http://www.slfound.org Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:51:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en It’s our 4th and final week here and it’s time to sum up the trip while on the road to the airport. It’s surreal to think of heading home to a country that has been caught up in its own hurricane catastrophe now going for several weeks. Personally, both ... http://www.slfound.org/2007/01/22/end-note/ The Child & Youth Center in Hambantota. Over 300 children drop in for help with school work, instruction, sports, socializing and computer use. http://www.slfound.org/2007/01/22/a-picture-tour-of-our-final-days/ After an 11 year run, a new Sri Lankan President will be elected November 17 of this year. The effect on NGO’s (Non Governmental Organizations) and the enormous aid promised to the island from the outside world, 3.4 billion, hangs in the balance on which of the two ... http://www.slfound.org/2007/01/22/politics-and-the-community-center/ Caught some news on the US this morning about hurricane Rita rolling in towards Florida, and possibly Louisiana. After Katrina's wake, it seems unimaginable that another hurricane is looming. Eric Klein's organization, CAN-DO (www.can-do.org), is working in New Orleans and keeps his website updated on his teams ... http://www.slfound.org/2007/01/22/quick-update/ We are on the Southeast tip of the island staying 2 nights in Tissamaharama. Our work with Rebuilding Communities International (RCI) may have found a home here, as we found a Buddhist monk willing to donate enough land to put up a community center in a small town ... http://www.slfound.org/2007/01/22/still-at-it/ When talking to people on the ground in Sri Lanka who work as part of the relief effort, you are confronted by a wide diversity of opinions on how best to help. Some say build houses, some say buy affected families necessities, some say do no more ... http://www.slfound.org/2007/01/22/at-work/ We have been here for 9 days now. Every day in Sri Lanka brings a more acute perception of the finer points and rougher edges of the country, culture and the collective experience of the people here. There are people from all walks of life suffering from the Tsunami ... http://www.slfound.org/2007/01/22/reflections/ gotta run...internet connection is slow, but check out the new photos. Be sure to clear out your old files for the new photos to appear (go to your browser menu, select 'Tools', then 'Internet Options', and click the 'delete files' button). http://www.slfound.org/2007/01/22/new-photos-added-to-gallery/ Some photos to help tell the story today… The typical coastal view from the road http://www.slfound.org/2007/01/22/the-road-to-galle/ Yesterday was a whirlwind meeting tour starting with the World Conservation Union, The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, and with an old friend who just now happens to be a National Director for OXFAM. Meetings were setup to make contacts & identify projects in tsunami ... http://www.slfound.org/2007/01/22/preparing-for-our-trip-south/