1. Housing Project
Thousands of people lost their houses. Even in Matara there are hundreds of people, who lost their homes, either completely or the houses are partly damaged. Most of the damaged houses are in the buffer-zone (100 meters from the shore). These people are not allowed to build their houses in the same premises. Thus finding new land is a big problem.
Giving priority to a few Catholic families, we thought of building new houses taking their own plan and budget into consideration.
There are two categories of houses:
1. Those, who have land or those who are permitted to build a new house on the same premises (in their old land) are given a house worth of Rs. 450,000. This people have had a good house.
2. Those, who lost a very poor house (made out of wood and cadjan) and whose family members are a very few, they will be getting a house worth of Rs. 250,000.
The victims, who have no land and who are not entitled to build or not given land or house from government, we are trying to provide a land with a house. So to build a house a family needs 10 perches of land and it will cost about Rs. 250,000.
We have already started constructing a house and on the 29 th Sunday of May we will lay foundation to start five more houses. The Bishop of Galle will in a special ceremony lay foundation for this purpose.
Caritas Sri-Lanka-Galle is helping us to build new houses and they have a model house worth of Rs. 400.000
2. Scholarship Project
The children, who lost both parents or one parent of the families or who have lost their house and their income due to Tsunami and also poor children who deserve our support with schooling, are helped by this project for the education of children. Reverend Father Christopher Lalith Fernando is handling this project and will be the Coordinator.
In this project each child is given monthly Rs. 2.500.
Rs. 6.000 per year is kept aside for each child to help with medical or other needs during the course of the year and to buy the basic needs (clothes, books, shoes etc.) at the end of the year. Students, who are willing to get into a hostel, are settled in a hostel. Others may live with their families or guardians. Some students are admitted to well reputed convents and hostels. At the moment there are 53 students who are benefited in this projects, but there are so many more in the waiting list.
The donor will receive a photo with all the details of the child. The money is paid monthly, in the first week of the month and Father/mohter/Guardian will be given the money. The donor will pay Rs. 3000/= monthly or Rs. 36000/= annually. They also have to pay till the child finishes his/her education.
3. Income Generating Project
There are so many victims, who lost their livelihood. We help them to start to get their lives back, which they once have had. To get a usual livelihood, they receive help for self-employment. So far many victims were helped with sewing-machines, working tools, etc.
4. School Projects
1. Students : Affected children in several schools were given colour-materials, undergarments, books and school items.
2. Schools : Library books, laboratory equipments and other equipment were supplied to several affected schools.
3. Teachers : The teachers, who were affected were provided with a wooden bed, mattress, pillows, bed-sheets, mosquito nets and kitchen utensils.
5. Help for families
Just after Tsunami so many families were provided with food items, materials, clothes, beds and beddings, mattress, mosquito nets, kitchen utensils, etc.
6. General Help for Families
There are victims, who have lost their bread-winner, who have lost everyone , who are helpless and have no way of getting any income.
A monthly grant is given for their maintenance. A family of less than 3 are given Rs. 3000/= and more than 4 members are given Rs. 5000/= monthly. Such people are given some money for their monthly medication also.
The infants and little ones are provided with milk food and other needs like clothes.
