SOS Social Centres in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka there are currently 8 Social Centres, many have internal SOS Medical Centres.  Examples of these Centres are Piliyandala and Nuwara Eliya.  Many SOS Social Centres operate via Family Strengthening Programmes, which aim to support the wider community.  Medical Centres provide treatments and services to the local community.  Below is some information about some of the Centres that SOS Children runs in Sri Lanka:

SOS Social Centres around SrI Lanka: In-Depth

Piliyandala

SOS Medical Centre

Work and Achievements:

The Medical Centre continues to fulfil its valuable function of taking care of the medical problems of the Village Community as well as those of our neighbours. The Medical Centre is open for consultation and treatment on four days of the week to all its four hundred (400) members, whilst the Village Community has access at all times. Over five thousand three hundred (5,300) patients were treated for variety of ailments during the year. Other programmes at the centre included Vaccination Campaign, Health Camps, Dental Clinics, Filarial Tests and lectures on various subjects concerning Health, Nutrition, HIV/AIDS, VDRL and other sexually transmitted diseases. The usual medical and dental checks of the Village Children and others resulted in the dental clinic treating three thousand one hundred and two (3,102) Children and two thousand six hundred and twenty (2,620) adults during the year, whilst the Antenatal and Immunisation Clinics provided care for two thousand five hundred and sixty five (2,565) Mothers and three thousand and eighty eight (3,088) babies during the year. From the Family Planning Clinics two thousand eight hundred seventy seven (2,877) Mothers were given awareness.

The awareness programmes held throughout the year on various topics included a lecture and discussion on Successful Family Life, Personal Hygiene and Reproductive Health, Mental & Physical Health, Positive Thinking, Nutrition and Personal Hygiene. Full medical check-ups were done for thirty five (35) boys of the Youth Village and for the twenty five (25) Youth of the cadetting platoon of the Hermann Gmeiner School. Weight and height checkups were done for all Village Children regularly. Medical tests for Family Strengthening Children ware arranged. Weight and height of neighborhood Children under five years were checked and distribution of “Threposa” (nutritional supplementary) is arranged.

SOS Mother’s Club

Work and achievements:

Seventy six (76) SOS Mothers Club Members have been very active during the year

and they have organized to build a chain link fence around the Community Centre of the Housing Project situated at Raigama. Elders’ Day was celebrated by organizing an alms-giving to one hundred and twenty five (125) elders with breakfast & lunch.

Uniforms and books were distributed among the Children of low income families attending the Kindergarten. A Christmas party was organized for kids at the Day Care Centre to celebrate Christmas. 

SOS Day Care Centre

Work and achievements:

The Day Care Centre continues to provide care for seven Children and is run by the Mothers Club. Three members of the club assist in this project. The playgroup classes and the English medium classes for the Kindergarten Children continue to be conducted at the Centre. The food programme for the Kindergarten Children too is organized through the Day Care Center.

Nuwara-Eliya

SOS Medical Centre

Work and Achievements:

The Medical Centre had three hundred (300) patients during the year. In addition to the registered members, the medical centre provides services to the outside patients totalling to four thousand two hundred and fifty (4,250) patients during the year 2009. The Programmes conducted during the year include dental clinics, ENT clinics, chest clinics, sex education (including HIV/AIDS), and programmes on health and hygiene conducted by the midwife on various occasions. An awareness programme was conducted on H-1 N-1 (swine flue) for the children by the Village nurse on the advices given by the Doctor visiting the medical centre.

SOS Social Centre

Work and achievements:

The Family Strengthening Programme functions in three locations at Nuwara Eliya. Three hundred and seven (307) Children are benefited through this programme. The Children going to school are provided with a mid-day meal at the Community Home on week days whilst the Children at the Day Care Centre receive a cup of milk in the morning. They also attend tuition classes in the evening. Awareness programmes concerning health and other issues are organized for the caregivers.

The Mothers & Co-workers had their meetings regularly. Several constructions took place in the Village premises are the construction of retaining wall around the Social Centre building, an internal road within the premises to enter the Social Centre, a chain link fence around the Youth House, renovation to the quarters of the Maintenance Officer. The general maintenance work was carried out routinely during the year.     

Galle

SOS Medical Centre

Work and Achievements:

The Medical Centre attends to all the medical requirements of the Village Community and also continues to conduct regular Antenatal and Immunisation Clinics for the neighbouring community with the assistance of the Government Health Authorities. Nine hundred and seventy six (976) expected Mothers, five hundred and seventy five (575) Infants and five hundred and forty one (541) Children have been treated during the year.

Other activities included vaccination campaigns for Polio, Lectures on Public Health, Early Childhood Development and Personal Cleanliness. Regular weight and height of the Children were checked and recorded. Through Well Woman Clinics one hundred and thirty nine (139) women were treated.

SOS Social Centre

Work and Achievements:

The Family Strengthening Programme is now supporting two hundred and thirty seven (237) children from hundred (100) families in the community. Six Community Homes are functioning at Narawala , Galle.

The programme presently provides mid-day meals for all the Children and a cup of tea for the Children who attend tuition classes. Extra classes are conducted in Mathematics, Science, English and Sinhala for the Children from grade 6 - 11. English and scholarship classes are held for the Children from grade 1 - 5. The weight and height of the children were checked once in every four months.

Community meetings are held with the participation of all the families to discuss common issues and also for organizing religious, national and other events.

Two girls who sat for the G.C.E (Advanced Level) Examination got through the same. One boy received the Dr. Herman Gmeniner Scholarship. The lectures and awareness programmes continue to be held for the families in the FS project.

Gandhara

SOS Social Centre

Work and Achievements:

The Family Strengthening Programme is now supporting two hundred and thirty seven (237) children from hundred (100) families in the community. Six Community Homes are functioning at Narawala , Galle.

The programme presently provides mid-day meals for all the Children and a cup of tea for the Children who attend tuition classes. Extra classes are conducted in Mathematics, Science, English and Sinhala for the Children from grade 6 - 11. English and scholarship classes are held for the Children from grade 1 - 5. The weight and height of the children were checked once in every four months.

Community meetings are held with the participation of all the families to discuss common issues and also for organizing religious, national and other events.

Two girls who sat for the G.C.E (Advanced Level) Examination got through the same. One boy received the Dr. Herman Gmeniner Scholarship. The lectures and awareness programmes continue to be held for the families in the FS project.

Peraliya

SOS Medical Centre

Work and Achievements:

During the year 2009, three hundred (300) patients from FSP families were treated from the Medical Centre.

SOS Social Centre

Work and Achievements:

At present there are one hundred and twelve (112) families and two hundred and forty six (246) Children benefited through six Community Homes. Five families were graduated during the year.

Fourteen (14) Children sat for the G.C.E. (Ordinary Level) examination and seven Children have got through the examination and started the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) studies.  The necessary arrangements have been made to offer computer lessons to these Children.

An awareness programmes on Child Right’s, Child Protection, Prevention of Alcohol Addiction, and New Year Celebrations were organized for all FSP families.

An exhibition was held containing the products of the Mothers who followed self-employment training.

Anuradhapura

SOS Medical Centre

Work and Achievements:

Awareness programmes were organized on good and bad effects of using medicines, new Influenza virus (H1N1) and Dengue prevention in the CV premises. The MOH clinics, family planning, maternity, immunization, pediatric, dental clinics and weight & height clinics were conducted regularly.

SOS Social Centre

Work and Achievements:

The Family Strengthening Programme has expanded to assist two hundred and eighty (280) Children from one hundred and thirty two (132) families in eight (08) Community Homes. The mid-day meal and extra coaching classes are been conducted by the teachers of the Government schools.  Awareness programmes on family counseling, post harvesting and coconut cultivation were conducted during the year. An educational tour was organized for the children who are above grade six.

The key members of the Mothers’ Club were introduced to President, Mr. Helmut Kutin, and Continental Director, Ms. Shuba Murthi on their visit to SOS Children’s Village, Anuradhapura. Key members of the Mothers’ Club were awarded with brooch for representing Mothers’ Club. The Mothers’ Club conducts a tailoring course for their members. The Mothers’ Club donated a nutritional drink “congee” as well as mosquito nets for the Cancer ward at the General Hospital, Anuradhapura. The kiddies dancing class organized by the Mothers’ Club is being conducted regularly.

Monaragala

SOS Medical Centre

Work and Achievements:

The medical centre caters only to the needs of the Village Community, as there is a well-equipped Government hospital to service the needs of the people of the area. The Village Nurse is on regular duty at the centre. One thousand three hundred and eight (1,308) patients were treated during the year for various ailments. Regular height and weight records of the Children are also maintained at the Centre. Dental clinics for Children below 10 years were held at the beginning of the year. An awareness programme on “Dengue” was conducted.

SOS Social Centre

Work and Achievements:

The FS programme is progressing extremely well. At present there are two hundred and forty (240) Children in one hundred and twenty one (121) families are being assisted through the programme. Mid-day meals for the children are prepared in five Community Homes. The families that are assisted join with the Village Community to celebrate the important celebrations.