ON THIS PAGE: Smile Centre  /   Prison work  /  Step Out teams  /  New Roof for Nilanthi  /  Archive Reports  /  Map Sri Lanka

Smile has been working in Sri Lanka since the 2004 tsunami. In the immediate aftermath Smile sent a 40-ton truckload of humanitarian aid, toys and shoeboxes by air and a further seven sea containers of aid which were distributed to affected communities in Tangalle, Hambantota, Batticaloa and Jaffna. Working with local church leaders we sent out a medical team and began to help the local communities to recover. Our Step Out teams helped to clear rubble and erect emergency tents. We bought new fishing boats for men who had lost their livelihood. We also sponsored a counsellor to help to train 25 teachers in trauma counselling to help children to overcome their bereavement and fear of the sea.

We are working to enable people to provide for themselves, as well as providing ongoing care for orphans, widows and those without support:

• TEAMS Sending out Smile Step Out teams to work with children and families

• TWINNING Smile would like to set up school twinning arrangements and if you are interested in this, please contact the Smile office.

• SPONSOR A PASTOR Please see our separate Sponsor A Pastor page

     
Supplies for school – aid for families – new lagoon boats – water purifiers

SMILE CENTRE

We have established a Smile Centre in Sri Lanka where we care for those affected by the 2004 tsunami, with food, health care, education/job skills and child and widow sponsorship. We now care for 186 children daily. The Centre facilities are also available for conferences, church leaders' meetings, retreats/sabbaticals and conferences, or youth/children's camps. We can accommodate up to 200 people at a daytime meeting. Please download the leaflet for details.

Smile Centre Sri Lanka Leaflet PDF (915 KB)

    
The Centre – Playground – Assembly in the new classroom block

The Smile Centre has been up and running since September 2006 and is being used for:

• Pre-school

• After-school care

• Vocational training

• Micro-financing projects

• Team accommodation

Widows come in twice a week to learn sewing skills and produce items for sale. At present they are making up school uniforms to enable poor children to enter mainstream education, as all schools in Sri Lanka require the children to wear uniforms.

   
Preschool – Feeding – After School Care for older children

 
Skills training and income generation: widows doing basket-weaving at the Smile Centre

Smile has also been working in Tangalle Prison where prisoners can be held on remand for up to seven years – often with their children. We have provided sewing machines so that women prisoners can make clothes for their families. We also provided a fridge, a television, paint to redecorate the medical wing and distributed food parcels to prisoners’ families in Tangalle and Hambantota.

We were asked by the prison Governor to build a Christian chapel in the prison where the prisoners can go to pray, and to help prisoners to learn English. We provided a brick-making press to provide employment for the men, who have now built and completed the chapel, which is in the centre of the compound.

We thank the Lord for this opportunity to demonstrate His love and care to the prisoners and their families.

    
Sewing machine, TV and fridge donated in 2006 – Team member Ann Dodds presenting aid items to Governor in May 2008 – Smile Lanka Director Ronali da Silva presenting books to the Governor of Wirawila Open Prison in March 2009
 

  
Clive presenting brick making machine to prison Governor – Presentation of Cross for chapel – Priests, prison officials and Smile team members at the Dedication and opening of the chapel in August 2008

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

STEP OUT TEAMS

If you would like to join one of our Step Out teams to Sri Lanka, please contact the Smile office for an application form – see Step OutTrips page for dates and costs. Please ensure that your immunisations for travel to this area (cholera, malaria, etc) are up to date – we recommend that you check with your doctor what is required.

 
Team ministering in church - Sarah, who is partially sighted, and Smile Trustee Graham Garner with the children

Murals on the new classroom block painted by one of the Smile team members – a beautiful enhancement to the children's environment

NEW ROOF FOR NILANTHI

Nilanthi and her children live in Hambantota and their old palm branch roof used to leak terribly, particularly during the monsoon, leaving their house damp, cold and wet. Smile has replaced the palm branches with metal corrugated sheets and this makes the house waterproof and dry. Nilanthi and her family say a very big ‘Thank you’ to Smile and its supporters for their new roof. We thank the Lord for his faithfulness in caring for those in need through those who are obedient to His call for their involvement in His work.