The activities of the Improved Agriculture and Roads Project focuses on road repair and increasing access to potable water for drinking and irrigation. This project, in cooperation with our ORT local partner, Shilpa, is providing continued technical assistance to families in Hambanthota, one of Sri Lanka's hardest hit tsunami regions.
To ensure sustained and improved livelihood of those affected by the 2004 disaster, ORT developed a strategy to improve living conditions and access to markets, through road repair and improved access to potable water for drinking and irrigation. ORT is working to assist affected families and children to continue to improve their standards of living through the creation and installation of irrigation and sprinkler systems which will improve production of cash crops (the primary source of income).
As part of the sewing program, 20 women have been trained in hand embroidery in a residential workshop at Shilpa. Eight social workers have been recruited to monitor progress of the 208 children sponsored by Shilpa. Two experienced counsellors completed a two-day workshop in September 2005 and plan to conduct a monthly program and make field visits.