The Ampara Community Empowerment (ACE ) project is a two year project funded by ADRA International and ADRA UK. It aims to empower 400 Tsunami-affected families in the Pottuvil Division in Ampara District in order to improve their living conditions providing better access to basic potable water, better quality basic housing, community infrastructure, developing community engagement mechanisms, improving daily health and sanitation practices and encouraging favorable co-existence among tsunami-affected families and their neighboring communities.

On October 15, the project successfully procured a drilling rig that will aid in the accomplishment of bringing water to more people in the Pottuvil Division. The project recently completed a community mapping and needs assessment for water sources. Based on the results, the project completed 74 geohphysical investigations in 21 villages. A total of 29 locations have been approved for exploratory tube well drilling. Thus far 14 of the locations have been drilled with an average depth of 40 meters and an average yield of 10 liters per minute.

In the housing sector, a total of 273 home improvement interventions such as kitchen additions, toilet constructions, plastering of floors, walls, and fencing have been completed with 291 under construction. Beneficiaries have the opportunity to partner in making significant improvement to their home and at the same time, benefit from the skills gained and the satisfaction of achieving a goal.

ACE is currently working with 400 families to help them adopt and follow good sanitation practices in their homes. This is a 7 step participatory process through which communities improve their environments and manage their water and sanitation facilities, particularly for prevention of diseases. The structure for PHAST (participatory health and sanitation training) is bi-weekly meetings and bi-weekly home visits by PHAST Field Assistants to follow up on hygiene and sanitation practices at the home level. Thus far more than 1000 home visits have been completed. The activities include the use of visual aids for facilitating participation and discussions. The sessions provide an opportunity for participants to laugh, be creative, spend time with other community members and discuss and learn about improving hygiene and sanitation practices.

ACE is partnering with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (through funding from CIDA) to conduct a home gardening project with 350 beneficiaries in target communities. Each family will receive training on making compost and natural fertilizers as well as general training on how to care for home garden and during the rainy season they will receive 15 fruit trees as well as tools.

ACE project, is closely participating with local authorities in Infrastructure activities like the construction of a fence and gate around a multipurpose center, completing the construction of a mosque and meeting place in the town of Komari, fencing around a local School that will prevent wildlife from damaging the building, connecting a motor water pump to supply water for 42 houses, and now is in the process of rehabilitating the Pottuvil Bus Station. ACE also takes interest in the wellbeing of children and in partnership with USAID built 5 children’s playgrounds.

One way that ACE project promotes favorable coexistence among tsunami-affected communities, is by working with youth groups. 17 youth groups were given the opportunity to participate and evaluate different community projects in the areas of sports, welfare, and cultural activities. Thus far 6 youth groups have implemented projects. In addition, the project coordinated a Peacbuilding Cricket Touranment with 18 local teams and recently completed a Regional Peace building Cricket Tournament with 30 teams from 3 DS Divisions. The youth were very enthusiastic and asked to participate in leadership and other training opportunities.

ACE project is contributing to the wellbeing of tsunami affected families and continues to be encouraged by increasing the participation and coordination of the communities in all the project activities.
ADRA also serves as the coordinating agency in Pottuvil Division organizing and facilitating meetings of behalf of the District Secretariat and the Pradeshiya Sabha.

If you would like more information on this particular project, please contact ADRA Sri Lanka at info@adrasrilanka.org.