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| At DTF meeting |
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| Danish Rotarians get first hand experience of Rotary Sri Lanka’s humanitarian efforts |
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One of the most gratifying aspects of the aftermath of the Tsunami was the overwhelming and spontaneous generosity of fellow Rotarians from all corners of the world.
Even as Sri Lanka was still reeling from the horrors of the biggest ever natural disaster to strike the island, the offers of assistance began to pour in.
One of the first groups to offer their help was Rotary Denmark (www.rotary.dk) who contacted their Sri Lankan counterparts on the evening of the 26th December itself. Their call was immediately followed by a substantial cash donation to help Rotary Sri Lanka provide emergency relief supplies in all the affected areas across the country.
The Rotarians of Denmark had already been assisting Sri Lanka in other projects in the country including the clearing of mines in the North of Sri Lanka and so had already established ties with the Rotarians of Sri Lanka. They were thus able to move much faster and more confidently in their efforts of providing relief support.
A four-member delegation from Denmark is presently in Sri Lanka to see for themselves the scars of the devastation and join their fellow Rotarians from Sri Lanka in their challenging task of rebuilding 25 schools destroyed by the tsunami.
PDG Nils Jensen, DG Gunnar Pederson, PP Soren Havemann and their energetic mediaman Soren, have over the last few days, experienced the warm smiles and hospitality of a grateful organization to match the very warm weather that greeted their arrival from snow-bound Denmark.
Almost as soon as they had landed in the country, the team got down to business. They met with the Senior Rotarians of the country and the Apex Committee which has overall responsibility for the Schools Re-Awakening Project. They then joined a meeting of the Disaster Task Force of the country to experience the cohesive working of Rotary.
Rotary Denmark has kindly agreed to undertake the sponsorship of three of the 25 schools that are being rebuilt by Rotary Sri Lanka. Kudaththanai Karaiyoor in Jaffna, Thamaraivil Al-Rawla in Trincomalee and Kaluwanchikudy Saraswathy Vidyalaya in Batticaloa were selected jointly by the Apex Committee and the visiting team.
In the next few days, the visitors will travel to Trincomalee, Jaffna and Batticaloa with the local Rotary teams to witness the initial work in progress.
It is sincerely hoped that the team members will all return to Sri Lanka in December with perhaps more of their colleagues, to participate in the formal handing over of the newly constructed schools back to the Ministry of Education.
Thank you Rotary Denmark – your generosity will long be remembered by a grateful nation.
Visit the website of Rotary Denmark: www.rotary.dk |
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