The newly rebuilt Kalawanchikudy Saraswathy and Thambaddai Schools were ceremonially opened recently to herald the dawn of a new era for the lucky students of these tsunami affected schools.

Rotary Sri Lanka, through its “Schools Re-awaken” project is rebuilding 25 schools across the country which were destroyed by the tsunami of December 2004 in an USD 16M programme which will send 15,000 children back to new model schools.

With a view to turning the tragedy into an opportunity, Rotary Sri Lanka together with its main partner the Standard Chartered Bank, is rebuilding bigger and better schools with all modern facilities.

From now on, more than 700 students from the two schools will be able to continue their education in band new school buildings, secure classrooms, fully equipped Computer Centre, a well stocked library and playgrounds for sports and recreation.

Representatives of Rotary International Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) and R.I. District 1040 the sponsors of the two schools traveled down to Sri Lanka to participate in the opening ceremonies of the schools.’

KSV ‘Yorkshire School’ opens in Sri Lanka
The Rotarians of District 1040 (Yorkshire) were among the first groups who came forward to sponsor our schools The school allocated to them was the Kalawanchikudy Saraswathy Vidyalaya (KSV) which became fondly known as the local ‘Yorkshire’ school.

Ever since then they have forged a close bond with the Rotarians of Sri Lanka and have been in constant touch with the Apex Committee, the school authorities and the lead club. Their teams have also visited Sri Lanka previously to observe first hand the progress of the school reconstruction and to meet with the Principal, staff and students of the school.

“Today is a proud day for us as it sees the fruition of a long cherished dream for the students of KSV and for us in District 1040”, said DGN Emyr Lloyd-Davies Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the new school.

Lloyd-Davies endeared himself to the students of the school by wearing their school emblem on his shirt for the special occasion. “I am also one of you” he said to rousing applause from the students.

Joining Lloyd-Davies and his wife for the historic occasion were colleagues Ian Carling and wife, Tony Jordan, and others.

Thambaddai rises in splendour from the ruins of destruction
The images of the debris of the Thambaddai School linger as stark reminders of the devastation of the tsunami.

A badly damaged blackboard clinging onto the only remaining piece of wall of the school still intact was the only sign that the tangled pieces of concrete, bricks and metal was once a school. The school also lost six of its students too in the tragedy.

Founded way back in 1923 with just 25 students and two teachers, the Thambaddai school had grown to a fully fledged primary and secondary school with nearly 350 students in classes from Grades 1-10 and a teaching cadre of 12, when tragedy struck.

The construction posed many challenges to the Apex Committee and the lead club as the school was located in a difficult area. The reluctance of staff to work in the area and the scarcity of most raw materials caused added problems.

The new Thambaddai School rises in splendour from the ruins of that dark day as a symbol of the resilient spirit in the whole village. Indeed the entire village was present to greet the sponsors and Rotarians of Sri Lanka at the opening ceremony.

“RIBI is pleased to have been a part of this great project and we commend your work and your transparency and accountability” said Guest of Honour PDG Ian Rule who also urged the students to make best use of the new school and its modern facilities.

The end of the formal ceremony was then signaled in novel style with the ringing of the brand new school bell by the Guest of Honour.