Month: January 2017

55. Tharaka Kahaduwa – Sri Lanka

nanda Volunteers , ,
Tharka Kahaduwa

Tharka Kahaduwa

Tharaka Kahaduwa, our first long term Sri Lankan volunteer volunteered in Horizon Lanka in January, 2017.

“I had first heard about Horizon Lanka Foundation about five years ago; when I overheard my parents talk about helping a little girl from the village buy a bike. At that point, I hadn’t paid much to my parent’s involvement; partly naivety, partly educational commitments. Last summer, I had accompanied my parents to visit the very girl they had been supporting for the past decade, and it really opened a part of my heart towards reaching out and help the Foundation and the neighborhood.

In January 2017, I volunteered to help out at Horizon Lanka as I was in Sri Lanka for a short time. I was looking forward to the whole experience, as it would be my first insight into village life. The first day that I arrived at Horizon Lanka, everyone was very hospitable towards me and my family. The kids were a little shy at first, but so was I. However, the following days brought us all closer together. I guess the fact that I was Sri Lankan made it a little easier for the kids, as they seemed a little shy to communicate in English all the time with the foreign volunteers. During my time at Horizon, I was staying at Nanda’s home, which is right next to the school. Living conditions were simple and comfortable, with all the basic amenities such as showers, toilet etc. The town is very small and quiet; having been used to the ‘big city life’, the quietness and calmness seemed like something I would have to get used to. However, the incredible warmth and friendliness of almost all the residents in the area made it a lot easier. They are used to all the foreign volunteers coming over, and seem to appreciate their support for the village as a whole.

Classes were held every day, and there was a schedule with different subjects taught on different days. During my time there, class subjects seemed to be more of a ‘on the spot’ decision rather than schedule-based. This was understandable as there were several events that were affecting the regular attendance of students; few of them being drought season and preparation for school sports meet. There had been days when a few or even no students show up during the evenings, and so there would be no classes held; the students would be more interested in listening to music on the computer, etc. However, when a class would actually take place, you can easily tell that the students are very eager to learn about computer skills, movies and English. It is truly amazing to see how kids can be from less developed areas have better computer skills than kids from big cities! The kids are receiving something that the Sri Lankan education system fails to teach; modern society values and being aware of current global issues.

From this experience, I feel I’ve received more than what I gave. The kids at Horizon have an opportunity to be leaders of our society, and as a fellow Sri Lankan, I couldn’t be more proud.  Although there were a few hiccups during my stay, Nanda and Wasantha took great care of me, and their dedication towards this project over the years has been nothing short of incredible. The Horizon Lanka family will always be in my heart, and will try to support it in whatever way I can.” Tharaka Kahaduwa – Sri Lanka

Wasantha Kahaduwa with Horizon Lanka students
Tharaka Kahaduwa with Horizon Lanka students
Wasantha Kahaduwa with Horizon Lanka students
Tharaka Kahaduwa with Horizon Lanka students
Wasantha Kahaduwa with Horizon Lanka students
Tharaka Kahaduwa with Horizon Lanka students
Wasantha Kahaduwa with his relatives and Horizon Lanka students
Tharaka Kahaduwa with his relatives and Horizon Lanka students
Wasantha Kahaduwa with his parents
Tharaka Kahaduwa with his parents
Wasantha Kahaduwa with his parents
Tharaka Kahaduwa with his parents
Wasantha Kahaduwa with his parents and Horizon Lanka students
Tharaka Kahaduwa with his parents and Horizon Lanka students

Horizon Lanka Annual Prize Giving 2016

nanda News ,
Horizon Lanka Annual Prize Giving 2016

Horizon Lanka Foundation is going to reward the students who excelled in 2016 at Horizon Lanka Academy. We thought of rewarding the students with only books this time as part of our campaign to encourage the students to read more. We want you to help us by sponsoring the books. We can buy the books from www.books.lk and you can pay them with your credit card or by depositing money in their bank account.

Please use the following info when you order books. They will deliver the books to our doorstep. The list of books and their prices given below the telephone numbers.

 

Nanda Wanninayaka

Horizon Lanka Foundation

No 125, Left Bank

Mahawilachchiya

Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka

50022

 

Mobile 01 Local: 077-7702678

Mobile 01 IDD : 0094-77-7702678

 

Mobile 02 Local: 071-8508537

Mobile 02 IDD: 0094-71-8508537

This is the list of books.

Horizon Lanka Annual Prize Giving 2016

  1. The Best Junior Student
  • Pinocchio http://books.lk/product.php?productid=45497&cat=256&page=2 900 LKR (6 USD)
  • My First 1000 Words http://books.lk/product.php?productid=54180&cat=334&page=1  1120 LKR (7.6 USD)
  • http://books.lk/product.php?productid=43415&cat=256&page=1 Lion King 1400 LKR (9.5 USD)
  1. Best post on Horizon Lanka website
  • HARRY POTTER & THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE (book 1) http://books.lk/product.php?productid=16532&page=1 1600 LKR (10.8 USD)
  • The Iliad for boys and girls by Alfred John Church https://www.amazon.ca/Iliad-Boys-Girls-Alfred-Church/dp/1617203998 13.99 USD Sponsored
  • Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Frank-Diary-Young-Girl/dp/0553296981 5.00 USD – Sponsored
  1. The Best Presenter
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) http://books.lk/product.php?productid=2443&page=1 1900 LKR (12.8 USD)
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid 1 http://books.lk/product.php?productid=45129&cat=769&page=7 1300 LKR (8.8 USD)
  • Aesop’s Fables http://books.lk/product.php?productid=54241&cat=256&page=1 750 LKR (5 USD)
  1. The Best Singer
  1. The Best Dancer
  1. The Best Sportsperson
  1. The Best Graphic Designer
  1. The Best Video Editor
  1. The Best Video Editor
  1. The Best Environmental Concerned Student
  1. The Best Overall Performing Student of the Year

TOTAL = 252.5 USD

54. Carina Buchegger – Austria

nanda Volunteers , , ,
Carina Buchegger - Austria

Carina Buchegger - Austria

Miss Carina Buchegger from Austria is the first volunteer at Horizon Lanka for 2017.

Carina Bucheggerteaching computers.
Carina Bucheggerteaching computers.
Miss Carina Buchegger teaching English to the Horizon Lanka students.
Miss Carina Buchegger teaching English to the Horizon Lanka students.
Miss Carina Buchegger teaching English to the Horizon Lanka students.
Miss Carina Buchegger teaching English to the Horizon Lanka students.
Miss Carina Buchegger teaching English to the Horizon Lanka students.
Miss Carina Buchegger teaching English to the Horizon Lanka students.
Saying goodbye
Saying goodbye
Saying goodbye
Saying goodbye
Saying goodbye
Saying goodbye

Horizon Lanka Sanitary and Environmental Club

nanda News
Horizon Lanka Sanitary and Environmental Club

The Sanitary and Environmental club Meeting of Horizon Lanka Foundation was held on Sunday, 1st January, 2017 at 10.30 am at Horizon Lanka Foundation, 125, Left Bank, Mahawilachchiya to achieve the goals of keeping the institution and the village clean and sanitary.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING

  1. Saduni Kaushika Jayathilka was appointed the president and she was proposed by Kavidu Madhushankha Gunapala and seconded by Nimanditha Thathsarani Dissanayaka.
  2. Thrushika Sujani was appointed the secretary and she was Proposed by Gihan Buddhika Wijerathna and seconded by Tharani Madhara Rathnayaka.
  3. Kavindu Madhushanka Gunapala was appointed the vise president and proposed by Tharani Madhara Rathnayaka and seconded by Ashen Chandoopa Wijewikrama.
  4. Ashen Chandoopa Wijewikrama was appointed the deputy secretary and Proposed by Sanduni Kaushika Jayathilaka and seconded by Tharushika Sujani Rathnayaka.
  5. Tharani Madhara Rathnayaka was appointed the Treasure and Proposed by Pramodhya Umayangani and seconded by Heshani Viranga Koswaththa.
  6. Following students were appointed as committee members.
  • Nimanditha Thathsarani Disanayaka.
  • Probodha Sandeepani Kalaotuwawa
  • Surendra Heshan Karunathilaka
  • Gihan Buddhika Wijewikrama
  • Nimesh Chamida Disanayaka

The meeting will be held on the first Sunday of every month.

Activities: –

  • Keeping Horizon Lanka Clean
  • Cleaning Sadasarna Reservoir ( already done )
  • Cleaning the playground
At the sanitary club meeting
At the sanitary club meeting
At the sanitary club meeting
At the sanitary club meeting
At the sanitary club meeting
At the sanitary club meeting

Making Mahawilachchiya the Cleanest Village in Sri Lanka – 1

nanda Mahawilachchiya, News , ,
Cleaning the Sadasarana Reservoir

Cleaning the Sadasarana ReservoirWe at Horizon Lanka embarked on a project to make Mahawilachchiya the Cleanest Village in Sri Lanka. As the first step to that, we made Horizon Lanka and the adjoining area clean by ourselves. We do it every day. We cleaned the road from Horizon Lanka to the playground also clean by picking up polythene and plastic stuff.

We started removing water hyacinth (ජපන් ජබර – Japan Jabara – Eichhornia crassipes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eichhornia_crassipes) from the small reservoir we bath in the village. This aquatic plant grows very fast in the lakes and makes them shallow. We expected the government or the adults in the village to remove this troublesome plant but it was not to be. So, we spent two hours each on December 30, and 31, 2016 and got together with our teachers and removed the plant from a sizeable area in the water. We will do this every Saturday and see that the whole reservoir is free of the plant.

Our next attempt is to encourage the villagers not to litter soap wrappers, empty shampoo packets, etc. in the reservoir. We need to make our village the cleanest village in Sri Lanka.

Before cleaning
Before cleaning
Cleaning the reservoir
Cleaning the reservoir
Cleaning the reservoir
Cleaning the reservoir

Before cleaning
Before cleaning
Cleaning the reservoir
Cleaning the reservoir
Cleaning the reservoir
Cleaning the reservoir
Cleaning the reservoir
Cleaning the reservoir
After cleaning a part of the reservoir
After cleaning a part of the reservoir
After cleaning a part of the reservoir
After cleaning a part of the reservoir