Sahanoda Foster Parents Children's Fund

Project Proposal to foster the children displaced by the Tsunami Disaster detaining them in their family

Introduction

On 26th December 2004 Sri Lanka experienced the worst ever natural catastrophe that turned the festive season into a horrifying mass funeral, thousands of people feared dead or missing and more than one million displaced when the towering 30 ft. tidal wave brought the soaring and roaring sea into the country engulfing most of the coastal area. Fifteen districts were affected destroying the normal lives of large number of families. Statistical figures are shown in the Annexure I as at 5th January 2005.

There are considerable number of displaced children with either no parents or one parent. According to the Commissioner of the Department of Probation and Child Care reports, so far the children displaced by Tsunami have not been handed over with state intervention to any Government or Non-Governmental Organization.

The children who were orphaned needed immediate care, love, protection, security, welfare and counseling at that time.

Sahanoda Foundation has paved the way for a formal and systematic solution for this requirement

First Phase of the Project

  1. Main Objectives
    • The displaced children to be kept exclusively under the guardianship of a relative or a family very closely familiar, intimate, sincere and cordial, yet it will be only with the consent of the child without any undue influence to the child.In addition the willingness of the guardian to accept the child and to undertake the responsibility of the guardianship is very important. Initially this programme is expected to continue for two years.
  2. Target Group
    • Preferably children over 4 years of age and up to 17 years of age. The upper age limit is subject to change depending on the necessities.
  3. Methodologies adopted in the selection of children
    • A list of children with no parent or acceptable guardians in targeted Districts Kalutara, Galle, Matara, and Hambantota will be obtained from the Commissioner of the Department of Probation and Child Care. This programme has been planned under the guidance of the foster parents for selected 650 children for two calendar years.
  4. Proposed activities
    • Supply books and other necessary educational material for school
    • Food and lodging
    • Clothing inclusive of footwear etc
    • Medical attention / facilities
    • Educational Facilities
      Admission to suitable schools, extra curricular activities and recreation
    • Take necessary steps to overcome Tsunami trauma and mental stress for normalization the state of mind and thinking by adequate and appropriate counseling
    • Opportunity of meeting their kith and kin to lessen the possibility of feeling any type of loneliness and the prevention of the generation of any sort of disparity feelings, when compared with other children in the society the child lives.
    • Provide necessary facilities for the improvement of spiritualize virtuous good qualities
    • Social security, wholesome and fullest Social recognition
    • Equal participation in all social related activities in par with others without any discrimination
    • Status and recognition in the classroom as well as in the school same as the other children
    • Teacher-student healthy relationship with more attention and sympathy because they have experienced the bitter taste of Tsunami going to the extent of loosing their beloved parents
    • It is proposed to explore the possibility in getting life and health insurance coverage on a concessionary basis
  5. Fund raising
    • Under this "Foster Parent" Scheme any person, a family or any organization can sponsor one or even more children.The sponsor is expected to pay $ 150 for one year period till he/she finishes education to the "Sahanoda Foster Parent Children's Fund", Account No.150670300112 at Pan Asia Banking Corporation Limited, Dehiwala Branch, Sri Lanka. Swift Code - PABSLKLX.
  6. Relationship between the "Foster-Parent" and the child
    1. The Foster parents are free to have direct communication with the child and the guardian family, similarly the child too is free to communicate with the foster parent
    2. The Sahanoda Foundation will inform the foster parents the progress of the child and the Programme once in three months including information regarding special abilities too
  7. Opinions and suggestions of the foster parent for the improvement of project activities are always welcome
  8. Facilities and expert services provided by Departments, Institutions, and Organizations will be obtained in processing the project activities
  9. Implementing Procedure
    1. Organizational Chart
    2. Responsibilities of Sahanoda Foundation
      This foundation will handle Planning, Implementing, Monitoring, Administration, Management and Financial Matters.
    3. Responsibilities of District Office
      District Offices will be established in all 4 Districts. These offices will be headed by the District Coordinator and adequate staff will be provided for the smooth implementation of the project activities without any hindrance. The field level operation of project activities will be the main function of this office. Coordination with the Sahanoda Foundation and the Divisional Level Voluntary Task Force is another important routine matter. The Sahanoda Foundation will oversee all the activities of the District Office. District Office should be aware of the assistance provided to the displaced children by the State, and explore all possibilities in obtaining such assistance.
    4. Responsibilities of Divisional Level Voluntary Task Force (DLVTF)
      This will comprise of Clergy, Government officers, Divisional Level State Officials, Village leaders, Representatives of the Civil Society Organizations, and any other person suitable for the avove.
  10. Evaluation
    The purpose of evaluation is a combination of learning, guidance and Control based on an assessment of what has been achieved. The evaluation is based on a review of existing information, discussions with all involved, and impact studies. An appropriate monitoring system and sufficiently frequent and comprehensive progress review, the evaluation becomes easier. It is the responsibility of the foundation to organize such evaluations. Evaluations will not be confined to the final stage; Evaluations will be done while the project is at the implementing stage. Independent evaluations will be done in addition to the evaluations done by the Foundation and the District Office.

The independent evaluation team consists of


Center for National Operations
Department of Probation and Child Care
Sahanoda Foundation's Trust.