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| News : ON THE WATERS OF INDIAN OCEAN WHERE THE TRAWLERS SAIL... |
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Par Isabelle, Pierre et Quentin , 01/07/10:
At a recent Extraordinary General Assembly, Green Hope has come to the decision to put an end to their activities and to dissolve their administrative status.
For ever five years our association has been supporting the most deprived people in Sri Lanka and more recently at the border between Thailand and Burma. We pride ourselves to have contributed to the improvement of daily lives.
We now consider that we have completed our mission. We have given a community the means to meet their needs. We have created a fishing cooperative whose incomes make it possible to support the pre-schools, formation center, nursing home and allow to plan for new projects.
This year, following three tests, all the holdings have been given to the Gree Hope Fishing Co-op. We have reached a first milestone. Our srilankan friends have now all the necessary tools who have contribued to our mission from the bottom of our heart. Only your support, actions, gifts and backing allowed us to be efficient throughout this venture.
Our story does not however end here : it carries on everyday on the school benches, in front of the computer screens and on the waters of the Indian Ocean where the trawlers sail... |
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What is Green Hope ? | | | Green Hope is an association that was created shortly before the 2004 Tsunami. Its initial aim was to focus upon equality in access to education, by offering schooling to children of the poorest families on the south-western coast of Sri Lanka, around Hikkaduwa.
Pierre Layac and Jacques Quentin were the founding members of Green Hope. Due to the disaster of the 26th December 2004 and the resulting wave of goodwill that followed - a multitude of individual acts of generosity - Green Hope developed along a different dimension to its original idea.
These many genuine human encounters were the source of many projects. |  |
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| | | | « As soon as one gets fully involved, Providence also starts moving. All sorts of things that otherwise would not have happened are activated. Events, situations, decisions that's would never otherwise have been made link up, creating a variety events, encounters and material help that one would never have dreamt of finding on one's path... »
Goethe |
| | | | Green Hope's philosophy | | | « Feel every human pain like shame upon yourself... »
Aragon.
Green Hope's actions rest on the shared certainty that the foundation of the social life is born from the interest that one human being takes in another.
This individual attention to each single person we are made to meet determines our choices. Each individual person is unique and deserves to be given undivided attention resulting in the best adapted solution for his/her problem.
This is the reason why we always emphasize quality within human relationships and in all our Projects. |
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| | | | Green Hope's day-to-day activities | | | | Green Hope's actions are woven into the daily lives of the inhabitants of the villages that belong to their communities of communes in Hikkaduwa.The idea is to create links over a long time-scale by sharing their everyday lives, including the work they do. |
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The schools
Pre-school has remained at the heart of Green Hope's concerns and is at the heart of the association's projects. We consider that school is not only the place for the school learning, but also a fundamental place for social and cultural relations in the village.
We have created seven pre-schools in the villages around Hikkaduwa.300 children from poor families go to school for free, preparing to enter state school at the age of seven with the same chances as better-off-children.
In our schools, we follow the Montessori Method of teaching, developing a climate of freedom and respect that fosters each individual's development and desire for autonomy. |
| | The houses
In agreement with our philosophy, we insist that the poorest people also have a right to live in comfort, in quality housing constructions that enable them to live with dignity. We do not agree with hastily-erected houses. Houses should be well-built and comfortable ; Green Hope has built around 20 houses so far with this aim in mind. They are simple but of good quality - guaranteed safe for twenty years. These structures embody our belief that housing should fit into the environment into which it is built. Each structure should blend into the life of the family and the village. |  |
| |  | The fishing co-op
Created in the aftermath of the tsunami in order to enable fishermen to get back to work « Green Hope Fishing Co-op » today numbers four trawlers and three catamarans, and employs over a hundred men - thus giving benefit to a hundred an twenty families.
After a full inspection of Green Hope Co-op's equipment and premises, the Sri Lankan government has given its approval.
Completely self-managed, the Co-op has been in charge, not only of its own running coasts and the fishermen's salaries, but also the salaries of the 18 teachers amongst the 8 pre-schools and the costs of permanent Sri Lankan office. Emergency health fees are covered by the fishing trade surplus. |
| | Health
Sharing our daily lives with the fishermen and their families means that we are often asked to help when health problems emerge ; sometimes these cases are very serious.We take charge of long treatments or heavy surgical operations that we examine on a case-by-case basis (e.g. neurosurgery, prosthesis). Besides this, we organise various health campaigns on a regular basis : our medical check-up in schools provides a first time the most children to see a doctor. From now, we work in collaboration with sri lankan doctors. |  |
| | Culture, sports, leisure, village life
Green Hope considers that culture, artistic creation and leisure activities are essential modes of contribution to help to rebuild life.
En 2005 et 2006, des ateliers d'arts du spectacle et des échanges entre artistes français et sri lankais ont permis la réalisation d'un festival présenté à plus de quatre mille spectateurs.
In 2005 and 2006, performing arts workshops and exchanges between French and Sri Lankan artists enabled the realisation of a festival which attracted over 4,000 spectators.In partnership with « Plongeurs du Monde » we have provided diving courses for young villagers in order to help overcome traditional superstitions fears of the sea. |   | We have helped to re-build the Morocola stadium in Dodanduwa and we organise regular tournaments and sports meetings.
In close collaboration with the local authorities, we take part in the improvement of everyday life by re-building village infrastructures such as bus stops, public toilets and collective showers.
To further access to work, English and Computer Sciences are taught during evening classes which are opened to every person willing to develop his/her knowledge. |
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| | | | Patronage | | | | Within Green Hope, patronage is grounded on the ability to love and on the desire and will to carve out a place in one's life and family for someone from the ends of the earth - and hence not on a mere financial donation.We understand patronage as a responsible, caring and long lasting relationship. It is possible to become the patron of a child, a teenager, an elderly or a family. |
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| | | | Future and developing projects | | | « Whatever path of action you find that brings good and happiness to all, follow this way like the moon in the path of the stars. »
Bouddha
Although the fishing co-op, the schools and the dispensary are now securely established, the needs remain enormous. The inhabitants of these Sri Lankan villages were in dire need before the Tsunami, and they are still so afterwards.
Green Hope's action need to be understood in the long run.
Green Hope continues to collaborate with authorities in the town of Hikkaduwa. The focus of our projects is on improving the living conditions and the environment for the local inhabitants.
Another project will contribute to the construction of a new incinerator and, thanks to a partnership with the town of Cabourg in France and the Communauté de Communes de la Côte Fleurie, to the creation of an emergency care and fire-fighting centre. |  | Green Hope sees this as a way to create new jobs for the local communities.
With the aim of furthering access to education, knowledge and culture Green Hope is widening the development of free teaching for adults and young people.
We also finance scholarships to help primarily those whose resources are insufficient to pursue educational courses, or who wish to increase their knowledge and find a job more easily.
We thanks all those who help us in the realisation of these projects.
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