During the rainy season, it is relatively cool and damp, which makes outdoor lessons unpleasant. To ensure that the children from this area can go to school in a regular manner, we started building the 3 classrooms for 40 pupils each in March 2021. Due to the pandemic measures and the shortage of cement and petrol, construction was repeatedly delayed. High inflation has significantly increased the construction costs. The extension was officially opened on December 20, 2022.
Haldummulla school extension and toilet facilities
Haldummulla is a small town in the Badulla district in the province of Uva and has a population of around 48,000. Various hygiene products such as soaps and disinfectants were financed and distributed as part of the “Corona aid” in 2021. The Vipulananda Tamil Maha Vidyalayam school can no longer cope. For this reason, the teachers often have to move their lessons outside. This school is attended by 620 children. Haldummulla is located on the southern slope of the Massif Central, which means it is affected by the east and west monsoons and therefore has many rainy days per year.
Our visit to Haldammulla school 2023
Although we are assured that only a very small ceremony will take place during our visit, we are greeted with a school band and many official speeches. The greetings and ceremonies are very important for the people, they are regarded as reverence and gratitude and are a welcome distraction from everyday life.
The school expansion has turned out great and has now space for 120 schoolchildren. The newly completed toilet building for girls is opened in our presence. We are very pleased – this toilet facility is very well done. In Sri Lanka, sanitary facilities like the ones we have built, are exceptional. It is extremely important to us that the girls have an opportunity to wash and change without being disturbed. (see small projects: WC facilities)