Projects
The Ilukpitiya Primary School is a government funded school.
The funding is for teacher salaries, school uniforms and curriculum text books.
Anything extra such as building maintenance and repairs, sports equipment, teaching aids, excursion fees and even toilet blocks, although supported at times by the government when funds allow, are subsidized by the parents. As this is a rural area there usually aren't a lot of extra funds available from the families and so the school has to rely on donations.
This is where you can help.
Listed below are the projects so far identified by the school and this part of the web page has been set up to let you know just what is needed.
Perhaps you would like to donate for a specific project or just donate to a general fund so that we can allocate the money to what is urgently needed?
We've estimated the cost of each project and described what we need to do for the school. We'll post the status of each project and photos as they are being done.
If you would like to be a part of helping the school with either a one-off donation or maybe even a recurring donation then please send us an email by clicking on the Contact button at the top of the page.
We're happy to provide you with a couple of references in Australia to talk to before you donate.
We'll then reply with the bank details and how it works.
Who we are
Thushara Gamage is a former pupil of the school.
Stephen Gapes is an Australian living in Sri Lanka.
What we'll do
For Sri Lankans, Thushara Gamage has set up a special bank account to receive rupees.
For Australians, Stephen Gapes has set up a special bank account in Australia to receive funds in Australian $'s.
Of course, if you are in another country and would like to donate we will facilitate that.
How it works
The Australian $'s will be transferred to the Sri Lankan account as rupees using OFX money transfer.
This gives a much better exchange rate than the banks and there are no fees. The money is transferred through the Bank of America and is recorded by the Sri Lankan Central Bank for transparency.
If transferring through an Australian bank the money can take up to a week or more to reach the Sri Lankan bank account. With OFX it's 2 days at the most.
And to recognize you, we've set up a 'Friends of Ilukpitiya Primary School' page.
We'd like to acknowledge your help and if you agree we'll add your photo and a short biography.
You will then become a friend of Ilukpitiya Primary School.
Please think about holidaying in Sri Lanka and we'll organize a visit to the school for you.
PROJECT 1 * urgent *
Amplifier/mixer, loudspeaker set,
2 speakers, microphone
Cost of Project Status PENDING
There is no current facility to communicate with classrooms and children in the playround. As well a system is needed for school activities such as sports and events outside and in the assembly hall.
IMG_4586
PROJECT 2 * urgent *
Walls around hill sides
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The school sits on a small hill and during heavy rain the hillsides wash away with mudslides. This means that the area the school occupies becomes smaller. By installing rock and concrete walls (a usual method in Sri Lanka) the slides won't keep happening and the school stays safe.
PROJECT 3 * urgent *
Road from main road to library
Cost of Project Status PENDING
There is paving from the main road to the school entrance and just inside the gate. The road is not wide and to get large vehicles and trucks to the school for deliveries and repairs is logistically difficult. As well, vehicles cannot go the areas they may be needed and so any materials and goods have to be offloaded and then carried. A difficult thing when there is no-one to do it or what needs to be carried is large and heavy.
PROJECT 4 * urgent *
Replace main assembly hall with 2 storey building
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The existing hall is used for events, exams, meetings, speech days, classes, etc.
It is too small to accommodate all the children especially when parents attend.
We want to entirely replace the hall with a multifunction 2 storey building.
The ground floor: assembly hall + stage + principal's office
2nd floor: 5 classrooms as there aren't enough classrooms now (meaning that some classes have to double up) + storage room
Note: the existing roof needs repairing and maybe we need to do that until we have enough funds to create a whole new building.
PROJECT 5 * urgent *
5 schoolroom storage cupboards
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The 5 classrooms don't have cupboards to store equipment and resources.
Neither do they have shelving nor pegs to hang clothes and bags.
Everything is stored on the floor and in corners which means they are subject to vermin and insects as well as dust and the heat.
Clothes and bags clutter the small classrooms and get dirty.
For this project they asked for cupboards but we want to add pegs/hooks and shelving.
PROJECT 6 * urgent *
Photocopy machine
Cost of Project Status PENDING
Some of us remember the old smelly gestetner machines.
Nowadays, photocopiers are sophisticated and can easily and cheaply prepare bulk single pages and booklets. Some will even act as scanners and can email.
In the 21st century, this is a 'must have' for a school.
A colour one would be great if cost allows although the cartridges are expensive (perhaps the general fund can pay for these at some stage?) but black and white will still be ok.
Likewise, maybe the general fund can be budgeted to supply paper.
PROJECT 7 * urgent *
5 whiteboards and 5 green boards
Cost of Project Status PENDING
Both types of boards are essential aids when teaching a class. They also allow the students to interact and facilitate lessons from day to day for continuity and refreshing.
Chalks and textas will need to come from the general fund.
PROJECT 8 * urgent *
Student desks and chairs
Cost of Project Status PENDING
As you can see the desks and chairs are old and force the children to share with not enough room for their books.
And don't the chairs look uncomfortable?
The school needs individual chairs and tables probably made of wood.
And they will need to be different sizes to accommodate the different ages from grades 1 to 11.
PROJECT 9 * urgent *
Musical instruments for school band
Cost of Project Status PENDING
Music is an important part of Sri Lankan life and the school wants to include this aspect to the children's education.
To begin with they will form a school band and so need trumpets, drums, bass, flutes and so on - both western and eastern instruments.
Music will extend to project 21 which is to build a multi-purpose room for music, dance and home science.
They just need the instruments to get started plus music stands.
PROJECT 10 * urgent *
Sports equipment
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The school has no sports equipment and has to borrow or hire these for the children. Naturally this means that what they can afford to hire is limited and with little around to borrow it means that not all children can participate fully in sports days.
Sport is a big deal to Sri Lankan children (shall we mention cricket?) and the school would like to purchase equipment for volleyball, netball, cricket,
javeline, discus, high jump, shotput, hurdles.
PROJECT 11
300 plastic chairs for functions
Cost of Project Status PENDING
Special school events are held in the small assembly hall, not only limited to how many can fit in but how many chairs the school currently has for the students, parents and teachers.
Overflow means standing outside and around the walls inside.
With about 160 pupils and 16 teachers, add to that the parents who also attend these events, the school needs about 300 chairs.
PROJECT 12
Student and staff toilet block
Cost of Project Status PENDING
These are the toilets for 160 children: 1 for boys and 1 for girls.
The one staff toilet is separate on the other side of the school. Visitors have to use the staff toilet.
They're all pretty basic but do have water plumbed to them and have been in use for most of the school's life.
It's time to upgrade them and put in more toilets to accommodate the number of children and staff.
PROJECT 13
A fence around the school
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The school is on a hill and set in a jungle. There are sweeping views to the valley and the mountains.
For security and to keep the children from wandering during play a fence is needed around the property.
This needs to be done after projects 2 & 3 are completed (the wall and the road).
We need to consult an engineer about this project to determine the best materials to use and siting the fence, given the terrain.
PROJECT 14
A science laboratory
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The laboratory could be incorporated into Project 4, the new assembly hall building, so this project could be for outfitting.
At the moment the science being taught is basic and theoretical due to the lack of resources.
The outfitting doesn't have to be for a research facility, just basic primary school education. We will consult the professionals about this.
PROJECT 15
A computer room
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The computer room could be incorporated into Project 4, the new assembly hall building, so this project could be for outfitting.
Computers, of course, are the main requirement and perhaps 20 would be enough.
It also means an internet connection, perhaps satellite, plus the monthly connection fees possibly from the general fund.
These kids are tech savvy but lack any resources to explore the world. Such a different environment from the rural mountain villages they live in.
PROJECT 16
Staff Room and Common Room
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The present staff room and separate common room are small without facilities to accommodate the 16 staff so far at the school.
There are no private desks where the teachers can prepare lessons and no storage facilities for teachings aids or personal items.
The common room also serves to entertain guests at the school and so has to remain clear most of the time.
The teachers have no 'quiet retreat' from the students and other staff.
PROJECT 17
Pave around buildings
Cost of Project Status PENDING
All the area around the school is dirt and in rainy weather this turns to mud.
There are no pathways and it is easy to slip going between the buildings.
Of course this means that dirt and mud is carried into the classrooms and other buildings.
Paving the areas reduces accidents and creates a cleaner environment.
PROJECT 18
Security guard room
Cost of Project Status PENDING
There is a guard at the front guard who checks vehicles and verifies people coming onto the school grounds.
He sits on a chair under the tree, in all kinds of weather which is normally hot and humid.
The school wants to build a modest, small guard room where he can be out of the weather and store his personal belongings as well as anything related to his job.
PROJECT 19
Ceilings for the 5 existing classrooms
Cost of Project Status PENDING
As you can see, the classrooms are modest and the rooves provide no insulation from the heat.
Being open like this invites insects and rodents to invade the rooms.
Dust is a real problem as well, dropping onto the room and the children.
The ceilings need to be installed for obvious reasons.
PROJECT 20
Library book racks
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The library has 2 glass fronted cupboards where books are stacked and not on display. As you can see the library is not setup up for the children to browse books. Nor are there tables where they can sit to read or do homework.
The atmosphere at present is not conducive to the students wanting to borrow books nor use them for research.
Shelving immediately invites them in as the books will be on display.
PROJECT 21
Multi-purpose room for music, dancing, home science
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The multi-purpose room could be incorporated into Project 4, the new assembly hall building, so this project could be for outfitting.
Music and dancing take place in the assembly hall which means that other activities (such as meetings) clash. You can imagine the noise factor not to forget the lack of concentration for the children.
Home science doesn't get a look in.
PROJECT 22
Repair electricity system
Cost of Project Status PENDING
The wiring needs replacing as does the cabling.
The wiring also need vermin-proofing.
The switches are original and need to be converted to an international socket standard as per the Sri Lankan government standards.
More sockets need to be installed.
PROJECT 23
Repair water system
Cost of Project Status PENDING
There are 5 taps in the grounds: 1 general purpose tap (leaking) and 4 drinking taps for the children. Water is connected to to 3 toilets and the staff common room.
There are 2 small holding water tanks for 160 children and 16 staff. These have to be filled by a tanker from the government pipeline in dry times.
We want to add guttering to all the buildings, install a large storage tank, install a pump to the holding tanks and plumb water to more yard taps. This storage would allow sprinkler systems to create grassy areas.