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Human Rights Team Rescue Students’ Education
Uniforms donated by the human rights team make it possible for children to return to school in Galle
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The Foundation provides milk and supplies to refugees in the camps
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This fishing boat, donated by the human rights team, provides enough income to feed two large families
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In the devastated coastal town of Kalmunai in Sri Lanka, a Catholic sister who teaches at the Carmel Fatima College prayed for help. The tsunami had washed away her pupils’ class notes. Without them, her graduating students faced certain failure in their exams in April, which meant no prospect of university.
The sister did have a set of notes, but after the disaster lacked the means to make enough copies for all her students.
Then unexpectedly a human rights relief team arrived on her doorstep from Los Angeles. Sent by the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance with the support of the Church of Scientology International, the team was traveling through the island on a fact-finding visit.
“Wherever we went, we asked people, ’What do you need most?’” said spokesperson Sue Carmel. “This teacher had only one reply: she needed her notes copied for the students.”
Thus, for only $100, the team gave the students back their prospects of a university education and a bright future.
It is small incidents like this that made the human rights relief team’s fact-finding visit a humanitarian mission. After the bare necessities of food and shelter, education was a primary concern of people.
The team first traveled from Colombo, the capital, to Kandy, and then to the coastal city of Trincomalee, one of the hardest-hit areas. They then proceeded south through the towns of Tinniya, Batticaloa, Kalmunai, Ampara and Galle.
“The Foundation paid for uniforms for 127 school-age children living in camps in Trincomalee and Galle. The tsunami had destroyed the children’s clothes and without uniforms the schools adamantly refused to accept them. Thus, because of the tsunami, they too were about to be denied the basic right of an education,” said Ms. Carmel.
The uniforms are not expensive by western standards — approximately $5 each — but that is beyond the reach of many families who, never affluent, have lost their homes and their boats are destroyed. They have no means of support and are living in camps, with relatives or in orphanages (which in many cases house adults as well as children).
“Seeing the urgent need, we also purchased food and medical supplies for refugees” said Ms. Carmel, “And we are very happy we were able to make it possible for these children to continue their education.”
The primary need of fisherman living on the coast was to replace the boats the tsunami had destroyed so they could get back to work.
Before leaving, the team paid for the construction of a boat for a fisherman and his family in Galle that will provide enough income to feed two large families.
The Foundation plans to continue its relief efforts in the country.
If you can help, or contribute donations, call (323) 661-1196 or e-mail info@humanrightsandtolerance.org
For more information: International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance
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