TSUNAMI CHILDREN'S SCHOOLING PROGRESS CHECKED

We have received the latest news from Sri lanka regarding the Masonic Province of Lincolnshire's on-going project for the Tsunami children.

Jagath Chandra Dias wrote to tell us that the money for the months of July, August, and September was distributed on 2nd August 2008. He also reported that the President of the Southern Province Childrens Fund (S.P.C.F.) Dr, Indra Dias and the Vice President of the S.P.C.F., Professor Garvin Dias, had come to Sri Lanka for a short visit. They reviewed the progress of the children and had individual discussions with every children.

The Children meet with Dr Indra Dias and Professor Garvin Dias

They examined the students mid-term marks and encouraged them to be more attentive and enthusiastic in their weaker subjects and expressed their satisfation with the performances they already achieved.

The children gather for a photograph after the visit

Jagath Dias was also looking forward to another visit by W.Bro. John Speed who will be undertaking a two days tour to hill-country in mid April of next year. Arrangements have not yet finalized and will be notified later.

MARKET RASEN FUNDAY FOR THE dISABLEd - SUNDAY 1ST. JUNE 2008.

Time for a Bacon Sandwich

The Bouncy Castle is unfolded

Barton Town Brass Band

The Crowds building up

W.Bro Brian Hind does his final inspection

The Animal Characters appear

27 Caribbean Steel Band

Scunthorpe Lodges

The Crowds building up

The Crowds building up

The Crowds building up

The Picnics come out

The clowns entertain

The Tombola Stall

Face painting

Glanford Vale Lodge Balloon Race

Teacup Ride

Horncastle Lodges Bouncy Castle

Horncastle Lodges Ball Game

Assault Course

Crowle Lodges Stand

Lindsey Lodge Game stands

Lindsey Lodge Game stands

Crowle Lodges Stand

Enjoying the day

The Brit Chix play for the crowd

More picnics come out

Where did I put the tea cosy?

A stall attracts a customer

The crowd enjoy the entertainment

W. Bro Ray Perrin and the Disabled Car Driving

W. Bro Ray Perrin and the Disabled Car Driving

The crowd enjoy the entertainment

Doric Lodge Stall

W. Bro Don Teesdale arrives in style in his vintage Mayors Car

Punch & Judy

A final polish for a lovely old Land Rover

Clearing up

Photographs kindly provided by W.Bro. Bruce Goodman.

CHILDREN OF THE PROVINCE'S SRI LANKA PROJECT ENJOY A DAY OUT

Jagath Chandra Dias, the principal trustee of the Southern Province Children's Fund (SPCF) in Galle, Sri Lanka which administers the Province of Lincolnshire's aid to the area, wrote to tell us of a day out enjoyed by the children we help support.

The children gather for their trip out

The Fund organized a one day trip for the children, their guardians and their other family members to Dehiwala zoo and also visited some other places of historical importance. Three children who are sitting for the ordinary level exam this year remained true to their studies but all the others participated in the trip and enjoyed it very much.

Children, guardians, and other family members at the Dehiwala Zoo

Some of the younger children beside the aviary in Dehiwala Zoo

The trip gathers together for another photo opportunity

In addition to the day out enjoyed by the children, Jagath Chandra Dias also gave details of the schooling and other aid that is being given to help these children make a brighter future for themselves.

After such a traumatic experience as the tsunami all is still not well for some of the survivors. The Fund has assisted some children who needed counciling to attend a counciling program conducted by a qualified doctor. Jagath Chandra Dias reports that this program was.." a great relief and helpful to change their mental attitudes to a great extent". They also identified three other children they hope to direct for further counciling.

During a visit earlier in the year by W.Bro. John Speed, who is Almoner of Olive Union Lodge No:1304, it was seen that the Fund needed to be more flexible and arrangements were made so that assistance could be directed quickly to any of cases which required aid. As a result computers were made available and handed over to T. Prasadi and T. Kalpani.

The computers are handed over to the children

As is the case all over the world, the children are much happier getting on with computing without the grown ups about

Although not given exact details, we understand that three students have finished their studies and the Fund has, on the advice of the Province, enrolled new children in place of them.

In addition to the above activities, the Fund hopes to evaluate the progress of the student's academic activities of the last term and give presents to those who showed good progress. Jagath firmly believes that this act will be a great help to encourage them for studies.

LINCOLNSHIRE FREEMASON VISITS CHILDREN OF THE PROVINCE'S SRI LANKA TSUNAMI PROJECT

A Lincolnshire Freemason, Bro. Jeff McGeachie of Witham Lodge No:297 in Lincoln, recently visited Galle, Sri Lanka where the Province is helping orphan children. He went with his wife Clare; mother Jackie; and father Joe - who are shown below with two of the children that greeted them on arrival.

The tsunami, on 26th December 2004, caused enormous devastation in many coastal areas around the Indian Ocean, producing a death toll in excess of 230,000. In addition to the huge contributions planned by United Grand Lodge, which were in excess of half a million pounds, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire appealed to the Lodges within the Province to contribute to a relief fund and that appeal produced funds in excess of £25,000.

It was decided, that since large amounts of aid were being sent to the area in general, the Province would direct these donations on a local level. A consultant surgeon in Lincolnshire put us in touch with her brother in Galle, Sri Lanka, and we agreed to fund the education and clothing of twenty five children who had lost one or both parents in the disaster. The funds are administered in Galle by the Southern Province Children's Fund (SPCF).

The principal trustee of this fund is Jagath Chandra Dias and he has supervised the application of the monies donated by Lincolnshire Freemasons to the SPCF and over the past months, we have received many appreciative letters from the children, beautifully written, accompanied by an English translation.

Bro. McGeachie and his family took the opportunity to visit Jagath Dias - taking with them valuable clothes, presents, and donations for the children which had been made by non Masonic friends and both Jeff and Clare's family.

Photos here show Jagath Chandra Dias with Bro. Jeff McGeachie, while Mrs. Clare McGeachie hands out gifts to the children.

Before his departure, Jeff asked the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire to provide a cover letter so that the airline did not charge for the clothes and gifts which would have attracted charges as excess baggage. Bro. McGeachie said that he was most grateful to First Choice Airlines for their assistance with the excess baggage - being allowed to take an extra 20kg suitcase. They also took presents in their own luggage and had to buy clothes and toiletries when out there to cover for the trip.

In Galle, Jagath Dias organised a party, at his residence, for the children and the McGeachie family, where on reception some of the orphan children threw flower petals before them.

Here the children pose with Jeff, Clare, and Jagath

Jagath sent an email to the Provincial Grand Treasurer - W.Bro. John Adams, saying that Bro. McGeachie and his family had a very enjoyable time together with the children and their guardians which included playing games that everybody enjoyed, and the further donation had been deposited with the S.P.C.F.

While their lives have been sadly blighted by the tsunami, there is a strong determination by the children to make the very best of the situation. It is clear from the smiles in the following photographs that these wonderful children are looking forward to a brighter future thanks to the aid sent to Galle by Lincolnshire Masons.

One young boy, Chuthura, who is very artistic and musical, had told his father that he wanted to become a doctor. Sadly, his father was lost in the tsunami and Chuthura is so fixed in applying himself to his education that he spends all of his time in study. When given a kite as a present he spoke to his mother concerned that it would detract from his study time. She told him that since it was a gift he should use it.

At the garden party, Chuthura gave a speech in which he talked about the tsunami children, how he had lost his father, been in a refugee camp for two and a half years, and then moved into a new house in the Chinese Friendship Village. While another of the children, Bhagya, sang 'My Bonnie lies over the Ocean'

Chuthura gave a speech while Bhagya sang a lovely song.

After the garden party, Jeff and his family continued their holiday but Jeff and his wife returned one week later to visit some of the children's homes. Jagath Dias picked them up personally, took them to his home for refreshments before taking them to the children's houses. They then returned to Jagath's home where his wife had prepared lunch. That afternoon they visited more of the children's homes before returning in the evening for a refreshment stop, after which Jagath then drove them to their hotel which was an hour drive away.

The children along with Clare, Jackie, and Jagath sit under the 'Thank You' banner to the Freemasons of the Province of Lincolnshire - note the spelling.

The photographs, while showing that the children are returning to a more normal life, demonstrate that although out of the main news there is still a considerable requirement for assistance throughout the whole area and Lincolnshire Masons will continue their support for these lovely children.

Our thanks go to Jagath Chandra Dias, his very kind wife, and all the guardians who help look after the children for their hard work and the very warm welcome they extended to Bro. Jeff McGeachie and family.