Our Continuing Relief Efforts
Background:
Many in Sri Lanka live in conditions of severe deprivation and poverty.
Entire families often survive on uncertain incomes of $20 to $30 per month,
sometimes with the additional burden of extended family to support. Such
conditions often produce malnutrition and decease, and then alcoholism
and drug abuse. Children are subjected to physical, psychological and
sexual abuse. And then, the Tsunami came.
The Tsunami mostly affected the poorest of the poor. Many living along
the coast line are fishermen and villagers with meager means. The Tsunami
took away what little they had. Many lives of the "survivors"
are destroyed forever, having lost their loved ones to the fury of the
waters. Among these are children, orphaned or abandoned. The conditions
of poverty will continue on, not only for those directly affected by the
Tsunami, but for many others as well. This misery will continue on for
years to come. The Clarendon Foundation has as its primary objective the
welfare of these children.
What we have
done so far...
As soon as the Tsunami hit, the Clarendon Foundation funded relief supplies
to the affected southern coastal areas and to the eastern Batticaloa region.
We then helped those getting their lives back together by funding the
purchase of comprehensive packages of kithchen utensils for 500
affected families. We funded assistance to those still living in substandard
conditions in tented camps. A project was funded through St. John's Ambulance
Brigade, a highly respected volunteer organization, to train those in
the camps in First Aid, CPR and other basic medical procedures. We provided
bicycles, sewing machines and woodworking equipment to refugees in camps
in the east coast, enabling them to resume their livelihoods and get back
on their feet. For longer term assistance, we have funded the construction
of 13 houses in Moratuwa, Ahangama, Maggona, and Hikkaduwa,
all affected coastal areas.
... and will
continue to do.
Our main thrust is to care for the children now and in the future. Our
Home in Mount Lavinia, "Clarendon", has taken in more children,
reaching for a total of 48 children, and we are sponsoring more
children in Homes from Trincomalee to Moratuwa. We now provide total support
for over 100 children. We are expanding our facilities in Mount
Lavinia to be able to provide a Home for even more children. We are in
contact with Homes in Jaffna and Baticaloa to assist children in those
areas as well.
We need to provide continuing assistance to the poor in Sri Lanka on a
long term basis. We need your help to do so.
PLEASE HELP
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