Annual report Medi-Aid Holland Sri Lanka

Introduction

The Medi-Aid Foundation reflects on the past year, in which our projects have experienced significant delays, partly caused by external factors such as political unrest and COVID-19 in previous years. Fundraising for our projects is also lagging behind. We hope that the political situation in Sri Lanka will further stabilize, so that our initiatives can be further developed in 2025. Despite these challenges, we have still managed to achieve some goals. In particular, the continuity of the school for children with disabilities has caused us a lot of concern in 2023. However, as you can read, a lot of hard work has been done in Sri Lanka in the past year to safeguard and further develop the content and organization of this school. A new element in this annual report is that the chairman of Medi-Aid Netherlands has invited two visitors to document their findings during the visit to our projects. This report is included as appendix 2 in the annual report. In addition, in the context of transparency, various documents have been added as appendices in addition to the results report.

Berry

June 10, 2024 

Confused, full of disbelief, sadness, unreality and injustice, we learned of the unexpected death of our colleague/former board member of Medi-Aid Berry Verkuil. Berry was only 43 years old, full of zest for life and so proud of his daughters. We wish his family and relatives all the strength and power they need to process this enormous loss.

Projects:

b) Special Need Unit

The Special Needs Unit (SNU) project was completed in 2023, but not closed. During the visit of Medi Aid Board members in January/February 2024 to evaluate the project and the state of affairs, it was concluded with a positive result. After this evaluation, it was decided to further specify the collaboration by recording agreements in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In this MOU, tasks and responsibilities were formalized and signed by both parties. This MOU is attached to this annual report as appendix 4. During the visit, it was discussed which initiatives are possible for the future. There is a need for support for teachers with regard to knowledge and skills around the target group. In addition, it was noted that there are more children who have a specific need for support. In collaboration between Medi Aid Lanka and STIC, through the steering group established in 2024 (see MOU), it was decided to make the SNU more widely available. In addition, a plan from the Dutch board to increase the knowledge expansion of teachers around the target groups was received and accepted. This plan concerns the introduction and development of Remedial Teaching. Both plans are added as appendices 3 and 5

b) St Anne Elderly Home Kelanya

During our annual visit to St. Anne, where Medi Aid has contributed a lot to education, support and furnishing of the accommodation, we found that the maintenance, hygiene and quality of care provided are of a good standard. However, there is still much work to be done. The absence of the Mother Superior made the consultation on the questions to be formulated more challenging. There is a need for further development in the area of ​​self-sufficiency and financing. St. Anne has an orphanage close to the nursing home, mainly for girls. These girls help with the care, preparing meals and cleaning from a certain age. Compared to our previous visit, the good state of maintenance of our materials was particularly noticeable.

c) St Joseph Elderly home Jaffna

A few years ago we visited this project. Medi Aid supplied beds, linen, mosquito nets, and financed painting and maintenance. We were pleasantly surprised by the developments: new construction was carried out and our beds were provided. The maintenance was excellent, partly due to the new construction. There is a need for financial or material support for the purchase of six high-low beds.

d) A Medi-Aid resuscitation doll is used in training in Sri Lanka

The resuscitation doll, also known as ‘Annie’, was donated by the Ameide and Tienhoven First Aid Association.

The doll now plays a crucial role in Sri Lanka. ‘Annie’ is used for first aid and CPR training across the island. The locally based trainer, a nurse who also works in the ambulance and recently lost her husband, is able to earn a living by delivering these essential training programmes, while helping different target groups gain the skills they need to save lives. The training is aimed at carers, nurses, yoga instructors, surf instructors and any individual or organisation that needs first aid and CPR skills. This initiative illustrates how small-scale projects can have a significant impact and deliver quick and beneficial results without the need for additional funding.

e) Floods in Sri Lanka

Floods in the districts of Jaffna, Kalutara, Rathnapura, Gampaha and Ampara. Many people were forced to leave their homes or their livelihoods are threatened by the natural disaster. Medi-Aid was able to collect an amount of 575 Euro and made it available to victims. Of course, our local government arranged for this to go to the right place. Collaboration with other foundations and organisations In 2024, the collaboration with the Sri Lanka Table was continued, as were the contacts with other foundations such as Wilde Ganzen. In addition, membership of PARTIN was actively used, using their available facilities such as the annual accounts module and online meetings. The results of the collaboration with Universities of Applied Sciences will be included in the final report in the plans for St Anne and STIC, with the hope that the initiatives taken can be realised in 2025. The membership of CBF was also continued, as was the membership of ID, in order to obtain the certificate of good conduct. Marketing and communication In previous years, the board has decided, based on new insights, to reconsider the planned marketing and communication activities. For example, the focus will no longer be on printed material, but more on digital communication. Medi Aid has created its own LinkedIn profile for this purpose, which now has more than 450 followers and is also active on Facebook. Medi Aid also has its own website, which is visited by an increasing number of people in the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.

Internal organization Ambassadors Medi-Aid has had ambassadors since 2018, in addition to boards in the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. However, a plan for the role and deployment of ambassadors has been postponed until the 2024 activity plan. By appointing a new ambassador as a board member in 2021, we hope to pick this up in 2025. This board member moved to Sri Lanka in early 2023, which is beneficial for cooperation with the local government and further accreditation. Results of the work plan Is attached to this report as appendix

1 Board At the end of the reporting year 2024, the board of Medi-Aid Holland consisted of the following persons:

Martin Joziasse - chairman

Carla van den Heuvel - acting secretary

Michiel Los - treasurer

Gisela Pel - board member

Heidi Rath - education

Rohan Heittiarachchi - contacts Sri Lanka and medical affairs

Paul Schoone - board member without portfolio/ambassador

Bestuur Sri Lanka:

Wimal Karunaratna - chairman

Milton Fernando - board member

Anton Tissera - board member

Ranil Wickckramasinghe - board member

Appendix 2 Memorandum To: the Board of Medi Aid Holland Sri Lanka Regarding report on visits to Medi Aid projects Date: February 2025 After years of listening to all kinds of wonderful stories and experiences, this year it was finally time for us to experience all the beauty and goodness of Sri Lanka. During the three weeks that we were guests in Sri Lanka, we also visited several projects at the request of Medi Aid, where our vision was asked regarding the developments. St. Thomas’ Catholic International College – Seeduwa What a beautiful college this is. A rare beautiful pearl in the relatively busy area (of Seeduwa/Negombo/Colombo). The college is equipped with all amenities and a huge number of students go to work here every day with full energy to get the best out of themselves. We were able to visit the complex on several days. It is impressive to see that the school building for disabled children (completed Medi-Aid project in 2022) is used so well, but especially that it has been given a prominent place on the entire college grounds. The building is literally next to both the sports hall, the swimming pool and the athletics track. In our eyes, these children are ‘really part of it’ in this way.

We have seen that all classrooms use the collected furniture and that the quality of education and (educational/sports) guidance is very high. It was fantastic to do some sports together with various children in a relaxed way. For example, we were politely 'challenged' to play a game of badminton, but also to do a running competition on the athletics track. A unique experience. It was great to see that there was also a specific place for the children of the SNU at the award ceremony!!

Later in our holiday period we were also allowed to attend the annual sports day. Hundreds of children who showed the best of themselves in various sports, but also in self-made constructions in which they asked attention for our environment. Everyone present had a wonderful sporty and exciting day! Definitely a highlight of our trip!

The visit to St. Anne was no less impressive. Various sisters and interns take care of the elderly here day and night, who have a beautiful place to grow old in good care. Here too, all the collected furniture and medical aids, including walkers and wheelchairs, have been very well received. St'Joseph's Home For Elders - Jaffna In the second half of our trip we were also able to make a small tour through the north of Sri Lanka. As a result, a visit to St'Joseph's Home For Elders in Jaffna could not be skipped. Here too, deep respect for the extremely good care of all residents by the sisters and interns.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipis cin elit. Nunc purus libero, interdum sed blandit acp retium facilisis turpis. Donec dictum neque veloran tristique egestas nulla mollis dui lorem dolor. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipis cin elit. Nunc purus libero, interdum sed blandit acp retium facilisis turpis. Donec dictum neque veloran tristique egestas nulla mollis dui lorem dolor. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipis cin elit. Nunc purus libero, interdum sed blandit acp retium facilisis turpis.

Personally, we hope that ‘the north of Sri Lanka’ will receive more attention from both the government and visitors to the country, but also from charities, as there is still a lot of work to be done there. What we have seen of the work of Medi-Aid there has certainly been very desirable, but help is still needed! For example, there is a wish for manually adjustable beds. Electric beds seemed easier to us, but they are more maintenance-sensitive. That is why manually adjustable beds are the best solution here! The local contacts know very well what is needed! To neatly round off a beautiful story: we have really enjoyed our trip through this beautiful country and the visit to the above projects. We hope to be able to visit Sri Lanka more often in the future, as the country, but especially the people, are in our hearts! Sri Lanka, oyāṭa stūtiy! Jessica and Patrick Lansink

Click here for attachment 3