty five schools.
These monies need the backing of a DDF & Foundation Charity Grant to make up the total monies required, this has now been applied for by the District International Committee.
This is a brilliant result and now makes the buildings into a place of learning.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Donations Book
Donations Book Presented to the Headmaster.The leather bound hand written Donations book supplied by the Rotary Club of Keighley was presented to the Headmaster by the Chairman of the fundraising Committee during the opening ceremony.
The book contains the names of all donors including Rotary Clubs, Schools, Businesses, Organisations and Individuals.
This will be an important Book in the new schools History.
As the District Team were introduced to the school children they all presented gifts -
Austin Holroyd (RC Huddersfield) donated Yorkshire Post Calendars, pencil sharpeners & Books on Yorkshire so that the children could learn about the donor county.
Em Lloyd Davies (RC Knaresborough) presented musical instruments that had been funded by St James's School and his Club also a wall plaque from the Yorkshire Society.
Ian Carling (RC Skipton) presented a brass hand bell from a club member, Yorkshire flag, donations book and a picture from Kings Mill School.
Robert Mackenzie (RC Sowerby Bridge) presented pens and a picture of Haworth donated by Haworth & Worth Valley Rotary.
Tony Jordan (RC Thirsk) presented 6,000 coloured pencils from Lakeland Pencil Company and 50 maths sets from his Club.
All these gifts were well received by the school.
RC Driffield Bell
The above inscribed 25Kg cast brass bell was donated by the Rotary Club of Driffield to the "Yorkshire School", delivery was organised through the Rotary Club of Cinnamon Gardens and erected prior to the official opening ceremony - therefore was on display for all to see.
This bell will be used to ring in the start of the school day and also the change of lessons.
The children of KSV give a big thank you to Driffield.
Official Opening
The KSV "Yorkshire School" was officially opened on the 24 November 2007.Nine Rotarian's and guests from five District Clubs (Huddersfield, Knaresbrough, Skipton, Sowerby Bridge & Thirsk) attended the opening.
The team were enthusiastically welcomed and all presented with garlands of fresh flowers as the chuildren waved Union Jacks & Sri Lankan flags.
The trip was an enormous success as the team finally saw the completed school and the children that would benefit from all our hard work in raising the funds for the appeal.
This was a wonderful experience that I would not have missed and I thank all the kind people of Yorkshire that donated to the appeal as their gift has changed the lives and education of the children of Batticaloa forever.
Fantastic Donation from Cumberland Pencil Co.,
Rtn Lionel Twiss of RC Thirsk being presented with 6,000 pencils/crayons from Alison Darwent of the Cumberland Pencil Co., These pencils were presented to the school children at the official opening by Rtn Tony Jordan on the 24th November 2007.This is a fantastic donation that will greatly enhance the arts and crafts at the new school and I thank Alison and her Company on behalf of the children of the KSV.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
School desks and Chairs
The classroom equipment under the original arrangement was all supposed to be supplied by UNICEF who were a full partner in the re-build scheme for all 25 schools, however due to the continued conflict in Sri Lanka UNICEF pulled out of the deal.
Due to the above DISC at D1040 decided that a school was no good without classroom equipment and at their recent Conference were selling desks for £3.00p and chairs at £1.00p each to the conference delegates, however most delegates bought a desk and two chairs for £5.00p. In total £1,022.00p was raised and a special big thank you goes out to Rtn Peter Haw (RC Wetherby) for his hard work in raising this sum for the children of KSV.
A further £264.00p was raised over the last two weeks by the Rotary Club of Skipton Craven and the Rotary Club of Skipton.
Thank you to all who donated.
Due to the above DISC at D1040 decided that a school was no good without classroom equipment and at their recent Conference were selling desks for £3.00p and chairs at £1.00p each to the conference delegates, however most delegates bought a desk and two chairs for £5.00p. In total £1,022.00p was raised and a special big thank you goes out to Rtn Peter Haw (RC Wetherby) for his hard work in raising this sum for the children of KSV.
A further £264.00p was raised over the last two weeks by the Rotary Club of Skipton Craven and the Rotary Club of Skipton.
Thank you to all who donated.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Rotary charity calendar
2008 Rotary Charity Calendar - £3 each
Rotary Club of Skipton
For further details and orders email carling.property@virgin.net
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
District team for School Opening
The district team will fly out to Sri Lanka on the 20/21 November for the official school opening on the 24 November.
The District is well represented with Rotarians from the following Clubs ;-
The District is well represented with Rotarians from the following Clubs ;-
Halifax
Huddersfield
Knaresborough
Skipton
Sowerby Bridge
Thirsk
This is a trip to celebrate the opening of the new school and the new opportunities in the education of the children of Batticaloa.
Yorkshire School Calendars
Yorkshire School cassette calendars are now available priced at £3.00p each, please e-mail your orders to carling.property@virgin.net
The last time we produced calendars in 2005 to raise funds for the School we raised over £2,000.00p. This years calendar is being sponsored by Amber Home Loans of Skipton and 100% of all monies raised will go to enhance the classrooms at the school.
These 2007 calendars were available at District conference over last weekend and we raised £115.00p, this sum will provide a lot of basic facilities in Sri Lanka.
The last time we produced calendars in 2005 to raise funds for the School we raised over £2,000.00p. This years calendar is being sponsored by Amber Home Loans of Skipton and 100% of all monies raised will go to enhance the classrooms at the school.
These 2007 calendars were available at District conference over last weekend and we raised £115.00p, this sum will provide a lot of basic facilities in Sri Lanka.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Thambaddai School to open
Thambaddai school in Baticaloa is to open on the same weekend as Kalawachikudy, the 24th & 25th November 2007, this school is in the southern area of Batticaloa, it is a Primary and Secondary School and caters for 241 students, 140 boys and 101 girls, it also has 12 teachers, the school ages range from six to sixteen.
This school has been sponsored by RIBI (Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland).
Well done to the lead club RC Capital City & associate club RC Colombo Fort who have co-ordinated the project.
This will be a fantastic new start for the education of the children in this area.
This school has been sponsored by RIBI (Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland).
Well done to the lead club RC Capital City & associate club RC Colombo Fort who have co-ordinated the project.
This will be a fantastic new start for the education of the children in this area.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Northallerton Fundraiser
The charity music evening of popular well loved classics directed by Alan Cuckson and organised by Northallerton Mowbray Rotary club on Saturday the 15th September was a brilliant night of entertainment and very well attended this event raised a total of £3,000.00p of which 50% will be donated to the Yorkshire School.
Well done to Northallerton Mowbray Rotary for all there hard work in organising this event and for donating part of the funds to the Yorkshire School.
This sum will go a long way to supply additional enhanced facilities for the School.
Well done to Northallerton Mowbray Rotary for all there hard work in organising this event and for donating part of the funds to the Yorkshire School.
This sum will go a long way to supply additional enhanced facilities for the School.
Schools Completion Date.
Last week we received a completion date from Mahen the contract co-ordinator for the KSV in Sri Lanka as being the 30th September 2007. This is great and long awaited news.
The second fix and finishing works have all been completed by local contractors under the supervision of the original main contractor from Colombo and the Apex committee.
Well done to all those involved in the construction works during a very difficult period.
The second fix and finishing works have all been completed by local contractors under the supervision of the original main contractor from Colombo and the Apex committee.
Well done to all those involved in the construction works during a very difficult period.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
School Opening Date
We have just received brilliant news from Sri Lanka that the school will be completed by the end of September and the official opening will take place on the 24th or 25th November 2007.
A team from our district will be attending the opening and enjoying all the festivities.
This has been quite a journey for the committee but well worth all the hard work, there will also be a lasting legacy for the children of Baticaloa an area so devastated by the Tsunami in 2004.
A team from our district will be attending the opening and enjoying all the festivities.
This has been quite a journey for the committee but well worth all the hard work, there will also be a lasting legacy for the children of Baticaloa an area so devastated by the Tsunami in 2004.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Two more Schools open in August.
Two more schools are officially opened during the month of August with great festivities to mark the start of a new era in education in these areas devestated by the Tsunami in December 2004.
The schools are Themaraivil Al Rawla in the North East near Trincomalee with 169 students and Sri Vinayagar Vidyalaya at Batticaloa just along the coast from the "Yorkshire School" with 468 students, this school like the KSV is both a junior and secondary school.
Both these schools will have enhanced facilities.
This extends the sucess of the "Schools Re-awaken Project" to nine schools now complete and operational, a fantastic achievement for a NGO like Rotary.
Well done to the whole Rotary team in Sri Lanka.
The schools are Themaraivil Al Rawla in the North East near Trincomalee with 169 students and Sri Vinayagar Vidyalaya at Batticaloa just along the coast from the "Yorkshire School" with 468 students, this school like the KSV is both a junior and secondary school.
Both these schools will have enhanced facilities.
This extends the sucess of the "Schools Re-awaken Project" to nine schools now complete and operational, a fantastic achievement for a NGO like Rotary.
Well done to the whole Rotary team in Sri Lanka.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Northallerton Mowbray Fundraiser
The Rotary Club of Northallerton Mowbray in association with Minster Nortallerton FM are to hold an evening of entertainment on Saturday the 15th September to raise funds for the "Children of Chernobyl" and "The Yorkshire School in Sri Lanka" proceeds from the event to be split 50/50.
The evening includes popular and well loved classics with Alan Cuckston, his singers and friends with Lynne Dawson (Soprano) at The Hambleton Forum, Northallerton at 7.30 tickets £10ea from members of the Rotary Club.
This promises to be a great evening of entertainment and a good way to raise funds for these worthwhile causes, please try and make the effort to attend.
A big thank you to Northallerton for organising this fundraising event.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Driffield School Bell
The Rotary Club of Driffield have offered to supply our school with a new bell, to ring in the start of a new day or just for the change of lessons, we have requested the bell be supplied in Sri Lanka and that it will be known as the Driffield bell, with the towns name engraved upon it.
This was a great idea by the Driffield Club - If your Club or School would like to donate a specific item to enhance the school or a classroom please contact the Tsunami KSV rebuild committee at carling.property@virgin.net
A big thank you to Driffield for their continued support.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Monies received to date.
The KSV appeal has now raised the fantastic sum of £253,724.00p including the Rotary Foundation Charity Grant and a further donation of £2,000.00p from District.
The total building cost for the school amounts to £266,000.00p.
Further monies are still being raised by local schools and Rotary Clubs in our District.
Your support for this brilliant project is greatly appreciated.
The total building cost for the school amounts to £266,000.00p.
Further monies are still being raised by local schools and Rotary Clubs in our District.
Your support for this brilliant project is greatly appreciated.
Re-awaken success.
Rotary's Schools re-awaken programme is one of only a few success stories in the NGO sector in Sri Lanka after the worst ever natural disaster to hit this part of South East Asia.
Whilst millions of Dollars are accumulating in aid agency accounts they are struggling to achieve their goals.
Rotary however has the advantage of working directly with local Rotarian's to get things done on the ground where it matters.
Also one hundred percent of all donations is used in the schools rebuilding programme.
Whilst millions of Dollars are accumulating in aid agency accounts they are struggling to achieve their goals.
Rotary however has the advantage of working directly with local Rotarian's to get things done on the ground where it matters.
Also one hundred percent of all donations is used in the schools rebuilding programme.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Rotary Interact Donation
Batley Grammar School's Interact club have donated a cheque in the sum of £500.00p to the Yorkshire School appeal. The funds were raised through a series of events, which included throwing wet sponges at teachers. In a special assembly on Tuesday 26th June Interact president Fiona Hepworth and secretary Katheryn Paley was presented with a schools certificate for their kind donation, in attendance was Rtn Ian Fellows President of the Rotary Club of Batley to which the Interact Club is affiliated.
This donation will go a long way in Sri Lanka.
Progress report
Progress on site at the moment is very slow due to the fragile security situation in the area, but we do have progress; Internal and external plastering and rendering now complete, also the perimeter chain link security fence is almost complete, as the attached photograph shows.
This is additional work and is being funded by Rotary Foundation Charity and district DDF grant.
This is additional work and is being funded by Rotary Foundation Charity and district DDF grant.
Picture also shows the school entrance, main road through Batticaloa and main mode of transport for the local people.
Kings Mill School - Award
One hundred schools have donated to the appeal, but one school in particular stands out for its generous donations in excess of £2,500.00p, and has thus been awarded the Bronze Award.
Kings Mill School in Driffield has only 91 students but through a number of fund-raising initiatives and hard work over the past 12 months, this impressive sum of money was raised.
The photo below shows the presentation of the Bronze Award certificate to the children by Chairman of the fund raising committee and the President of the Rotary Club of Driffield Rtn Donald Caskie at the weekly school assembly on Friday 22nd June.
Kings Mill School in Driffield has only 91 students but through a number of fund-raising initiatives and hard work over the past 12 months, this impressive sum of money was raised.
The photo below shows the presentation of the Bronze Award certificate to the children by Chairman of the fund raising committee and the President of the Rotary Club of Driffield Rtn Donald Caskie at the weekly school assembly on Friday 22nd June.
A big thank you to the school for their continued support from the children of Sri Lanka.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Slow Progress on Site.
Construction progress at the school is slow as a reduced local labour force is now being used, a separate contract has been awarded for the security fencing around the site and this is now under construction and will be completed within the next few weeks.
We are awaiting further progress photographs.
We are awaiting further progress photographs.
Bronze Award for Kings Mill School
A bronze award will be presented to Kings Mill School, Driffield at their assembly on Friday 22nd June. This is in recognition of their outstanding efforts in raising over £2,500.00p for the construction of the "Yorkshire School in Sri Lanka".
Kings Mill is the first school to receive a Bronze Award, this is a fantastic achievement for such a small school and we thank them for their hard work and kind donations.
Kings Mill is the first school to receive a Bronze Award, this is a fantastic achievement for such a small school and we thank them for their hard work and kind donations.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Construction re-starts on school
Construction workers are now back on site.
Further details to follow.
Further details to follow.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Exchange Rates
All monies donated to the school account has to be changed to USA Dollars. As Sterling has increased in value against the dollar in recent months then the pound can buy additional Sri Lankan Rupees at the start of the appeal a pound was worth SLRs186 but at the moment it is worth SLRs200 this increase is just short of 10%.
At last some good news - however no further payments will be made until the school is complete and operational.
Charity Concert
The Rotary Club of Northallerton Mowbray are to hold a Charity Concert in September to raise funds for the Yorkshire School - further details to follow in due course.
We thank Northallerton for their continued support.
We thank Northallerton for their continued support.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sinhalese New Year
Sinhalese new year is in April and therefore the whole month is taken as a holiday, as most of the site workers on the school are from Colombo they will be returning home to spend time with their families and friends.
No progress is expected during this holiday period.
No progress is expected during this holiday period.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Headingley Increase Donation
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The picture shows the presentation of the cheque by Rtn Cliff Beddows the Club President to Rtn Ian Carling Chairman of the School fund raising committee and Geoff Steel the event organiser at their lunch time meeting on the 27th March in Leeds.
A big thank you to Headingley Rotary Club for their hard work and kind donation.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
RIBI Connecticut Trophy
The District 1040 International Service Committee are delighted to have been awarded the RIBI Connecticut Trophy for International activities including the Yorkshire School project in Sri Lanka.
A big thank you to all the committee members for all their hard work in making this a very sucessfull appeal, it has far exceeded all our expectations.
A big thank you to all the committee members for all their hard work in making this a very sucessfull appeal, it has far exceeded all our expectations.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Gift Aid
The Rotary Club of Skipton received a cheque in the sum of £785.oop last week from HM Revenue & Customs for a Gift Aid claim for donations made during their appeal for the "Yorkshire School".
This is a tremendous amount of money and quite easy to claim, for very little effort. I would encourage all donations to be followed by a gift aid form as Mr Brown will add an extra 28% to the donation.
The above sum will go a long way to help the children of Sri Lanka.
This is a tremendous amount of money and quite easy to claim, for very little effort. I would encourage all donations to be followed by a gift aid form as Mr Brown will add an extra 28% to the donation.
The above sum will go a long way to help the children of Sri Lanka.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Unrest in Kaluwanchikudy
Due to the deteriorated security situation in and around the school site the STF (Special Task Force) and Police have requested that the Contractor move out from the area for a period of three weeks due to the increased violence towards Sinhalese workers (most building workers on our school site are Sinhalese and from Columbo).
We are hopeful that the workers will return after three weeks to complete the works as the whole contract is almost finished.
Rotary International have been informed that these delays will affect the works that are part of the Matching Grant, however these monies are ring fenced and in a interest bearing account.
We are hopeful that the workers will return after three weeks to complete the works as the whole contract is almost finished.
Rotary International have been informed that these delays will affect the works that are part of the Matching Grant, however these monies are ring fenced and in a interest bearing account.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
One Million Hits
Rotary District 3220 Sri Lanka have recently confirmed that they have had over one million hits on the Schools Re-Awaken web site.
This web site gives up to date information on all twenty five school that are to be built under the scheme that is organised by Rotary and supported by Standard Charter Bank.
This web site gives up to date information on all twenty five school that are to be built under the scheme that is organised by Rotary and supported by Standard Charter Bank.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Progress in March
Here are this months progress photographs.
Monday, March 19, 2007
York Donation
The Rotary Club of York recently donated the sum of £500.00p to the District appeal to construct the new "Yorkshire School in Sri Lanka" from their International fund.
A big thank you to all the members for their support.
These monies will go a long way in Sri Lanka.
A big thank you to all the members for their support.
These monies will go a long way in Sri Lanka.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Headingley Yorkshire Night
At the Rotary Club of Headingley's recent fund raising event called Yorkshire Night they raised the fantastic sum of £300.00p for the Yorkshire School in Sri Lanka.
This was a good and well organised event and we thank Headingley for there hard work and kind donation.
This was a good and well organised event and we thank Headingley for there hard work and kind donation.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Seventh School Opens
The seventh model school in the Sri Lankan Schools Re-Awaken programme has now opened at a cost of SLRs63.07million (£339,000.00p).
Ariyawansa (Bw) Vidyalaya at Bandarawatte was officially opened with a very colourful ceremony on Wednesday 17th January 2007, this is an amalgamation of two schools from the same area. The buildings have been constructed on a new safer site back from the sea and caters for 900 children with 35 staff.
Chief guest Fata praised the efforts of all those involved in the project and for rebuilding not just the school but also "hopes and dreams of all the students".
Ariyawansa (Bw) Vidyalaya at Bandarawatte was officially opened with a very colourful ceremony on Wednesday 17th January 2007, this is an amalgamation of two schools from the same area. The buildings have been constructed on a new safer site back from the sea and caters for 900 children with 35 staff.
Chief guest Fata praised the efforts of all those involved in the project and for rebuilding not just the school but also "hopes and dreams of all the students".
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Yorkshire Night
The Rotary Club of Headingley, Leeds are holding a "Yorkshire Night" on Friday 2nd February 2007 to celebrate the good things about Yorkshire. This event has been a sell out, and we are looking forward to a great evening. A further report will be issued after the event.
Half of the monies raised will be donated to the "Yorkshire School in Sri Lanka".
A big thank you to Headingley Rotary for organising the event & for donating some of the proceeds to the KSV in Sri Lanka.
This is a brilliant fund raising idea and we would encourage other clubs to hold a similar event.
Half of the monies raised will be donated to the "Yorkshire School in Sri Lanka".
A big thank you to Headingley Rotary for organising the event & for donating some of the proceeds to the KSV in Sri Lanka.
This is a brilliant fund raising idea and we would encourage other clubs to hold a similar event.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Monies released.
Further to the Rotary District Council meeting at Fulford, York on Saturday 20th January 2007, we are pleased to confirm that a further payment of £40,000.00p has been approved and remitted to Sri Lanka.
This further interim payment takes us up to our original pledge of £200,000.00p.
District Council also approved a further payment of £35,000.00p+ when the school is completed as further monies are still being collected.
Progress on the school at the moment is very slow due to the fragile security situation around Batticaloa, but at least we have progress, completion is expected early in the new year.
This further interim payment takes us up to our original pledge of £200,000.00p.
District Council also approved a further payment of £35,000.00p+ when the school is completed as further monies are still being collected.
Progress on the school at the moment is very slow due to the fragile security situation around Batticaloa, but at least we have progress, completion is expected early in the new year.
