The Economic Consultancy House (TECH) Projects
This project is currently on hold due to the recent conflict between the armed forces and the LTTE.
1. Income Generating Project
This project facilitates the production of nutritional food mainly for children. Many families in the North and East of Sri Lanka are below the poverty line due to the 19-year civil war. The war had the worst impact on those in the rural areas and they have been affected not only socially and economically, but also physically and psychologically. Many have lost their sustainable way of life and struggling to provide even the most basic needs to their families such as food and education.
There is a widespread malnourishment in all areas. These people lack the economical means to initiate generation of income to obtain the most basic needs. Thus the children in these families are not getting the nourishment they need to develop properly. These children need to get the nutritious food to become healthy adults. Can we fail them even before they begin their long road ahead? In addition to this now the Tsunami waves caused untold misery to our people and made things from bad to worse.
Aim
To assist the people of the rural areas of North and East of Sri Lanka to emerge from the poverty line by meeting their fundamental needs and facilitate the production of nutritional food for their children.
Objectives
Strategy
There are two schemes to assist these families.
1. Providing a milking cow or goats.
2. Providing 25 hens with starting costs.
The families are expected to consume a percentage of the milk or the eggs they produce and the rest can be sold. The family can generate about Rs1,800 from the cow and Rs3, 000 from the eggs each month. However, it is easier to sell the milk, as TECH will be buying the milk at higher than market price. The family can generate more income from cow dung or selling the male calf. A 10% of the income generated can be deposited in the Rural Development Bank in the children’s fixed deposit account and interest will be generated. Saving of Rs7,500 will be reached by the time the calf (if female) is able to produce milk. These families will also become a source of supply of female calves for TECH to help other families.
We can make it happen. It is our duty to help them and it should not be considered as a favour. Just £50 is all they need to set up this project for a family. It is not a lot of money to get a family off the poverty line. If you would like to help families in this way, please send a cheque (£50 per family) made payable to Arobanam Children Fund.
2. Solar Power
The Problem
The majority of families in North and East Sri Lanka are below the poverty line due to the 20 years of civil conflict. This has destroyed their infrastructure. Since the Tsunami, many more families are in the same plight and small houses are being built for those people but they lack even basic facilities. Lighting is identified as one such facility, which will bring a tremendous improvement to their living conditions. Many children have no lighting at home to study. They are demoralised by their poor performance and some drop out o education altogether. This scheme is an educational enhancement for children. Many people use naked lamps, which can endanger the lives of children. Obtaining electricity is very expensive for them and some villages have no electricity at all.
The Solution
The initial capital cost for this solar power system is only affordable through the donation of well wishers. The targeted families can obtain electricity from these solar panels at no running cost. This scheme is also environmentally friendly, as there are no harmful emissions into the atmosphere. The installation cost for 3 or 5 bulbs are £115 and £140 respectively. This project not only enhances the education but will also gradually be used for domestic purposes.
Objectives
A Child's experiences shape the rest of his or her life. Unless action is taken early, a hurt and damaged child could become a troubled adult.
