Rebuilding Mankulam ~ A Dream in Progress

As customary, the Foundation of Goodness team set out to Mankulam twice during the month of August for the 8th consecutive time. Much has been accomplished during the past visits and this time around too, the experiences and progress seen in the North only added on to the positive hope we have always held close to our hearts.

During the first visit that took place during 9th and 10th August 2011, the sports development team conducted the 3rd consecutive sports coaching camp at the Mankulam Maha Vidyalayam. This time around too, participants took part in volleyball, netball and cricket coaching sessions.

Twenty two (22) boys in total took part in the cricket coaching camp, twelve (12) girls participated for Netball coaching session whilst, fifteen (15) boys and girls took part for Volleyball. The number of students who participated at the coaching camp this time around were slightly lower than the previous times because some students were preparing for the upcoming Advanced Level Examinations and some students were away from Mankulam due to school vacation. However, the coaching camp concluded successfully and children expressed their appreciation and willingness to practice harder to get in to the squads that will be formed in due time. This undying enthusiasm of young boys and girls and the visible improvements in both physical and mental standing of these children indeed do give us the impetus and courage to continue doing what we do.

Adding a massive supporting hand to our efforts to uplift and empower our very own war victims, Pradeep Karunagaran’s generous contribution made it possible for the sports room and the computer room of the Mankulam Maha Vidyalayam to be renovated to usable standards. This means that children can now use these facilities without having to be reminded over and over again about the trauma and shock of the debilitating war that sent shells attacks through their school walls. The toilet facilities in the school are also currently under construction, soon to be elevated to usable standards.

FOG team’s second visit to Mankulam took place on between the 22nd and 24th of August. The purpose of the visit was to re-visit the families who received onion bulbs during the month of June to evaluate their progress on cultivation of onion bulbs. The success ratio of the project was amazing with 72% already having successfully cultivated and waiting for the harvest. These families have decided to evaluate the market price before determining whether to sell their first harvest or to have them preserved as onion bulbs in order to multiply their yield in the second round because 15-18 Kilos could be expected as harvest from every 1 Kilogram of onion bulbs planted. The remaining 24% who have not cultivated live in an area of Mankulam where water is scarce. Therefore, 86% of the people who have not cultivated have decided to wait for rainfall before starting to cultivate.

It was observed that, apart from onions, some have also started cultivating other varieties such as tomato, egg plant, lime, local orange, corn, green chillies, melon, peanuts, pumpkin, mango, jack and coconut.  A very interesting observation of the study was that, whenever an older lady was present in a family, their enthusiasm for cultivation and the propensity for success was higher.

Fazana Ibrahim, Sector Manager for MCC Centre of Excellence who joined the FOG team on their inspection tour states that, “I’m very touched by how they handle the support extended by us. They told us that we don’t have to support them forever. They said that if we can assist them for an entire year, they will come up in life. They were even willing to contribute for half of the expenses that we may incur while providing facilities for them.” With positive attitude bundled up all around, the future for habitants of Mankulam indeed seem to be brighter by the day. When Yogarani, one of the  President’s of the Women’s Organization in Mankulam was asked what her vision for herself and other women is, stated that, she would want to see every widow, married and single woman in the area have a sustainable livelihood to become independent and prosperous.

Witnessing these courageous women who want to stand on their own feet really does leave one with the sense of responsibility that we need to uplift and empower these women. It was revealed that before the war, the Women’s Enterprise with the support of a village bank helped women to run various businesses such as hiring out chairs for weddings, microfinance projects for cultivation, poultry and sewing. Given the right environment and opportunities to prosper, they will work themselves in to prosperity yet again, despite all those gruesome experiences they have had to face in the past.

“We really felt the sense of people coming back and rebuilding with positive attitudes and actions”, says Marisa Fernando, an expert in Developmental Studies & Peace Building who has willingly joined hands with FOG in the capacity of a volunteer. Mankulam being an area that was occupied by people that came in search of agricultural prosperity harbors individuals from different places of origins; those from the North, East and the Hill Country of Sri Lanka. Even with such diversity, the uniformity and harmony portrayed by people of Mankulam tells us that they will develop, establish and prosper in no time.

“They are very hard working people. Cultivation is passed down to them from generations. So they really know what they are doing. Even children would contribute for work as they are now on school vacation. The vigor with which this community operates to uplift not just oneself, but the entire community motivates me more to assist them in every way possible”, says Fazana. It is with such motivation to assist these war-wrecked families that the FOG team returned to Colombo bearing in mind that, next time around, lime and coconut should be donated to those families who successfully cultivated onions.

31.08.2011

"Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people."

- Mother Teresa -