NEED

LSF has realised that providing electricity can make a big improvement to the living standards of rural households in Sri Lanka where grid power would be an imagination for years to come. Installation of solar energy systems seems to be the most economical, practical and environmentally friendly alternate solution for these households. It provides a better environment for school children to study, household work such as cooking and sewing, and sometimes additional income generating activities such as carpentry.  In order to fulfil energy needs of rural households and light up their livelihoods LSF has the ongoing “Light Up Lives” program for providing solar energy systems.

Each system consists of a 40 Watt solar photovoltaic module and a voltage controller (10 year warranty), a 50 Ampere Hour battery (3 year warranty), 4 fluorescent / CFL bulbs, a power outlet for a radio or small TV, and associated wiring and switches.

CURRENT STATUS

To date, 28 houses in various parts of Sri Lanka have been provided with the solar energy systems. With the help of funds received to date LSF intends to complete another 122 houses before end of 2008, for which fund are available.

The key sponsors of this program to date are:

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIGHT UP THE LIVES OF A RURAL HOUSEHOLD?

If you wish to obtain further information or contribute for lighting up a rural household in rural Sri Lanka please write to: 
lightuplives@laksaviya.org.au

NEED

Hingurakaduwa is a beautiful village in the Moneragala District in Sri Lanka. Income level of the village is low compared to the rest of the country and the children lacks educational facilities.

Lak Aruna Foundation was initiated by Janak Sirimal in 2004 with 12 children and a Pentium 1 computer which was donated by a well wisher. Today it has grown to more than 100 students who learn computer studies, maths and English.
Time has come to build some suitable infrastructure and provide resources so that Lak Aruna Foundation can be developed to a higher level.

CURRENT STATUS

LSF has been helping Lak Aruna by providing teaching aids, professional services, funding for infrastructure development, and teachers' salaries. LSF donated a number of computers and other IT accessories, school text books (both in Sinhala & English). LSF also refurbished it's library building.

LSF is currently assisting Lak Aruna in numerous ways.  They are: supplying regularly three Sunday newspapers for the library, funding an administrator to look after day to day management of the organisation, and funding an English teacher.

Lak Saviya met with Lak Aruna personnel to identify the needs.  A strategy is being developed by LSF in conjunction with Lak Aruna for its development.

Details of our strategy and more details of how you can help will be published soon.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP LAK ARUNA FOUNDATION?

If you wish to obtain further information or help Lak Aruna sponsor please write to: 
info@laksaviya.org.au

Lak Saviya Foundation in partnership with Peninsula Motor Group - www.peninsulamotorgroup.com.au is currently providing financial assistance to a Centre for Helping Disadvantaged Women at Dummalasooriya in Sri Lanka.

CENTRE FOR HELPING DISADVANTAGED WOMEN AT DUMMALASOORIYA, SRI LANKA

This is one of the few centres in Sri Lanka, which provides social services for women who have suffered from gender-based abuse. The centre is founded purely upon the concept that violence against women is a social injustice, and that those women who have suffered abuse deserve to be afforded the nourishment required to sustain a healthy life.

The centre was established in February 1997 currently has two Homes; the first one is specifically for single mothers and pregnant women who have been physically or sexually abused, the second one is for any girl or woman who has been abused or molested. Since its inception the Centre has provided shelter and cared for 147 single mothers and 94 girls/women in crisis. In addition, admission into the Centre is provided to any girl or woman in distress, regardless of race, creed or social status.

Whilst these women are under the care of the Centre, they are taught social ethics, and skills in reading, writing, gardening, sewing, cooking and various other useful traits. In addition, a trained counselor provides each member taken in by the Centre with personal counseling session to help them through their difficult times.

The fundamental concept behind the Centre is that these women should not only be nourished and maintained, but perhaps more importantly, rehabilitated, trained and taught to re-enter society with new skills that will allow them to move forward from their abusive pasts. Thus, there is also a need for funds to facilitate these teaching programs.

ASSISTANCE

In April 2009, Peninsula Motor Group and Dilip Kumar sponsored the successful Big Match Cricket Festival raising funds for Lak Saviya Foundation to assist about 30 women and children with basic living expenses for up to six months at the Women’s Centre.

Peninsula Motor Group is sponsoring a Charity Golf Day in November to raise funds for the Lak Saviya Foundation Australia.

The event will be held at Macquarie Links International Golf Course on November 24th with 12 teams of golf enthusiasts vying for an array of prizes.

Funds raised from the Charity Golf Day will ensure that the work of the Women’s Centre can be sustained into the future.