REPORT
APRIL 2003 TO JUNE 2003
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
1.
Title of operation
B76000/PVD/2000/343/FRG
Dairy Development and Income Generation Project, Maskeliya, Sri
Lanka
2. Name of Organization responsible
for project in the recipient country
The Adventist and Development Relief Agency, Sri
Lanka
3.
Brief summary of project purpose
The primary objective
of the Dairy Development & Income Generation Project is to generate
income for at least 225 low-income families with several children
in the Maskeliya tea plantation area and villages by providing the
families with a cow, goats, poultry or bees. The main emphasis will
be put on the provision of cows. Project beneficiaries will be organized
into Ten Societies (Governing Boards). Solidarity Groups will be
established comprising of about ten families per Solidarity Group.
It is envisaged that the formation of the Society and Solidarity
Groups will ensure continuation of the program after the completion
of the project.)
4.
Dates (starting date and completion date)
Start date: May 1, 2001
Duration: 48 months
Completion date: May 1, 2005
5.
Number of people targeted by the project (direct and indirect beneficiaries)
Direct
beneficiaries: Projected number of people targeted by operational
plan: 225 plantation workers and their families, minimum of 1,500
members in ten estates and villages in the Maskeliya plantations
region.
Indirect
beneficiaries: Projected number of people targeted by operational
plan: 1500 plantation workers and their families, minimum of 9,000
members in ten estates and villages in the Maskeliya plantations
region.
REVIEW
OF CURRENT REPORTING PERIOD
Achievement of project purpose
and the overall objectives (please describe and provide in-depth
information):
Overall
Objective:
| Poverty
alleviation among Tea Plantation workers in Hatton area, Sri
Lanka |
65
beneficiaries from Lacombe estate, 80 beneficiaries from the
Mahanilu estate, 70 beneficiaries from Moray estate are involved
in small group activities like awareness motivation and mobilisation
work is going on. In Brunswick estate 4 cattle sheds are being
constructed. 7 small groups are formed. In Mocha and Strathspey
estates awareness meetings were held and the motivation and
mobilisation work in progress. In Laxapana estate initial
contacts have been made. In Mousakellie and Hapugastenne estates
23 group meetings were held in order to make them to aware
to go for a saving scheme. Their immediate question was whether
poor people have money to save. The project manager explained
who are the poor, and why they (Estate people) are continuing
to be the so-called “poor’’ for generations.
Several agendas have been set for them to make a Goal in their
life style. Discussed items are;
• Whether the poor have money to save?
• Why saving is so important especially in poor families?
• Historical stories specially to suit the estate workers
and their life style.
All 28 cattle farmers are rearing their cattle at their respective
estates. (Hapugastenne and Mousakellie). There were 06 of
the cattle going to give birth, probably around next month.
Nearly 500 beneficiaries from Mahanilu, Mocha, Strathspey
and Brunswick Estates involved in small group activities (new
estates where we have started working). In Mahanilu and Brunswick
12 small groups have been formed. Group strengthening and
Mobilising activities are taking place. In Brunswick estate
03 cattle sheds are in construction.
12 beneficiaries from the phase 1 and the people who own their
own cow are currently directly involved with income generation
activities with cattle. [Please note that a drop in (14 to
12) who have joined from phase 1 and people who directly own
their cow in the estate sector sold their cows to settle their
debt to the moneylenders. Please note that a bag of coconut
poonac price has come down to Rs. 1450 to Rs.850 (50 kg.).
Thus a total of 3.11 % of the estate family population in
both estates that the project is currently operative. (Mousakellie
and Hapugastenne).
No Plantation Workers Cooperative has been established as
yet.
|
Project Purpose:
| Improved
economic standard among the plantation workers in Maskeliya
regional plantation. |
30
families have benefited so far as follows: There has been
an average increase on 165.75% on family profit for families
with only one breadwinner working on the estates. And an average
increase of 132.87% for families with two breadwinners.
Note: - However the profit has been compared
to last quarter due to the increase in the milk prices and
decline in the poonac prices too. The project manager brought
different milk collectors to the scene and bargained for better
prices for their milk. They have agreed to pay an average
of Rs.14 to Rs.16 for the Morning milk and Rs.17 to Rs.19
for the evening milk. At present we are planning to develop
an insurance scheme for the farmers including the farmers
family as well as the cattle.
Calculation
for this can be seen as follows:
•
Families with one breadwinner –
Monthly earnings from the Estate = Rs 2662.00
Average profit from the milk sales = Rs 1750.00
Total income per month = Rs 4412.00
(Please note that the average milk price has gone up from
Rs.10.00 to Rs.13.50 per litre and the poonac price has
come down. The project manager made initial attempts to
bring up gingerly poonac as a substitute feed from the Vanni
area where it is cheap.)
•
Families with two breadwinners –
Monthly earnings from the Estate = Rs 5324.00
Average income from the milk sales = Rs 1750.00
Total income per month = Rs 7074.00
1.
40 families earning additional income due to the project. 13
families are earning Rs 52944.00 per annum, 27 families are
earning Rs 84888.00 per annum.
2. The average family size is 4.8 family members,
based on this in the 40 families that are currently involved
in the project; an additional 80 family members (two family
members on average) will be self-employed working with the family
cow. This relates to a 13.37% decrease in unemployment within
the two estates that the project is currently working with.
Total number of unemployed people in both estates are at present
598, several people have gone to Colombo to do some work for
their livelihood.
3. Currently the project does not have the
ability to measure the nutritional intake of the families. What
can be noted is that there is an increase in consumption of
milk within the 40 families that are currently involved in the
two estates. Each family is consuming milk from 1.5 l to 2.0
l. With the help of the Welfare officers of those estates, the
project manager is able to persuade the children, (under five
years of age) and pregnant and lactating mothers, to consume
more fresh milk from ADRA farmers. Still we couldn’t see
any remarkable differences in the community but the visiting
Medical officers of Health Department appreciated the initiation
taken by ADRA for estate communities. In our group meetings
we are encouraging the fathers especially to give more milk
to their kids in order to ensure the protein food intake in
the vicinity. (Easy to digest and pure and fresh from their
estate.)
4. During this quarter there were 3 children
dropouts from the 07 schools where our project is currently
operative. The local childcare authorities and the police were
given valuable support to bring them back to Maskeliya. All
the schools in the vicinity were given awareness on early childhood
development and parent’s roles and responsibilities. Presently
we are monitoring through small group leaders to get involved
in the schooling of their neighbours children too. We are also
monitoring through Children’s societies, which were formed
by the children themselves. Presently they are guided through
closer monitoring, moral stories and using examples of raw models.
|
Results:
| Governing
Boards established and operational |
1.
Currently 3 Governing Boards have been established in the
two estates where the project is currently active, and in
the other two estates (Brunswick and Maha Nilu), 21 small
groups have been formed, 6 awareness meetings held in Maha
Nilu and 3 awareness and 5 small groups meetings were held.
During the month of May we were able to form the Governing
Board for the above-mentioned estates.
2. All Governing Boards in
Hapugastenne Lacombe and Mousakellie Estates have been trained
in all management related issues and training.
Training Continued in
• Small Group Formation
• Operating principles of the Small Groups
• Team working,
• Leadership,
• Gender related issues,
• Conducting team meetings,
• Record keeping.
• House Management.
3. Neither of the Governing boards has developed
their strategic and sustainability plans as yet. The main
reason for this can be seen in that traditionally the Estate
sector workers have little or no experience in planning and
their educational background also contributes considerably
to limit their ability to develop the strategies. The project
team can develop the strategies. Unless beneficiaries feel
those strategies are for their betterment, it is no use to
have sustainable strategy plans for development. The project
manager has had about 12 training sessions with beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries pointed out that the success of the governing
board’s would depend on the amount of capital it has
to function smoothly with. And also amount of experience it
would get while working very closely with ADRA. The beneficiaries
have been involved in 6 brainstorming sessions aimed at showing
them the importance of sustainability relating to the long-term
survival of the project and their involvement in the project.
They also discussed the idea that if they have their own initiation
and ideas in their constitutions it would be more appreciable
rather than bringing some strange ideas from the out side.
The beneficiaries requested the project manager to get some
other people to share their experience while working for the
constitutions for the Governing Board. Then they will have
more experience to address their shortcomings and problems
of a constitution. The project manager has arranged for a
woman to work on continuous workshops from August onwards,
closely, with formed governing boards to make strategic plans.
|
| Cows, goats, poultry, and bees
provided for Income Generation activities |
1. A total of 30 cattle sheds
have been built, to date, in both estates. This relates to
15 cattle sheds per estate. It can be noted that the maximum
carrying capacity of these two estates have now been reached.
There were a total of 30 cattle given to the beneficiaries
in the both estates. 4 beneficiaries received goats and a
lady from the Mousakellie estate received 50 chickens, and
a man from the Mousakellie estate received 100 chickens. Both
people have sold their produce. Eventually the lady will be
able to recover all the costs involved related to the chicken
rearing including the feeders and water feeders. The man got
Rs. 2750 as net profit.
2. 4 Meetings held with the management and
the secondary level of management at Moray estate, 2 meetings
held in Mocha estate with management and 5 meetings held with
Strathspey estate, 3 meetings held with Laxapana estate to
make them aware of how ADRA can assist to improve the estate
workers living standard in their respective estates. In all
the estates where we have formed the small groups, we are
giving the necessary training to mobilise each group or the
governing board. I have mentioned above that we have started
to form the small groups. Brunswick estates to the cattle
project in their estates too. After 3 meetings held in each
estate with management at different levels, we are now formulating
the small groups in each estate and also the necessary training
in progress. In Moray estate the amount of land available
is very much limited and also there is no proper system in
place for the collection of milk. The project team is trying
hard to bring some interested milk buyer to the scene. Unfortunately
no one is interested because of the isolation of the estate
and abandoned roads.
3. A total of 2 cows have been purchased and delivered to
the beneficiaries in Hapugastenne and Mousakellie estates.
4. No families provided with an offspring cow yet.
|
| Water
supply and pasture land improved |
1.
No storage tanks and pipes established and functioning yet.
After 3 meetings held with the management and the beneficiaries
at present we are negotiating the amount of community, estate
management and ADRA involvement etc.
2.
No families trained in sustainable agricultural practices
yet.
|
| Stakeholders
mobilized and empowered to solve their own problems |
1. No motivated and qualified
extension workers/village facilitators selected and trained
on subject related issues yet.
2. No extension workers actively support the beneficiaries
in their respective estates in addressing their needs yet.
But they have identified suitable people from the three estates.
• Hapugastenne estate- Mr. Vaithilingam.
• Mousakellie estate- Mr. Seeralan.
• Lucummbe estate-Mr.Yogarajah.
In the future these three people will be trained in all related
cattle farming fields and other related aspects too.
Two problem solving activities have been addressed by the
project manager, namely:
• Campaign against Alcohol Narcotics and Drugs “Fathers
Day” Celebrations.
We had the invitation from the Strathspey estate to make people
aware about the father’s responsibilities on the Father’s
day. Our estates fathers are normally not fulfilling their
duties like normal Sri Lankan fathers normally do. Generally
the women and the men work for the estate and earn an income.
Normally the total income earned by the men mainly go to settle
the bar account. Women’s income will be utilized for
feeding the family. In some cases the fathers are saying that
a card to buy liquor on credit basis. Also men are saying
that because they are working so hard they may need an antidote
to subsidise the pain that they are undergoing everyday. With
the short notice to the Country office at Maharagama, our
country director has arranged for the Sri Lanka Mission pastor
Rieth to conduct the above work shop with nearly 60 selected
beneficiaries (both sexes) from the Strathspey estate. The
workshop was a joint effort with the estate management and
ADRA Sri Lanka. It was nicely organised and presented. ADRA
also stated that if any one needs assistance, they could either
contact the site office or the local pastor who can assist
them to have workshops in each division of the estate. The
drinking of arrack (local liquor) reduces the progress of
the livelihood of our beneficiaries the most.
With the help of the volunteer Mr. Wesley Bawia, we developed
a strategy to address the poor literacy rate among the estate-working
women. Unfortunately he hasn’t responded yet.
Training
in Human Rights.
With the help of the Home for the Human Rights Organisation
based in Colombo, we had 9 sessions (two and a half a days
each) in Hatton, for selected estate workers in the Maskeliya
region. There were 72 participants (average) participating
in the workshop. On June 28th 2003, 68 participants sat the
exam and are awaiting the results. These people are to look
after the estate level violation of human rights. With the
help of the victimised person or child or with their parents
they can lead them though the proper channels to get justice.
1. 3 leaders facilitated 4 study circles for the estate workers
on the effects of maintaining human values. A total of 97
estate workers attended these study circles.
2. 36 estate workers have attended a total of 2-study circles
on integrated home gardening and dairy farming.
3. Increased awareness among 19 women and 12 men from the
Mousakellie estate (Nyansa & Lacombe divisions) in Gender
related issues, parental care towards the children and decision-making.
4. Established women groups were strengthened in both estates
to address women related issues within the community as well
as the working environment. One such issue that has been identified
is: In all estates the workingwomen have to take their salaries
through either their husbands or sons. This is the present
practice for all the estates we work with. After focused group
discussions showed that husbands taking the workingwomen’s
salary restricted her control and abilities as a housewife.
Most of the workingwomen don’t know how to write their
signature. This was the first time the workingwomen put forward
their concept. The project manager worked along with the volunteer
to address this problem. Because around 78% of the workingwomen
don’t know how to sign, first priority should be given
to teach them to read and write the Tamil alphabet. In connection
with this concept a separate project proposal has been developed
with the help of the volunteer, the country director and the
project manager. The volunteer didn’t respond yet. So
the site office will prepare a proposal by October and request
possible funds from the embassies in Sri Lanka.
|
| Group
lending and saving instruments in place and functioning |
1.Nearly
7 attempts have been made and in Lacombe estate and we successfully
started to save Rs. 3,500 as beneficiaries saving. Mousakellie
has Rs.5000 savings.
2. The project manager pointed out the success of a governing
board also relies on the amount of money it saved for its future
activities. Several meetings have been held in group level and
governing board level. The beneficiaries have asked whether
ADRA could intervene to buy some clothing for their festival
season (September) in Colombo and sell it through the board
members for a small profit (5 to 10% margin) In this way the
board can collect the profit and the money spent for buying
clothing can be returned back to ADRA within 3 to 6 months period.
This will give a chance to the board bearers to raise some funds
for their boards. And also reduce the amount each person is
normally paying to the business people. (Their profit margin
will be 100% to 300%.)
|
| Farmers
trained in using organic fertilizers and composting |
3. Attempts have been made to
train beneficiaries in different types of compost production
according to their abilities and availability of space to make
use of their Home Garden. Refreshment workshop and practical
usage organised on the 17th August 2003 for 30 identified farmers
in both Lacombe Hapugastenne and Mousakellie estates.
|
Beneficiaries
Number of
beneficiaries served to date and their location:
• Mousakellie Estate: 15 beneficiaries provided with cattle,
4 provided with goats and 2 provided with chicks.
• Hapugastenne Estate: 15 beneficiaries provided with cattle
• 2 beneficiaries from the Hapugastenne estate, 1 from the
Mousakellie estate have joined the ADRA groups with their own
cows.
PROJECT
ACTIVITIES TO DATE
1.
Which activities have been delivered in the reporting period?
Purchase & deliver the cattle
2 cattle have been given to the appropriate
active small group’s identified members in Mousakellie estate
where we are operational. With the help of the small group members
these beneficiaries located and selected the cow. All 13 cows are
milking from 12 to 21 litres of milk. The price of the milk varies
from the SNF (Solid Non Fat) and the Fat value of the milk. Most
of the beneficiaries were selling their milk to the local milk vendors.
Due to this activity we experienced several problems. One of those
is some of the local milk collectors have cheated our beneficiaries.
And also their attitude relies on making these beneficiaries dependant
on them. Poor people do not think about the long-term impact on
getting things on a credit basis. This will encourage them to fall
into the poverty cycle again. ADRA Project manager intervened in
the scene and got assistance from the police and the milk collector
agreed to pay due payments in the coming months.
ADRA has taken actions to intervene by subsidizing costs through
pressurizing the government. ADRA Sri Lanka advocated with the Minister
of Livestock development. Through the local politician in the area
the Project manager has had a chance to meet the Deputy minister
of Livestock Development. The project manager pointed out the price
increase for a bag of poonac and its impact on cattle farming and
also its effect on the local farmers profit / income. The government
of Sri Lanka is going to raise the minimum price of the local milk
(3.5 Fat & 8.0 SNF) from Rs.13 to 20. The project manager is
also negotiating with the ministry of Livestock development to subsidize
the price at least during the dry season in the hill country. (Dec
to May). It has been noticed that during this period the poonac
price is going up. Follow up work in progress; still we didn’t
get any positive results.
Seminar
workshop on organic farming
A total number of 14 estate workers attended the workshop conducted
by ADRA. Most of the beneficiaries don’t know the value of
organic farming. Most of the beneficiaries haven’t even heard
about what organic farming is and what impact it is going to have
on the environment and in the human life span. The demonstrator
showed different ways of preventive methods in organic farming and
also explained that western countries had switched to organically
grown vegetables and fruits instead of artificially grown. He also
explained the amount of poison that we are taking into our system
every day. And eventually how it is going to affect the internal
organs and the human body.
Training on Disaster Preparedness
As you may know our country has experienced heavy rainfall during
April. This was the highest rainfall in a day in 52 years. Due to
this there were 5 low-lying districts in Sri Lanka that were under
water for several weeks. In the hill country there were some damages.
One 8-roomed line house was eroded and luckily there was no damage
to human life. There were 2 houses washed off by running water.
There are incidents where trees had fallen into the residential
area. Fortunately people escaped with minor injuries and cuts etc.
The Project manager took this opportunity to make the people aware
on how to prepare to avoid a major disaster. He had several awareness
meetings with beneficiaries on how they can be aware of any changes
in their vicinity that are taking place, especially during the rainy
season. i.e. Creaks, movements of stones, peculation of water and
if any changes occur they should notify the estate superintendent.
He will then take the proper actions. We also discussed that if
any thing happened, how they should react and where they will evacuate.
People living in more elevated lands are more susceptible to earth
slips etc.
Monitoring
visits by the Country director
The
Country director visited the project in May and June after finishing
his furlough in South Africa. The Governing Board of Luccumbe estate
beneficiaries had a thanks giving ceremony for the Country director
during June 2003. The Project manager didn’t participate in
any sort of planning or any activities. The estate superintendent
also participated in the meeting. The meeting was nearly 3 hours
long. The superintendent pointed out how ADRA has had an impact
on some of their workers life style and how far they are working
towards achieving their goals in the estate environment. He also
pointed out comparatively the number of nuisance cases brought to
his attention has dramatically reduced after the introduction of
ADRA in their estate. He also thanked ADRA for the service it is
doing for the estate community and also requested the beneficiaries
to use this opportunity to raise their income level. In his next
visit he visited the Mocha estate manager with some of their estate
beneficiaries to get the opinion from their side. The manager appreciated
the way in which ADRA approaches the situation. The Country director
appreciated the assistance given by the management to implement
the cattle project perfectly. In another visit he had a chance to
visit the Strathspey estate to participate as a guest of honour
in the Fathers Day celebrations jointly organised by the estate
management and ADRA. While he was addressing the gathering he said
that the fathers would be able to give a chance to their children
to learn, which they didn’t get from their fathers. Also stated
that how a father can be a raw model in his child’s life development.
Training
on Credit & Saving
The project manager followed up the training on credit and saving.
Customarily the estate workers don’t have the culture of saving.
Questions, which arose: Why would they want to save? How can they
trust each other? What is the guarantee they have that they will
get their savings back whenever necessary? Once one person has taken
a loan and if he or she doesn’t pay it back, whether there
is any system in place for collection? Are we ready to save an agreed
amount? Are we ready to trust each other to form a group and start
to practice a culture of saving? This was the challenge the project
manager was exposed to during this quarter. While the governing
boards members and the project managers are working towards putting
a system in place, there were people creating problems and misleading
people with rumors. As you know it is so difficult because trade
unions, politicians and also their people mislead the people too.
So it will take some time to get through to them. Or otherwise make
them realise through ADRA members.
Awareness
meetings with new estate management and estate workers.
The project manager met with the Strathspey, Mocha & Laxapana
estate Superintendents and his management team at their office in
Maskeliya, the main objective of the meeting was getting permission
to work in their estates. All the superintendents were given an
individual project proposal to their estate about what ADRA could
do and what are the expected contributions from the managements
and the beneficiaries. Strathspey and Mocha estates have shown some
possible signs. Presently the team is working so hard to ensure
the people are fully aware about the project objectives and approach.
In Strathspey July 14th we are forming the small groups. There were
3 awareness meetings held with estate management and beneficiaries
in Strathspey estate.
Selection
of Staff Members
After advertising in the estate notice boards and through known
people, the Project manager was able to select a lady extension
officer who had several years of experience working as a secretary
to the manager of 2 to 3 estates. She worked with us for more than
a month and eventually she couldn’t cope with the environment.
It is very difficult for a lady to work as an extension officer
in an estate because of the present cultural practices prevailing
in this area. The team from the site office consists of an extension
officer, an office assistant (temporary basis) and a project manager.
In order to get an extension officer we had some practical interviews
in the field and hopefully a person will start work from 2nd July.
The project manager is planning to get a women on a permanent basis
(with sufficient English knowledge, computer literacy with secretarial
experience) for the office to assist with the office work and do
some women related work in the field too with assistance of the
project team. And we hope to fill this position in middle of August
2003.
2. What impact has the project on the participants
1. Increase in income
At present 30 beneficiaries are earning an average income Rs.4,
800 per month.
2. Nutrition
Presently
we are developing a Data bank to ensure how much the Cattle project
will have an impact on the Nutrition. But from the group meetings
and personnel interviews it shows that the families that have a
cow are consuming 1.5 l to 2.0 l of fresh milk during the morning
and evening. The family who is rearing the goats has 5 malnourished
children. Goat’s milk is directly consumed by the children
and not for sale. In the estate sector worms are common in both
parents and children. With the help of the Mousakellie estate management
and a voluntary general physician from the Maskeliya area that came
forward to treat the worms for all the children and the workers
at the same time, it was observed that after the treatment by the
medical staff of the Mousakellie estate, that the rate of children
getting sick is less compared to last quarter. It is also noted
that the schoolteachers and the principal of Lucumbe Tamil Vidyalayam
stated that the children are attending more regularly than before.
3. Health
At present we don’t have any
data on health. But while talking to the Estate Medical Practitioners
I came to know that the ADRA farmers are less frequently visiting
their dispensary than the early days. These improved health conditions
can be shown easily once we develop a data bank.
4. Clothing
At present we don’t have
any data on clothing. Once we develop a data bank we should be able
to show the impact of the project on beneficiaries and their children’s
clothing
5. Education
At present we don’t have
any data on education. Once we develop a data bank we should be
able to show the impact of the project on beneficiaries and their
children’s education. Earlier, parents were scared to cross
check the children’s progress or regress because they felt
that they didn’t study like the present youngsters. But the
training they have gained in leadership and other related areas
made them feel able to cross check their children in the home and
school environment too.
6. Self-Esteem
Beneficiaries have shown improvement
in sharing their views in the small group meetings. They also proved
their capabilities in organizing a thanks-giving ceremony independently
for the Country director at Lucumbe estate too. The project manager
has noticed that most of the small group leaders are setting good
examples in the community. The community ADRA leaders had a hard
time during this quarter. They have to search for a reliable milk
collector to sell their milk. There is one collector that used to
keep the people under his palm by giving them some sort of loan.
Even though ADRA is helping people to come out from their shell,
unfortunately people are falling in to his trap. The group leaders
came forward to have a meeting with this collector and requested
him not to give loans against ADRA’s cows. The leaders are
monitoring the movement of the milk collector very closely. This
action shows that their self-esteem has increased.
Changes:
Any changes in
• Project means (inputs, timing, quality, logistical
facilities) So far there has been no changes in project means.
• Project organization (staff, structure, training)
We have recruited an extension officer from 2nd of May, a
lady who has worked as a secretary to Brunswick estate. After training
her in the development field, she vanished from the scene. No one
knows where she is. The project manager feels that she couldn’t
cope with the new field in which she had chosen to work. We also
selected a woman to assist with the minimal office work until we
find a suitable office assistant. The project manager hopes that
eventually he will find a woman who knows secretarial work and is
fluent in English and computer literacy.
• Time
We started to implement the re-designed operational plan for the
project in November 2002. So far just 4 months delay in time, due
to lack of suitable candidates for extension officers.
• Budget
Contacts / Networking:
3. Cooperation/negotiation with other parties
(other NGOs, Government, Bank, etc.)
• Cooperation has been sought from government veterinarian
to visit the beneficiaries on regular basis.
• The government Medical Officer of Health (MOH) from
the Maskeliya region and a general physician agreed to help in health
camps and health clinics especially for women in the estate sector.
3 Clinics were held in the estate dispensary. Nearly 300 pregnant
and lactating women participated from Mousakellie, Laxapana, Kalaniya,
Lucumbe and Hapugastenne estates.
• The social services officer helped when we experienced
heavy showers and land slides in April. ADRA beneficiaries got together
and collected food items and clothing and handed them over to the
victims at Del house estate. (This was the first time in estate
workers history that they came forward to assist their people. Normally
they expect others to come and help their people)
• The medical doctor in the area voluntarily came forward
and participated in group meetings and shared his experiences.
• During this quarter there was 1 training and an examination
session held with the help of Home for the Human Rights from Colombo.
• Contact with EU-Delegation
There were no formal visits to the project site by the EU-Delegation
during this reporting period.
MONITORING
AND EVALUATION
At present monitoring and evaluation is done by the small groups
on a weekly basis, the governing board and project manager / extension
officer are also involved in weekly evaluations. The country director
is involved in monthly evaluations.
• Conclusions and recommendations
The main conclusion that has been drawn during this reporting period
has been the need for expansion of the at least one extension officer
and an office assistant to ensure that project objectives can be
implemented. The impact of this is that the site office will function
effectively.
• Have previous recommendations been taken into account
in the reporting period?
In order to get more and more sustainability of the project, more
and more participation sought from the beneficiaries; especially
in cattle shed construction and purchasing and delivering cows to
the beneficiaries.
DIFFICULTIES
ENCOUNTERED
Have there been any difficulties
and / or delays during the period in question?
• It is common in all divisions of Brunswick estate
that the unity among the people is very poor. It was felt by the
extension officer that they are not only economically poor, also
socially, culturally and politically poor.
• Social poverty
When the farmer group concept is introduced to the people, they
were not prepared to provide the cow to one of the group members,
each and every member tried to get the cow for himself.
Some people were not ready to come to the group saying that out
of ten members in the group only one will get the benefit at first
and others have to wait for a long time. The members who came to
the group, tried to get the 1st benefit.
As the extension officer observed the situation, he decided to mobilize
the people to change their attitude to make them:
• Understand the importance of unity for a better development
• To prepare them to form into farmer groups.
So more time has been invested to mobilize the people for a successful
implementation of the project and to initiate the development activities.
Out of 45 meetings, 29 meetings have been
conducted only to mobilize the people rather than discussing about
the small group formation, cattle shed construction, provision of
cattle and other activities. Even though progress was delayed, much
time has been spent on these matters; valuable positive changes
have been made in the attitude of the people during the mobilization.
Now the people are well prepared to get together and work together.
Now they are ready to provide their cooperation not only to ADRA
but also to any other organization that are truly interested in
the development of the people.
Even though 2 divisions of people of Brunswick estate still had
bitter experiences with some other NGOs in the past. So ADRA’s
activities in these two divisions have been temporarily postponed
until the people get exposed to the project activities in the other
divisions and they themselves come forward.
• Cultural poverty
Commonly in the plantation sector, women are more loaded with their
estate work and also with their domestic work. So they don’t
participate in any of the development activities. Men have to be
made aware about this situation and little by little their attitude
on gender has to be changed in a positive way. It is expected that
after 5-6 months the men will be aware about gender equity and they
will allow the women also to participate in the development activities.
• Political poverty
Party
politics and internal politics among the community members affect
development activities. Due to party politics the unity among the
people is affected. So it directly or indirectly affects their social
strength. Problems between families, poor decision making or influenced
decision-making and such also affect the development work of the
community.
In Brunswick estate
the problem between the estate management and the worker and a social
problem influenced by a political party has delayed the ADRA project
work for about 4 weeks. The people were so emotional and their decisions
also emotional. The ADRA extension officer arranged the meeting
to discuss with the people about “Development and factors
affecting development” and help the people to make good decisions.
The people then understood how to make a good decision for a better
future.
• The people of Brunswick estate have already been exposed
to the same type of project implemented by some other NGO and have
bitter experiences with them. So they were very scared to be involved
in this cattle-farming project.
With several mobilization meetings the
people got clarification and now they are actively involved in the
project.
Expected to recruit the extension officers and the office assistant
by at least mid part of August 2003. Interviews for these positions
have been held with 1 prospective extension officer, which was selected
from 10 applicants for the position. Only one of the applicants
was selected. Hope to start work from July 2nd.
Are they affecting the anticipated rate of progress on the project
and how will they be overcome?
Yes the inability of securing additional staff has had an impact
on the rate of progress on the project. To overcome this we have
re-advertised the positions in the local estate offices. We had
interviews in April and given practical training in the field (Trail)
for few days. We are very much confident that once the position
is filled we can accelerate the project to the required rate of
progress.
PLANNED
ACTIVITIES FOR THE NEXT PERIOD
Brief
description of the activities to be undertaken.
• 30 farmers will be trained in Compost production (Refreshment
Course) and making use of their home garden by July 2003
• 15 beneficiaries will get 15 cows by August / September
2003.
• 10 beneficiaries will get 10 pairs of Goats by August
2003.
• 1 storage tank will be constructed with the assistance
of the Maha Nilu estate people by September 2003 and will be used
for their cattle sheds and home gardening. Negotiation in progress
• 30 beneficiaries from Hapugastenne and Mousakellie
estates will be trained in sustainable agricultural practices by
September 2003.
• 30 leaders selected from the small groups leaders
and trained to conduct study circles for the estate workers by November
2003.
• Improved grass cuttings will be given to the new estate
beneficiaries to grow in their allocated fields / grass lands.
HUMAN
INTEREST STORY
Experience/encounters
with beneficiaries.
Mr.
Annasamy is a male, 38 years of age, married and living in Luccombe
estate. He used to be an alcoholic and most of the days in a month
he spent in the Police custody or in prison. He has been involved
with ADRA’s cattle project nearly 8 months. He was the gang
leader who does most of the inhuman work in the estate. He was using
his whole salary drinking illegal arrack and other varieties of
alcoholic products.
After he was involved in small group activities he changed his behavior
pattern dramatically. In July when Lucumbe people wanted to say
thanks to the country director, Annasamy was the organizer for the
ceremony. He is the one who brought the estate superintendent to
the meeting. When the superintendent was addressing the meeting
he pointed out the dramatic change Annasamy has undergone. At present
he has not only looked after his family but is also leading an extraordinary
life when we compare where he was last year.
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