1. Planning/consensus building meetings
September - October 2017
Sipsaru team along with the Ginigathena Medical Officer of Health and his staff made several visits to Dehigastenne Vidyalaya to observe the areas for improvement. Series of discussions were held and consensus was reached on the broad plan of Health Promotion Activities. Also, agreement was reached on the guiding principles of the partnership between Sipsaru and the school.
2. Making the Laboratory functional again
January 2018
We handed over laboratory chemicals and supplies sufficient for five years, enabling the school to recommence the science practical sessions that was on hold for several years due to lack of these. Performance of the laboratory and the use of chemicals and supplies for practical sessions are being monitored both by the school and Sipsaru Organization.
3. Health screening of the school community
March 2018
Facilitate the annual School Medical Inspection by the area Medical Officer of Health and screening of teachers and parents for Non-Communicable diseases.
4. Facelift to library “Learning to learn”
July 2018
Colour washed the library room, removed the old books that were beyond reading status, painted the book shelves, fixed new lightings for better illumination. Provided new books; both Sinhala and English and improved the cataloguing system.
Motivate the children to read, whilst ensuring the students who are lagging behind are not marginalized.
5. Motivational discussions with students “Let’s strive to reach our optimum potentials”
July – September 2018
Organized a series of motivational discussions with the secondary school children. Guest speakers were artists, entrepreneurs as well as respected professionals who are from the area. Held lively discussions enabling children to think, express and discuss their aspirations.
6. Sports goods “Healthy body – healthy mind”
July 2018
Handed over sports goods to motivate the students to take part in sports. Cleaned up the playground to make it more suitable for playing.
7. Scholarship programme
August 2018
Although majority of the children need financial/material support for their education, due to resource constraints, a few children were chosen as beneficiaries. Will increase the number of beneficiaries annually according to fund availability.
The support is tailormade to individual needs of the children and monitory support is not provided unless it is really indicated.
8. Preparation of students for GCE OL -
2018 October onwards
Purchased past papers and students were motivated to study using health promotion techniques. In the year 2019, the school recorded a historical success rate at the GCE Ordinary Level examination in which 9 out of 10 children qualified to do Advanced Level.
9. Construction of toilets for male students “Personal hygiene a priority”
January 2019
Constructed toilets for male students. Provided uninterrupted water supply and hand washing facilities.
10. Training of teachers on health promotion
January 2019
Conducted a one-day workshop for teachers on health promotion. At the end of it the teachers came up with a broad health promotion activity plan.
11. Upgrading of the multipurpose shed “provide more physical space to study”
February 2019
Renovated and transformed the outdoor multipurpose shed in to an outdoor classroom. The school could move one classroom here. As there is no school hall, the school uses this outdoor classroom for their meetings and trainings as well.
12. First Aid training “let’s be skilled to preserve lives in emergencies”
February 2019
Provided a two-day First Aid training to a total of forty; including students, teachers and a few selected parents with the support of St. John Ambulance Brigade. All who qualified received certificates as professional First Aid workers. Follow up refresher trainings are planned.
13. Engagement of students on health promotion
February 2019
Held a one-day workshop for students in grade 8 and above on health promotion
14. Kitchen cum Home-Science room
February 2019
Kitchen cum Home-Science room
Constructed a small kitchen cum home science room and provided three phase electricity. Provided necessary equipment; Gas stove, blender/grinder and an electric oven.
15. Renovation of girl’s toilets and Primary section toilets “Dignity and menstrual hygiene are girls’ rights”
June 2019
Renovated the Girls’ toilets and constructed a separate toilet for young female teachers in the primary school with continued water supply and hand washing facilities.
16. Bio- farming
Ongoing from October 2019
Awareness programme on Bio-farming was held. Programme was initiated by planting a few selected trees in the compound. An organic farm is being established in the school with participation of the parents.
17. Engagement of parents on health promotion
Ongoing since March 2019
Engaged the parents to enable them to understand “happy family” concept. Discussions are held with them periodically to motivate them to provide an enabling home environment to children.
18. Regular monitoring with students and teachers on Health Promotion
Ongoing since March 2019
Conduct regular visits to the school to monitor the Health promotion activities.
19. Construction of Pavilion/outdoor classroom
February 2020
Constructed a pavilion cum outdoor classroom. This space is used as an outdoor classroom and also enables the school to hold public assemblies in which children get the opportunities to improve their leadership and oratory skills.
20. GCE OL Crash programme
Children sitting for G.C.E (ordinary level) were badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to continued school closure since March 2020. No availability of internet connectivity and smartphones prevented online studies. Sipsaru, with the school, implemented a crash programme since November 2020 for the children by purchasing a photocopier, past papers and providing lunch and tea thus enabling the teachers and students to yield the maximum results within the limited time available. Series of discussions were held to motivate the teachers, students and parents.
Hats off to the teachers for their commitment.
21. Health Promotion Programme 11 March 2022
Sipsaru team visited the school on 11 March 2022 along with our Health Promotion expert Dr Manoj Fernando.
Six sessions were held:
- Discussion with the teachers - Sipsaru, Dr Manoj Fernando and teachers discussed the General issues including of the existing teacher vacancies and non-functioning of the school library.
- Teachers and Dr Manoj Fernando – Dr Manoj Fernando conducted a discussion exclusively with teachers to gauge their motivation, willingness and the ability to continue the Health Promotion activities with the Sipsaru.
- Discussion with the students of year 9, 10 and 11 – Dr Manoj Fernando with Ms Dilukshi, Health Promotion facilitator conducted the session. It helped to understand the support the students get from the families, school and the structural barriers for studies and health. The students agreed to undertake a few activities individually as well in a team to improve the situation.
- Discussion with the parents of the year 9, 10 and 11 students- Dr Manoj Fernando with Ms Dilukshi conducted the discussion using participatory methods to understand the family support to students as well as the structural barriers for health and studies they face. At the end the end of the session the parents came up with a few activities they can undertake to improve the situation.
- Dr Manoj Fernando had another session of discussion with the teachers of their future plans: There was a request for training on education strategies for disadvantaged/ deprived children.
- Further, the teachers requested Rajarata University to get involved in school/community research on health promotion thus enabling the school to benefit from those.
- Dr Chandani Galwaduge conducted a discussion with the female students of year 8 and above on menstrual and personal hygiene.
Health Promotion facilitator and the teachers will monitor the progress of the planned activities by the students and parents.
22. Training of teachers on teaching strategies for children from poor socio- economic families - 2 April 2022
Our technical expert Dr Manoj Fernando conducted a days’ training programme for teachers on teaching strategies for children from poor socio-economic families. Dr Manoj Fernando used participatory methods comprised of lecture discussions, group work, roleplays and individual presentations.
The process helped the teachers to identify the main reasons for the poor educational performance of the students and the structural factors that they can address as teachers.
Level of engagement of teachers was exemplary. All the teachers came up with a minimum of two activities that they would undertake individually during next six months to enhance the educational performance and wellbeing of the students.
Teachers gave very positive feedback of the programme to Sipsaru. They mentioned that this training programme was very catalytic for them to realize the amount of interventions they could implement as teachers to enhance the education performance and wellbeing of the children.
Teachers agreed to discuss with the Principal on a monthly basis, the progress of what they planned during the training programme.
23. Midday Meal - 29 April 2022
Recently the school has noticed more absenteeism amongst students as a result of them suffering from hunger due to prevailing failing economic situation in the country. The Government supporting scheme for midday meal is almost defunct due to insufficient allocation of mere Rs 30/ per child along with numerous restrictive conditions attached to it.
Sipsaru team unanimously approved provision of a midday meals for a Primary School student for an approximate cost of Rs 50/ per child. As there are 46 students in the Primary section a decision was taken to allocate Rs 2500/ day with a monthly total of Rs 50,000.
The school commenced providing the midday meal on 29 April. They have established a committee of 6 mothers to steer the programme along with the teachers. Mothers themselves who are working in groups of four are preparing the meal each day. The teachers monitor the preparation process and food hygiene.
Children are given boiled eggs at least two days a week.
We will be maintaining a separate ledger of accounts for midday meal.
24. World Children’s Day - 03 October 2022
The Primary School celebrated World Children’s on Monday 3 October as the Children’s Day fell on a Saturday this year. The theme was “Let us pursue our dreams”. It was colourful site to see these kids as they were allowed to come in colour clothes on the day.
Many games and items were organized. All the children received a gift (educational materials) from Sipsaru. those were purchased for Singithi Bakmaha (Sinhala New year) festival that was cancelled due to sudden school closure as a result of the economic crisis of the country. Children had a joyful time playing singing and taking part in games.
It was heartening to note that teachers cooking a special midday meal using their money and time to feed the Primary school children on the day...
25. International Teachers Day - 06 October 2022
The school celebrated the International Teachers Day on 6 October 2022. The programme comprised of speeches, singing and dancing items. Beautifully decorated traditional oil lamp with Gok leaves was a master piece demonstrating the esthetic and creative abilities of the students who did these with the guidance of teachers.
Highlight of the day was the speech by the student who proposed the vote of thanks to teachers in English language.
26. Scholarship Programme - 2022
Sipsaru supported purchasing of needed educational supplies for one year for twelve children ( six each girls and boys). These children are chosen per the agreed criteria. Seven are from the Primary section and the remaining from the secondary section.
27. Purchase of Model Question and Answer Papers - 12 December 2022
Sipsaru purchased model question and answer papers (monthly and term test) for all subjects for classes from year 6 to year 11. And also purchased Science and Mathematics past question and answer papers of the Western Province for the year 10 and year 11 classes. These books will be kept in the library enabling teachers to borrow the same as and when necessary.
