Current Objectives

January 2006 - to Present

The current objective of the Galway Sri Lanka Project is to provide housing to homeless members of the communities effected by the 2004 Tsunami. Also, to provide community support in the form of building schools and providing a social context within which to improve the standard of living in the local area. The initial initiative of 1 year has been increased to a 3-year plan.

The Galway Sri Lanka Project was formed following the 2004 Asian tsunami by a group of volunteers from Galway who had many years experience working in Sri Lanka. The project has received tremendous support from the people of Galway, volunteers from Ireland and particularly from the Irish Red Cross Society.

The Phase 3 housing construction is now nearing completion. By January 2007, 150 Irish Red Cross houses have been built for 750 people from the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities. 2 Pre Schools have been provided in the communities for 90-100 children from ages 2-7 years. 2 multi function community buildings have also been built within the communities which will provide a focus for vocational training, family support and community development.

The project has had a major impact on the lives of hundreds of tsunami affected people. The project is managed on a day to day level and made a success by the involvement and ownership of the local community. For 2007 we intend build on this success and construct 100 more Irish Red Cross Houses, 2 more Pre Schools and 2 Community Buildings. In addition, the Galway Sri Lanka Project proposes to construct, at the request of the Dept of Education, an Ampara District Pre School Teacher Training Center.

Initial Objectives

January 2005 - An Overview

In January, 2005, our contacts in Sri Lanka informed us that the emergency relief priorities were for:

• Medicines: anti-biotics, disinfectants, painkillers, malaria, bandages and gauze
• Food: Suitable for adults and children e.g. rice, lentils, baby formula
• Water Treatment: Plastic drums, purification tables, pots and paraffin cookers
• Clothing: For men, women and children – saris, sarongs, bed linen etc.
• Shelter: Medium term multi-family shelters built from locally available materials – with input from those affected to locate these new settlements where they feel safe.
• Psychological: Support for traumatised victims

We delivered these relief objectives to the people who most needed them, and aided the local populations to become self reliant in the process. As three individuals, we have no organisational overheads – all our travel expenses are paid for by ourselves, and all other necessary mobilisation materials (e.g. publicity posters, this website, administrative support etc.) have been donated without charge. Therefore, all funds raised effectively shift from donor to recipient (as goods) 100% intact.

Medicines

The medical supplies listed - anti-biotics, disinfectants, painkillers, anti-malaria drugs, bandages and gauze were sourced both here in Ireland and on site in Sri Lanka. We have had significantly generous support from several Galway pharmacies - these being co-ordinated by O'Beirns Pharmacy, Henry Street, who have pledged supplies of the above drugs for "as long as it takes". We add too that Emirates Airlines have waived our baggage limitations to allow us to transport these drugs supplies to Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka the District Medical Officer has requested specific medical equipment and sourced and priced this equipment in Colombo. We will purchase and deliver as much as money allows.

Food

We purchased food supplies of rice, lentils, baby formula and nutritional supplements in the capital Colombo. We already have local people from Colombo who have worked with us on Aid projects, negotiating competitive buying prices and planning distribution logistics (see transport below).
€10 buys food for 2 families (of 5 people) for 1 day approximately
€10 buys one paraffin cooker
€10 buys pots and pans for 1 family

Water Treatment

Again the Galway Pharmacies have provided generous amounts of water purification tablets, which we have carried out with us. We have on the ground requests for large quantities of these, so further donations of these will be very welcome.
1 box of tablets (60 tablets) purifies one well.

Clothing

Clothing and bedding were purchased in the capital Colombo and transported to areas of great need. This will be supplemented by food and clothes materials donated locally which we will distribute to local charities.
€5 modestly cloths a male or female adult.

Man	Woman
Sarong 200 rupees	Sari 250 rupees
Shirt 250 rupees	Blouse 250 rupees
Underwear 100 rupees	Underwear 100 rupees
Sandals 50 rupees	Sandals 50 rupees
5Euro =600 rupees	5Euro =600 rupees

Shelter

We have developed an easily assembled mass housing package specifically for the Sri Lankan context. The technology and drawings have been developed between Vincent Commons (who has experience of the Sri Lankan construction industry) in collaboration with Austrian architects who are at the cutting edge of modern house building techniques. The housing assembly relies on local materials as well as some nationally manufactured components , worked with local tools and skills, but co-ordinated to greatly simplified master drawings and specifications. Workers will be employed and paid. They will be trained in producing these dwellings while they build, thus putting them in a position to continue housing provision beyond this initiative.
€1000 pays for 1 home for one family approximately

Transport and distribution of these materials

Crucial to the effective and efficient delivery of the above is that they are transported from supply sources to the remote locations where they are most needed. At this time, getting quality haulage vehicles is at a premium, as many stakeholders (including aid agencies) will be seeking to move their goods. Our team have secured 4 heavy goods trucks, adequate fuel supplies, labour to load and off load supplies, and are co-ordinating our objectives with the relevant authorities.
€1000 pays for 1 home for one family approximately

Website last updated - December 2006
©2005-2007 Galway Sri Lanka Project
Website donated by Martec.