New playground and wash basin nearly finished – and so have Marie and Jana, with regard to their traineeship! Alas!

There was a lot of work to be done in the outdoor area of Anura College and PSPS (Preschool) during the last weeks. Our president, Mr. Bernd Mertgen, could see quite good results before he left Sri Lanka after two and a half months on the island, and he took home some nice photographs.

When you compare the pictures of February 21^st to the ones here in this article, you will see that the wall was painted in (still) spotless white colour, playground equipment was put up, there are some new items as for example some painted car tyres, and children are happy to use the new area. (more…)

Science lessons become clear, vivid and demonstrative

Science department at Anura College is lucky to buy materials and small equipment for lessons, particularly in chemistry. Dr. Thomas Behnke from Neuwied, a diabetologist, got informed about our projects in Sri Lanka and turned out to become a generous supporter. For the second time already, he donated money, and teachers and students are really happy to use these things in science lessons and generate a vivid and concrete image of chemical processes.

Science teacher, Mrs. Lakshmi, and her colleagues provided a wish list that could be actualized last week. Our reliable coordinator, Mr. Ruwan Abegunewardene, accompanied the science teacher and offered his van to go to Galle for shopping and transport. Materials, substances and gadgetry for about 300 € (approx. 45,000.00 Rs) can be used in science lessons now, and deliver insight into processes closely related to practice. Thanks a lot, Doctor Behnke, bohome istuti!

Education – a mutual and benevolent process

Our two young trainees, Marie and Jana, seem to feel really marvellous at Rohana Special School. In their report they explain that not only they are teaching the students there, but that those handicapped, but often extraordinary young people can teach them a lot they have not been aware of before.

First lesson for them: Working with mentally retarded students showing different disabilities. The topic of the lesson: Experiencing the landscape of Sri Lanka with all your senses! As a final result, there should be a file for every child, a kind of portfolio and a big poster to show the community what they have found out and learned. (more…)

Small improvements – Big effects!

In January, both presidents of our association, commissioned Mr. Silva, construction manager, to do some works at Anura College and preschool, and there are first results to discover. Fortunately, our Srilankan coordinator, Mr. Ruwan, visits the school regularly to keep an

eye on what is being done there and send some photographs from time to time. This means good information and keeping us updated. Some weeks ago, when Mr. Bernd Mertgen (president) and Mrs. Edeltrud Pinger (vice president) were staying in Matara, they reported about an area behind one of Anura class rooms that is to be cleared, cleaned, leveled and arranged to become a new compound for preschool children to play in the open air. All this has been carried out meanwhile, there is a new wall and you can see progress when comparing the pictures. The brick-wall in the background will be opened, and a door will lead inside the preschool-classroom. On the right side of this door,  a small hand basin will be installed and enable the children to wash their hands and clean them from sand f. ex. (more…)

We are mourning the passing of our true and dear friend Jürgen Hoppen

We would like to convey our deepest sympathy on the death of our board member and treasurer, Mr. Jürgen Hoppen. He died Saturday night, February 11^th 2017, 74 years old.

Jürgen had to undergo a long time of suffering, which sometimes did not become obvious because of his optimism and enterprising spirit. He showed great commitment and interest in all the projects of Neuwied-Matara-Friendship-Association. As an expert and person in charge with regard to the association’s budget and finances we always could rely on his expertise and knowledge.

Together with his wife Marga he has been supporting a young student of Sujatha College, Matara, by granting a monthly scholarship for more than six years now, thus, enabling the young girl to pass her final exam next August and facing a probably budding future. On the occasion of his last journey to Sri Lanka, he visited their “godchild” with his wife at a remote place in the outback and met her family.

All his family members, friends, colleagues will feel deep sadness. Jürgen will remain in our memory as a wonderful person, characterized by charity, helpfulness, cooperativeness and unflagging energy and drive, although his worsening illness became a real obstacle.

We will keep him in honored memory, full of thankfulness and best wishes for eternal peace.

Diary: Work and pleasure in Matara, January 20th – February 3rd

(Corresponding photographs can be seen in German version only. Press button “Deutsch” on the top right)

Friday, January 20^th , 2017
Here I’m again – in my second home-country as some of my friends say, who know my commitment and activities in Sri Lanka or at home. Yesterday morning, I started my fifteenth journey to the Indian Ocean, accompanied by two ladies, members of our friendship-association, and our chairman Bernd. Minus eleven degrees C ( – 11 C°) – that’s no joke. Several layers of clothes ( – in German we say: like several skins of an onion) helped to cope with the changes of temperature. First in the plane, then when we stopped over in Doha/Qatar at night and last step in Colombo this morning when temperatures started getting close to 30 C°, some hours later. First activity at the hotel was having a shower and getting dressed completely differently in comparison to yesterday. Now, we first must get used to that difference of 40C° – hardly to believe. The weekend will help to get along with this change, and on Monday we will be “acclimated” and not miss the cold in Germany.

Saturday, January 21st , 2017 

We spent a really lazy Saturday afternoon – which makes us think of a famous song performed by the Beat-group „Small Faces“ in the year 1967, exactly 50 years ago. (more…)

Big thanks to Mrs. Seibt, stationar-shop Hillesheim in Neuwied-Engers

It was a good idea and a really successful venture to ask for more donations that might help and please students in Matara. The stationar’s shop Hillesheim in Neuwied-Engers, run by Mrs. Seibt, turned out to be extremely generous donating lots of useful and handsome papers, pens, colour pencils.

Mrs. Seibt has been the heart of the little shop for many, many years. This is not the first time that she donates those objects generously from her stock of nice goods, older stock and even new and modern items. Students who like writing letters in English language to their godparents in Germany will be happy to receive those gifts. In some families parents and children would not be able to afford them. (more…)

German lessons continued – in a twin-pack!

Yesterday, January 4th, two German trainee teachers, Marie and Jana, started work at Anura College in Matara. After their first important exam in Germany, they wanted to interrupt their studies and go abroad to gain more experience by teaching and working with young people in a part of our world that they have never visited before. They will be staying in Matara for three months in an unpaid job and pay their living on their own. Neuwied-Matara Friendship Association only helped with organizing accommodation and their employment at schools.

Vice president, Edeltrud Pinger, who has been teaching German for several years at Anura College during her stays, is extremely happy because of the long period of three months, in the course of which there will be real continuity and intensive studies of German language  for Anura students. For the students, it means a big chance to learn this difficult foreign language more coherently. (more…)

Teaching materials donated to schools in Sri Lanka by Neuwied-VR-Bank

It was a belated Christmas present that the vice president of Neuwied-Matara-Friendship Association was handed over by financial advisor, Mr. Martin Schlüter, at VR- Bank in Neuwied-Engers. It is meant to support her school projects at schools in Matara, Sri Lanka.

Strictly speaking, it is not only one present but lots of bits and pieces that students can use at school: pens, colour pencils, rubbers, sharpeners, writing-pads, educational painting books and lunch-boxes. Those lunch boxes will definitely be used differently in comparison to German students and probably contain rice, vegetables and fruit instead of German “Butterbrot” = sandwich. Anyway, it is a useful object and will certainly be accepted with pleasure. (more…)

Christmas time in Germany – End of the school year in Sri Lanka

With regard to Buddhist religion in Sri Lanka you would not expect Christmas atmosphere, Christmas trees, stars or the baby-child Jesus in the manger….. (more…)