THE VILLAGE HEARTBEAT The Village Heartbeat, an innovation that was launched to empower and uplift the lives of impoverished rural people, has been running successfully. The numbers that are benefiting through the Village Heartbeat, where equal opportunities to excel in life can be availed, bear testimony to this accomplishment.
The first Village Heartbeat opened in 2007 in Udumulla, a small and poverty-stricken rural village near Hikkaduwa. It was set up in collaboration with the village and with the support of many caring donors worldwide like the Village-to-Village concept of Upper Slaughter, Cotswold, UK - through the Foundation of Goodness, A library, a computer training centre (equipped with desks and ten computers) and a classroom to facilitate English language lessons and women’s sewing courses form the core of the Village Heartbeat. There are also - youth & women’s empowerment programmes, children & youth skills development work, organized children’s activities through a children’s goodness club, village/environment improvement plans, spiritual training to improve the quality of life, volunteer expertise oriented programmes. All programmes are run free of charge and are taught by qualified teachers: overseas volunteers work with them to develop new classes and skills and these are open to all who wish to attend from the village and surrounding areas. When classes are not scheduled, the centre doubles up as a venue for village clubs and public meetings. The Core of the Village Heartbeat English language proficiency has been identified as one of the necessities to gain fruitful employment in the working capital Colombo. Many from rural areas, despite their enormous potential, are denied opportunities in the city as English language taught in schools does not meet the level required by employers in Colombo. Today this is being overcome through the Village Heartbeat English classes, which supplement the schools’ curricula.
Enhancing English language skills The students have been making rapid progress and are very enthusiastic. “The Udumulla Village Heartbeat centre is an important place for us youngsters… …We are so happy to have a centre like this” says keen student Nileesha Dilshadi. The 13-year old, who is one of 150 students (including 15 adults) that attend the classes, says it has provided opportunities not only to learn new things but also to expand their knowledge from their little understanding of the English language.
Computer skills, are now accessible Computer & IT Training Facility with Internet Access - With the increasing importance of computer literacy, training is now offered for the community members in this rural area where previously there were no computers. 143 students, that is 115 children and 28 adults, attend the class with an opportunity to gain a formal qualification. Nethmi Nimasha is glad she has the opportunity to study computer skills. The bright teenager says “… … the computer training classes are of great benefit for our future”. There has been great enthusiasm shown for the computer classes and yet another batch is being enrolled for the computer course on 10th May 2008.
The Village Heartbeat Library “Reading maketh a full man” said Francis Bacon, the English essayist, philosopher and statesman and what better way to achieve this than through the Village Heartbeat Library, especially when membership is free. This facility is equipped with English and Sinhalese books and daily newspapers and there are some 258 members who avail of the reading material. Avid reader W. Ravina Tharangani is grateful the library can be accessed at any time. “What is really great is that we are allowed to borrow books and read them leisurely at home” she says. The library is one of the popular centres of activity amongst the children.
The Women’s Empowerment Programme has been providing sewing training and has helped women to build confidence, expand their skills and above all this to play a major role in providing sustenance and creating more positive futures for their children and the community. The classes are full with 51 attending on a weekly basis. The women call this class a blessing. R. Sirimanna says “The fact that you do not need sewing skills in order to participate is an advantage… ….” The Women’s Empowerment Programme is also catering to the requests of community and will shortly be conducting cookery classes and a specialty dessert making class as well.
Shramadana time – children unite to clean up Teamwork and tolerance are qualities that make up a good and just society. This is part of what children learn through the Village Heartbeat Children’s Goodness Club which is designed to promote the art of good citizenship. “They teach us how we should live when we grow up … and be kind to others” says smiling 11-year old D.L.P. Wickramarthna. The 61 members of the Children’s Goodness Club are very enthusiastic and have been actively involved in projects such as beach cleaning, temple cleaning and art exhibitions. They know they can make a difference. Future of the Village Heartbeat concept With successes like these, the Foundation of Goodness plans to replicate the concept – initially to other rural villages in Sri Lanka and then beyond our seas to other developing nations.
Opening of the Village Heartbeat, Udumulla Extending the Village Heartbeat network will unlock the current restricted potential faced by so many brilliant, talented students and community members in poor regions. This is a simple concept and easy to replicate in other disadvantaged areas. The cost to set up one Village Heartbeat is around US$75,000 and an annual running cost of US$15,000 per year. The Village Heartbeat is a symbol of hope. The next project is gradually taking shape. ‘Help Sri Lanka’ - a grouping of communities partnering in a wave of hope for the future in Melbourne, Australia have organized a fundraiser for July 2008. The proceeds will go towards making ‘The Village Heartbeat Project - Melbourne’ a reality, breathing life into uplifting another rural poverty-stricken village. For the inaugural Village Heartbeat, joining hands with the Foundation of Goodness to bring the programme to fruition were caring donors: Village-to-Village (Upper Slaughter Cotswold, UK), Muralidaran Vaas & Gunasekera Foundation, Mr. Ivan Sovis (Dubai Consortium), Dr. Naj Nagendran (Sember Trust – USA), LCF Montessori Tsunami Relief Fund USA, Ladies’ Circle of City of Nottingham, UK, Geneva Global – USA, Highgate School – UK and Shelton Trust – UK.
Smiles borne from dreams
“You can make a difference. Give a rural village a new heart”
2008.05.05
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