Yorkshire school - KSV Sri Lanka

On the 26th December 2004 the worst natural disaster ever recorded hit South East Asia. An earthquake triggered a tsunami, which caused untold damage throughout the region.

In Sri Lanka approximately 40,000 people died, and 6,300 are still missing. Between 400,000 and 800,000 people were displaced, and they are now living in tents or temporary accommodation.

In the coastal areas of Sri Lanka 168 schools were destroyed or damaged by the tsunami; Rotary Sri Lanka have offered to re-build 25 of these schools. The project is administered by the Apex committee, which is a partnership between Rotary, the Ministry of Education, and major sponsor Standard Charter Bank. UNICEF will be funding all furniture for the schools and the libraries are to be funded by ‘Room to Read USA.’

Temporary schools are in use at present, mainly in the form of aluminium frames with only a metal or plastic roof. The Sri Lankan Government has allocated land for new schools, and estimates of the building costs have been produced. Apex proposes to replace schools to an enhanced standard: they will be built of brick and concrete, with two storeys,

The Rotary District 1040 (Yorkshire) International Committee agreed to support Rotary Sri Lanka and help raise funds to rebuild Kaliwachikudy Sarasuathy Vidyalaya (KSV) Primary and Secondary School in Batticaloa, at a cost of £200,000. The school will cater for 304 pupils, have17 teachers and teach from grade 1 to 10 (o-level). 

100% of the donations made through the committee will be used to rebuild a school, as the money will be transferred from the Yorkshire Rotary clubs directly to the Standard Charter Bank school account.

The new school will be designated the Yorkshire School and classrooms will be named after Yorkshire towns.

All Yorkshire clubs have contributed to this rebuild and ongoing maintenance.