News
EXCELLENT! On 6th of July a big surprise reached our German partner organisation LOTUS international in Buschow, Märkisch Luch. The president of the NGO Mrs. Ilona Launhardt was awarded by the federal country Brandenburg as “honorary person of the month July“. " July 2011 |  Source: Staatskanzlei Land Brandenburg |
A new documentary about the EDC in the internet On the occasion of our 5th anniversary of our educational centre EDC a 26min documentary was produced about our work here in Sri Lanka. Again we have to thank this to the film team from Kilimann TV , which we’ve been working together in 2008 already. Thank you very much indeed a great work! You can watch the documentary online or download from: Deutsche Welle TV (program: Faith matters from 3.7.2011) or directly on our homepage: "In Harmony with Creation – An educational project in Sri Lanka" July 2011 |  |
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5th year anniversary educational centre EDC – certificate awarding and anniversary celebration on 28th of May in Aluthgama town hall
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More than 5 years ago the first construction works of the educational centre EDC in Aluthgama were started. Finally, on 27th of May 2006 with the opening of the building the educational project of the Nature Conservation Society (NCS) began to live. Construction and facilities of the centre were sponsored by Gazprom Germania from Berlin, Germany with a one-time donation. Although the beginning was difficult the EDC developed well and tried always to extent and improve their educational – and environmental program in order to increase the further chances for the students. So initially courses were only English and IT, later also graphic design, German, environmental seminars and – activities followed. Further support got the educational project through the cooperation of volunteers, with practicing spoken English and d German with the students for example. But we have to mention that the development and maintenance of the EDC would not be possible without the support of helping hands from family, friends, schools, organisations and many people. Therefore, as parents of the EDC we would like to thank to all, who believed in us, worked together with us and supported us. May 2011 |
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Buddhist ritual for cleaning and strengthening before anniversary celebration On 26th of May about 9pm at night a special Buddhist ceremony, called Pirith, was started at the EDC and was ending with the breakfast of the monks (Danee) next morning. For the ritual a small house made of natural material (palm wood and leaves) was build inside the EDC, big enough for 12 monks. The whole night the monks were sitting in the house and chanting (a sing sang of Buddhist words, which have a special power). This ceremony was held in order to give a cleaning and strengthening effect for health and well-being for all those present and supporting the EDC. Due to high cost and time consumption this kind of ritual is hold on special occasions only – therefore, the 5th anniversary is a good reason to do so. Thank you very much all helping hands. May 2011 |  |
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Beach cleaning and mangrove planting at Bentota beach Today on 25th of May we will be active again – early morning to the beach of Bentota together with about 300 mangroves, shovels and a lot of garbage bags. May 2011 |  |
Registration day of the 9th Batch The final exams were written and the certificates will be hand over on 28th of May in our awarding ceremony. Today, on 24th of May new students came to register as the 9th batch for the courses in English, German and Computer (IT, NVQ and graphic design). About 60 students appear on this day, but there are more coming the next days as always. After one week of preparation the new courses will start. Surely the new students are nervous already. May 2011 |  |
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Painting work at the EDC Right before the 5th anniversary of our EDC the centre will be cleaned and brighten up. Thus also the volunteers are working together to polish the building inside and painting it outside. A very exhausting work, but it was worth it – the result is stunning. Thank you very much for your efforts. May 2011 |  |
New volunteers in May – Jasmin und Elli Just a few days before, both of them arrived here in Sri Lanka - Jasmin und Elli. As both are studying media management and journalism in Germany they will mainly join our management work. Together with their colleague Marisa they will start with the new media project which we have planned some time ago. The project was initiated in honour of Mrs. Gisela Kilimann. May 2011 |  |
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Final exam – Computer course on 7th of May The current computer course with about 60 students could be finished beginning of May with the final exam (theoretical and practical part). For all students which past the exam successfully will receive a certificate end of May at the awarding ceremony. We hope of course that everyone could finish the exam successfully. Good luck to you! May 2011 |  |
New volunteer beginning of May – Steffi A very sympatric and always smiling young lady joined our team beginning of May - Steffi. She is hard working and helpful everywhere – with teaching at the EDC, the school, the temple, the pre-school and orphanage. Furthermore, she cares about the turtles in Kosgoda or supports us with our management work - a real all-rounder. We enjoy working with you. Unfortunately, 2 months are gone so fast. Thank you for the great time. May 2011 |  |
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Beach Cleaning in Beruwala on 29th of April This time we went to the small island close to the Beruwala beach again. Early morning our volunteers, teachers and some of the students came together to collect garbage at the beach and free the new mangroves from overgrowing plants. This time the garbage could be separated and glass bottles brought to recycling. May 2011 |  |
New volunteer end of April – Karin She took a break from her job to support us with our work in Sri Lanka – Karin. Several times she came to Sri Lanka already and likes country and people here. In her work she cares not only about the children in the pre-school, orphanage or at the EDC, she also looks out fort he turtles at the hatchery in Kosgoda. Additionally, she helped with office work and group activities like beach cleaning and painting works. April 2011 |  |
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New Year surprise with presents from Rathenow Just before Christmas pupils, parents, teachers and staff members of the Jahngymnasium and Jahngrundschule (secondary and primary school) were hard-working to collect many presents for the children in Sri Lanka and send them here. After a long journey via ship the six huge boxes arrived at their destination beginning of April 2011. But they were not late, they just came right in time to the Sri Lankan New Year, which is celebrated 13th/14th of April just like the Christmas in Germany. Therefore, quickly we’ve selected some nice presents and hand them over to the 25 girls at the orphanage in Beruwala – together with a balloon and teddy bear. The kids were smiling and every one of them had a nice present for New Year. As we still had plenty of presents the children from the closely pre-school could also receive teddy bears and sweets as well as drawing paper, books and pencils. Rest of the things will be hand over to the students of the EDC at the certificate awarding ceremony in May. Presents were for example: The team from the EDC in Aluthgama would like to thank all the small and big Santas from Rathenow, which bring so much joy to the children in Sri Lanka with their presents. April 2011 |
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Internet seminar - 9.4.2011 Just before the end of the current semester the EDC arranged seminars for an introduction to the internet and computer hardware for all IT students. But they could not only learn basics and usage, furthermore they were able to handle the parts of the computer by themselves. April 2011 |  |
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New volunteer beginning of April – Dominik After a long time we have support from a male volunteer again - Dominik. He helps mainly with teaching in German and English and is doing well - in the close by school teachers and pupils like his teaching methods. Besides the students he also cares for the turtles and helps weekly at the turtle hatchery in Kosgoda. April 2011 |  |
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New volunteer end of March – Marisa Our new volunteer will join us 5 month - Marisa. She is very flexible in her work and can helps in many fields: teaching, turtle care, beach cleaning, etc. Mainly she will work in the management area as she is studying media and journalism in Germany. Therefore, she will help to start our new media project later on as two more of her colleagues will arrive in May. Marisa loves fun, is adventurous and supports where it is necessary. Thanks for the help and good ideas. April 2011 |  |
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Temple project – organised from our volunteer Romina Romina was teaching young monks at a close by Buddhist temple and have seen many hygienic problems and other defects. She organized a fundraising in Germany with her family and friends. From the donations of about 1300€ we could buy the following things and improve the condition with: March 2011 |
Rominas class with the new beds they received together with other furniture needed. |
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New garden project near the EDC For the first cleaning we asked workers to come. Afterwards our volunteers, but also students and teachers helped with the rest of the cleaning work. Now slowly the land will be devided for the different beds. We want to grow maily vegetable, but also herbs and medical plants. |  |
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| Nadine - New volunteers in February From the end of February we have again a new and hard working volunteer from Germany - Nadine. Always funny and with a smile on her face Nadine is helping everywhere necessary - in the garden, with painting, on the computer, bdeach cleaning or mangrove project, but she also likes the work with children in the pre-school or in the orphanage. Many thanks for the good work and lots of funny moments. |  |
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Cooperation work with Bart & Danielle from Belgium in February I met Lal and Andrea in April 2010. Immediately I felt that they are good, outgoing people with a very big heart. |
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Beach Cleaning at Bentota beach on February 11th, 2011 This time we went for the Beach Cleaning to Bentota beach - on February 11th, at 7.30 am. The project was started with support from about 30 students of the EDC, the teachers and principal, our volunteers Maria, Romina and Birte as well as our friends and guest from Belgium Belgium Danielle and Bart. Thank you very much for this great work and all helping hands. |  |
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Birte – New volunteer at the beginning of February Our new support from Germany is very tall (1,82m) - Birte. She is interested in nature and is helps mainly in the garden, cares about growth of mangroves and small trees. But she was also very helpful at the beach cleaning and cleaning of the planted mangroves at the beach. They will be more new tasks and challenges to be done and we are very interested to see the results of her nursery. Thank you very much. |  |
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Donations for flood victims in Polonnaruwa 30.01.2011, 6:31 am - Aluthgama: With a load of 400 kg rice, 140 kg sugar, 140 kg lentils, 70 kg tea, 70 kg milk powder for 140 affected families as well as 500 exercise books, 170 pens, 60 pencils und 60 eraser for 55 school children a full van left with our principle and three teachers on the way to Polonnaruwa to deliver the donations to flood victims personally. About 1 million people in the north and east of the country were affected from floods through strong rain falls in the last weeks. We would like to thank every person who helped us with this transport and donations. |  |
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Simon – New volunteer end of January For February we‘ve got a strong support from Switzerland - Simon. He is helping will all necessary work in the house e.g. improvement of the building through painting of the whole EDC (inside and outside!) – an operose work, which is just right in time with the preparations for our 5th anniversary in May this year. Thank you very much Simon for your persistence and efforts, the EDC just looks like NEW ! |  |
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Romina – New volunteer in January Since end of January we’ve got another support from Berlin, Germany - Romina. In first hand she is teaching – in the EDC, but also in the kindergarten, in the temple and in the close-by orphanage. She can teach English as well as German. Furthermore, is she joining all volunteer team activities as beach cleaning, mangrove planting and painting, etc. Thank you very much for your support and many happy hours with dance and music, which especially our daughter Anisha loved. |  |
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New NCS Media Project – in honor of Mrs. Gisela Kilimann After the sad news of the sudden death of our friend Gisela Kilimann and the wish of the family to the mourners to show their solidarity towards her with a donation to our educational project in Sri Lanka, we were overwhelmed of the huge solicitousness. Till today an amount of nearly 6000 € was donated, which we would like to thank each and every single person, but especially to her husband Udo and daughter Jule. In honor of Gisela we will start a special project – the NCS Media Project. For this purpose we will get an (semi) professional camcorder with equipment and a computer with a film editing program. A group of selected students of the EDC will learn how to plan and produce a film. |
More information about the film team: |
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Sponsor a child's education With every new NCS-Sponsorship the education of one of our children is ensured - as well as the persistance of our educational programme in the years to come. |
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