We undertake to repair or restore old reservoirs to store much needed water during the rainy season.  Restoration of a reservoir enables 200-250 families to irrigate their land and hence farm their food crops.  During the last 5 years we have restored 3 ancient derelict reservoirs; Kokabe wewa in Tantirimale, Nuwaragalatenne wewa in Amparai District and most recently Siyabalawewa in Kahatagollawa near Padaviya.  Construction of agro-wells is also undertaken.  Each well provides water to support 10 farming families.

SPONSORING FARMERS

The BVTS has also sponsored many farming families at Katukeliyawa in Tantirimale and Panama to cover the cost of seeds, fertiliser and ploughing.  In keeping with our policy of self-sustainment, the farmers are now able to purchase these materials with money from the funds they have accumulated from selling their crops.

BVTS contributed funds for building a boys orphanage in Bandaragama, which houses many war victims.  Computers were donated to educate them in Information Technology (IT). Land has been purchased in Pilimatalawa to expand a girls orphanage, of which all are victims of war. We provided equipment and teachers salaries for many pre-schools in the remote areas of the North and East as well as in the Kandy district. Last year a building was restored in Embilipitiya for use as a pre-school for 150 village children.

We also embarked on a 3 year pilot project to educate children in English and IT at Horawapathana, Kebithigollawa and Padavi Siripara, in the North East region. Already, over 850 students from deprived areas have benefited from these projects. Some have even been given further scholarships to do a diploma at Anaradapura IDM Centre.  This enables these children to have better employment opportunities, when before they had none.

Students from remote areas who have been awarded university places but do not have the funds to attend are sponsored through a 3-5 year period (depending on the duration of their course).  We also distribute medical books for our sponsored medical students. This sponsorship scheme enables these students opportunities that would not normally be available to them, in fact some of the sponsored students are already in employment. In turn they will contribute back to their families. 

Free medical clinics in remote areas are held during weekends by volunteer medical/ dental staff.  We fund expenses for travelling and medicines, over 1000 patients benefit at each session.
We have also provided dry rations and items of clothing for many villagers who are returning to their homes after terrorist attacks.  For their safety, school and family bunkers have also been constructed to protect them again terrorist artillery.

The site for our Bio-Farming project is Siyabalawewa, a reservoir we restored 2 years ago, together with 28 acres of farming land.  We had many discussions with the village elders, agricultural officers and farmers to study the traditional farming methods.  We felt that the modern day farmers should be educated in these traditional techniques and adopt them where possible as eco-friendly farming.  In traditional farming, people looked to the land and the environment to satisfy their basic needs. We encourage the farmers to value these methods and re-establish an independent self-sufficient way of life.  The modern system of farming introduces extreme dependence on outside factors and this leads to a vicious cycle of poverty.

In this project, we encourage the farmers to have their own supply of seeds after initially donating them free seeds (developed on bio-farming methods).  We also get them to make their own bio-fertiliser using leaf vegetation, animal waste etc.  If needed, the insecticides (which is very low with bio-fertiliser) from fermented plant extracts are used. This is eco-friendly bio-farming.  Agricultural Officers will supervise the initial stages and will show the benefits to the environment, income and to the community.
We hope to set up this as a model farm for the area.

We provided emergency relief and funded medical supplies, school stationery, school uniforms etc for the tsunami children living in refugee camps.
We also sponsored 134 tsunami orphans from the Kalutara, Galle and Matara to Hambatota districts.  These orphans are aged 4-17.  They are kept under guardianship of a close relative or family member.  Consent of the child and the willingness, suitability of the guardian has been closely scrutinised in each case.  We visit the children every year and their progress is very closely monitored. 

Projects Undertaken During the last 3 Years

• BVTS funded restoration of two abandoned ancient tanks (resovoir) Siyabalawewa in Padaviya and    Nuweragalatenna in Ampara District. This has benefited 150 farming families enabling them to cultivate their    main crop, rice and providing a source of water supply.

• Construction of Agro-Wells at Mangalagama to provide irrigation for vegetable crops.

• Setting up Pre-Schools for the benefit of children from remote villages.

• Initiated 3 computer centres for teaching Information Technology and English education as a 3 year pilot    projects in the North East. The centres were located at Kebithigollawa, Horawapatana and Padavi Siripura.    Over 800 children benefited by these facilities.

• Sponsorship of over 25 university students from remote villages, giving them much needed financial    assistance to continue their studies.

• Provided dry rations for returning villagers in the conflict zone.

• Funded 40 farming families in Panama affected by the Tsunami to raise rice crop in new land.

• Sponsored 134 Tsunami orphans from Hikkaduwa to Tissamaharama through Sahanodha Foundation in
   Sri Lanka.

• Commencement of a 28 Acre Organic Farming project at Kahatagollawa, Padaviya. This farm is attached to    the Siyabalawewa restored tank. This has produced 22,000 kg of rice last year.

Projects undertaken for 2007/08

• Continue sponsorship of 25 university students at Rs 3000 per student/month.

• Continue sponsorship of 100 Tsunami orphans at Rs 1200 per orphan/month
   We are pleased to see that the orphans have benefited immensely from the sponsorship. Some have reached    O Level and A Level stage of education.
   It is hoped that these students will proceed to university.

• Continuation of the Organic Farming project and expand the types of crops.
   This project provides employment for over 40 families.

• New Community Centre at Meth Sevana Koholankala, Hambantota
   to be built for the Tsunami families at a cost of Rs 4million. For this project, BVTS has received £15,000 from    an Asian Tsunami fund. This project will benefit 320 families in counselling, community development such as    Sunday schools, seminars, medical clinics, IT training, handicrafts.
   This would be the hub of the housing project.

• Funding of 5 computers for a new IT centre in Ampara for village youths.

• Funding training for first aid workers in the newly formed National Buddhist
  Organisation for humanitarian (disaster) services - Red Lotus

Projects Under Consideration

• Construction of Playground and Park at Meth Sevana housing scheme adjoining a lake.
   This will promote a strong sense of community spirit between families in the housing scheme and will provide    a safe environment for children to play in. There will also be a ‘nature’ area in which children will learn about    the environment and nature.
• Fund the setting up of a second Bio-Farm on a four acre plot at Ambilipitiya,
   attached to the Bhikkhuni Training Centre. The trainees will grow their own food and earn an income for their     upkeep.

FUNDING

BVTS funds are raised from donations, membership fees and fundraising activities. We work through our link organisations in Sri Lanka, Thawalama Development Foundation, Saharoda Foundation and Bodhiraga Foundation.