Vocational Training Ceremony at The Salvation Army Community Center in Hikkaduwa. The Community Capacity Development (CCD) department of the Tsunami Project, in partnership with Hikkaduwa Corps Officer Major Wijesiri and the National Christian Counsel (NCC), celebrated the grand opening of the English, Computer, and Sewing Classes on 5 March 2007. The ceremony was held at the Hikkaduwa TSA Community Center (below) --

-- where the weekly classes will take place. The projected number of participants for the first year of classes (at this site alone) is 75-80. (With implementation plans for similar trainings currently underway in 8 other communities.) The fact that these community members will now begin receiving skills-training to improve their livelihood capacities is indeed something to celebrate!

The festivities commenced with a traditional ceremonial parade, led by The Salvation Army Hikkaduwa Montessori Marching Band (see below).

Honored guests included Major Noel LaPena (Community Services Development Director) and Major Fernando (Field & Community Services Secretary), who attended on behalf of Territorial Headquarters.

Following the traditional lighting of the "oil lamp" (below), opening speeches (I say speechES, because there were 8 of them... this is not unusual... and it would be a false assumption to think that they are short.) were made by Major Wijesiri, Major LaPena, Major Fernando, Mr. Balasooriya of NCC, Christopher Needham (Tsunami Project Manager), Mindy Pierce (CCD Project Officer), and Mrs. Major Wijesiri (Community Director), and a representative of the community. Mark Edwards (CCD Coordinator) served as the translator for all speeches.

Formation of these classes has been a lengthy, involved process, requiring extensive coordination. Major Wijesiri recruited teachers, served as a liaison and publicist with the community, and planned the ceremony. Major also coordinated with NCC (who contributed a significant amount of funding to the start up of the computer class). The CCD department tracked down details and submitted documentation necessary for board approval and gathered quotations (purchasing protocol requires a minimum of two "legitimate" quotations for each item, which are then submitted to Boards and, if approved, the items can then be purchased). CCD then procured the equipment necessary to set up the classrooms (sewing machines, tables, benches, computer desks, chairs, white board, etc.); facilitated electrical work (fans, outlets, installed an AC); and printed and distributed publicity materials. CCD will continue to coordinate with Major on matters related to monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance, and sustainability of the programs.

By "lengthy process," that means the above steps for the sewing and computer classes have been 2 years in the making... thus the cutting of the ribbons was clearly no small matter.

The English classrom (below) will also double as the sewing classroom.

Below, group photo of some of the students and teachers:

Currently, efforts are underway in Kalutara and Galle to implement similar vocational training programs at a number of sites. “Relocation” communities in need of CCD programs and willing to partner with TSA have been selected; community conversations identifying desired programs and existing resources (and/or resource deficits) have taken place; volunteers and teachers are being recruited; and materials and classroom space are being procured. This is where it helps to have connections with the Construction department (AKA, my husband), we have communities that want/need a class, but have found it somewhat difficult to hold sewing and computer class under a tree (English classes are, of course, no problem). So, Adam plays an important part -- by allotting a certain portion of his budget, time, and resources to building community centers -- in providing classroom space for us.

At this point, our efforts in vocational training are limited to the southwest. We hope to focus on programming for the east coast in May/June, since we officially hired our Ampara (east coast) CCD Officer this week (yay! Another huge answer to prayer!).

Below, the ribbon thieves, running away with our cermonial ribbon.

And then, caught "red-handed" - I love the kid on the left, who's hiding the ribbon behind his back, with the "What?-I-don't-have-anything!" expression... yeah, nice try. Almost couldn't even see it - except for your friend who's holding it right out in front!... No respect for sacred ceremonies, I tell you. =)