PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STUDENT SPONSORSHIP SCHEME (SSS)

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1 Issued by the Association for Social Development (ASD) registered as a non-profit earning company under the Companies Act No. 17 of (Reg.No.GA 606). January/March 2016 No.35A, 2 nd Lane, Koswatta Road, Nawala, Rajagiriya Tel : , , e mail : asd.95uk@gmail.com, Visit online: PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STUDENT SPONSORSHIP SCHEME (SSS) The Board of Management, with its experience of having implemented the Student Sponsorship Scheme for two years in Padavi Sripura and examining the manner and extent to which the targeted students made use of the opportunity and benefited from the scheme, has decided to make certain changes to the scheme in order to widen the scope and to provide benefits offered by the scheme to a larger number of deserving students and make it much more beneficial and result-oriented. The proposed changes were communicated to the donors and their views obtained. Almost all the donors had no difficulty in accepting the proposed changes. Hence the Board reaffirmed its earlier decision and decided at its meeting held on 30 th March to go ahead with the proposed changes and to implement the new scheme from April The Revised Scheme Instead of awarding Rs. 15,000 annually across the board to all students without considering their school-grades, the awardees will be categorized as follows for receiving scholarships: A. Grades One to Four Rs. 6, per annum. B. Grades Five to Eight Rs. 9, per annum. C. Grades Nine to Thirteen Rs. 12, per annum. One significant observation made on the existing scheme was whether the beneficiaries used the scholarship funds for education-related activities and their degree of seriousness or enthusiasm shown in using these funds provided by donors on humanitarian grounds. On the other hand it was also felt that a degree of flexibility be adopted in the criteria for use of funds considering that students and their families are subject to abject poverty and poverty-related issues particularly because the families face numerous economic, health and other social problems resulting from Chronic Kidney Disease. It was observed in general that the academic performance of beneficiaries was rather disheartening which made it imperative that additional measures be taken to encourage improvement of performance by beneficiaries.

2 In striking a balance between these two compulsions it was decided to award funds on a weightage attached to a particular group of students as given above and allocate the net savings to grant scholarships to students of families not affected by Chronic Kidney Disease but are having other similar or worse economic problems and to those who have proved promising in studies. In addition the Board also approved a proposal to conduct extra classes for the students sitting for the Grade 5 Scholarship and the Ordinary Level Examinations. By making these changes the Board is of the view that the valuable funds provided by the donors could be better utilized and be made result-oriented to a reasonably satisfactory level. The understanding and the support extended by the donors for the implementation of the new SSS is very much appreciated by the Board of Management. RAISING OF FUNDS FOR ASD PROJECTS THROUGH CROWD FUNDING WEBSITES It was decided by the Board of Management to seek the cooperation of two Crowd Funding websites for raising funds for projects implemented by ASD. ASD has also had discussions with Mr. Roshan Ranasinghe of Tribefunds to raise funds for its Tree Planting Project which was inaugurated in December 2015 in Padavi Sripura. An agreement has been reached to raise Rs. 85, initially through its crowd funding program for which no commission will be charged by this company. However depending on the success of this initial fund-raiser, the company will charge 5% commission for any further funds raised. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is expected to be entered into between the two parties in order to formalize the agreement. Mr. Dulan de Silva, former Chairman of Berendina Development Services (Gte) Ltd, has set up a Crowd Funding website called Give 2 Lanka (Gte) Ltd. to assist deserving sections of our society, particularly students from povertystricken families who have obtained good marks at the GCE O/Level. At the request of ASD, Rs. 600,000 being the cost of two medium size RO filters will be raised by Mr Dulan de Silva s crowd funding website, to supplement ASD s RO water filtering scheme.

3 PEOPLE TO PEOPLE (P2P) PROJECT In relation to P2P implemented in Vavuniya by ASD a Leadership Training Program was successfully conducted in February this year. Students belonging to the three main communities participated in the program which was intended to promote better understanding between/among the participants paving the way for creating a conducive environment for establishing lasting Peace and Reconciliation in the country. The students who attended this program were quite enthusiastic and it proved to be extremely successful and found suitable for replicating in other areas with further improvements. In this respect the contributions made by Mr. Kingsley Bernard, Director ASD, Prof. Theekshana Suraweera & Mr Gajanan all from Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) are highly appreciated. Leadership Training Program- Participating Schools Tamil Schools 1. Chettikulam MV 2. Hindu College 3. Ilankai Thiruchchabai Tamil MV 4. Nelunkulam Kalaimahal MV 5. Pavatkulam Ganeshwara MV 6. Periyakomarasankulam MV 7. Poonthoddam MV 8. Saivapragasa Maththiya Kalloori 9. Vavuniya Tamil Madhya MV 10. Veerapuram Manikavasagar MV 11. Vipulanantha College Muslim Schools 12. Al Ameen Muslim MV 13. Al hamriya MV 14. Vavuniya Muslim MV Sinhala School 15. Perakum MV Project Proposal on Peace and Reconciliation The Board of Management also decided to submit a project proposal to the US Embassy in the area of Peace and Reconciliation in response to their invitation for proposals to be considered for Grants by the US government. A committee headed by the Patron of ASD, Ambassador Wijayasiri, has been appointed to formulate a suitable project proposal in this respect. HOLDING OF HEALTH CAMPS The Board of Management of ASD in its programme of activities for 2016 decided to include the proposal to hold two medical clinics in May and October One of the Camps is to be held in Anuradhapura/Trincomalee Districts and the other in a disadvantaged area closer to Colombo. Members who are willing to assist these two health camps are kindly requested to get in touch with the Vice- Chairman of ASD, Rear Admiral Lakshman Obeysinghe (Phone ), and discuss any suggestions to be made and assistance that may be extended. Your active cooperation to make these two events a success will be highly appreciated.

4 MEASURES TO ENSURE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE RO FILTER SCHEME OF ASD AND DONATION OF SHOES AND SOCKS A survey conducted by ASD revealed that 24 out of 35 filters donated by ASD and other parties to schools and some other institutions like hospitals were out of order and providing of safe drinking water to the schools children and others has been badly affected. ASD with the assistance of a Sri Lankan philanthropist couple domiciled in Canada who wish to remain anonymous, was able to secure funds to repair the affected filters at a cost of Rs. 547,535/- Transport of filters to the repairing company at Thambuththegama, Anuradhapura, collection and re-installation are being handled by the Pradeshiya Sabha of Padavi Sripura. A simple note of Appreciation. The same couple, seeing some children not wearing shoes at a function organized by ASD in Padavi Sripura, offered to donate a pair of shoes and two pairs of socks to each scholarship beneficiary at a cost of Rs. 107, Both these activities have been completed and the appreciation of the Board Members and the Members of ASD has been conveyed to the donors. These two donors have also agreed to provide financial assistance to the students entering Universities from Padavi Sripura Schools and to participate in the program to conduct extra classes to the students sitting for the Grade five and O/Level examinations.

5 SHARING OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION BY GOOD PARTNERS/ASD AND GIVE 2 LANKA The office of Good Partners at No. 35a, 2 nd Lane, Koswatte Road, Nawala, Rajagiriya, will be shared with ASD and the new Crowd Funding office of Mr Dulan de Silva and an agreement has been reached for sharing the costs. Accordingly, Good Partners will pay the lease rental of the premises and the salary of Secretary Ms Shahinaz. Give 2 Lanka will be responsible for meeting the cost of electricity, water and maintenance of the office premises. It will also pay an additional allowance to the Secretary and make a monthly contribution of Rs. 20,000/- to ASD. The Board of Management of ASD approved this arrangement with much appreciation at its meeting held on the 27 th of March THE ANNUAL OUTING OF ASD The annual outing/fell owship gathering of ASD was held at the Naval Club at Uswatakeiyawa on 14 th February 2016 and was well-attended by members, their families and friends. The program of the event included fun-filled activities, luncheon and sing-songs. An important development was that many guests agreed to obtain membership of ASD and actively participate in its activities. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF ASD 2016/17 The Board of Management decided to hold its 2016/17 Annual General meeting on 24 th July The Directors and members of ASD are kindly requested to keep this day free to attend the Meeting. The program of the event will be notified in due course. SINHALA /TAMIL NEW YEAR GREETINGS/WISHES Wishing you a Happy & Prosperous The Board of Management of ASD takes this opportunity to thank the valued donors to various projects of ASD, friends & well-wishers and the members of ASD for the excellent cooperation received to make its activities successful and fruitful and wish them and their families a very happy and prosperous Sinhala and Tamil New Year. 9 th April 2016 Sinhala & Tamil New Year