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SOUTH ASIA SECTION
Introduction.
Rose Charities International has had another productive year in S.Asia With one or two exceptions most of the projects and initiatives have either expanded or maintained their 2008 levels of operation.
Activities and projects are divided geographically.
SRI LANKA
The CIDA funding program came to an end mid 2009 and as no new funding had been offered (the CIDA grant was for post-tsunami reconstruction and hence not part of a continuing program), many of the original elements had to be run-down or discontinued. The main casualty was the counseling program but the others, namely Sports for Peace, and Education were significantly reduced pending restructure.
Earlier in the year Sports for Peace particularly had achieved some notable successes with two of its participants being selected for the national team. Rose Charities has established communication with the Sport for Peace Foundation Monacco www.peace-sport.org/ who have expressed interest in the progam and kindly invited Rose Charities to send a representative to their annual conference.
In October 2009 a major European Philanthropic Organization awarded substantial 3 year a grant for ‘Young Woman and Child Education’ The planned program extends from ECCE/D (Early Childhood Care and Education / Development ) through to women targeted higher education. Elements of sporting activities are also included and special needs children also. Young women are targeted through direct grants as well as women’s group activities at community level as well as targeted vocational training Pre-program activities started December 2009 with view to full commencement January 2010..
In order to assist in monitoring this and other Sri Lanka programs and to create a ‘think-tank’, advisory steering, and fund-raising function a Rose Charities Canada, Sri Lanka Projects Sub-committee was formed.
Other programs (additional to the grant program) which continue include…
The University/College support program (formerly UniversiTea) which runs in conjunction with the Education Generation Organization (www.educationgeneration.org) and has now assisted around 80 students, some of whom have now successfully graduated in several disciplines and have obtained jobs
The Rose Charities Sri Lanka Microcredit program. This, very successful program is monitored and assisted by the RoseMicroCredit Committee of Rose Charities Canada which runs its own fund raising program as well as website. www.RoseMicroCredit.org Around 1000 persons have now been assisted in individual or shared micro-credit initiatives of all types.
Eye Clinic. A small eye clinic was founded, with aim initially to provide simple examination and advice, but gradually to expand to refraction and glasses preparation services, more complicate medical treatments and possibly eventually cataract treatment. Speed of progress will depend on resources and ability to integrate into the current health systems
‘K-2-K (Kid to Kid), formerly ‘Edu-twin’ program. This program designed to twin children and families in industrialized countries with those needing schooling assistance in Sri Lanka . Several donors have already started contributing. However before the formal inauguration of this program there had been at least one generous individual sponsorship which effectively piloted the program
PAKISTAN.
Rose Charities continues to support Frontier Primary Health Care (FPHC) Pakistan through the Hillman Medical Education Fund www.srpc.ca/Pakistanproject.html or www.hmef.blogspot.com This program is a Pakistani non-governmental organization (NGO), providing primary health care services to more than 150,000 people in the Charsadda, Mardan and Swabi districts of Northwestern Frontier Province. The Hillman support has helped to train women village health assistants in midwifery.
NEPAL.
The RIC-Rose www.roserehab.org drug-alcohol rehabilitation and anti trafficking program suffered some contraction during 2009 which lead to a dormant planning and reassessment phase at the end of the year. Whether the program will be redeveloped is currently unclear.
Rose Charities New Zealand, which has major focus in ophthalmology, however commenced support for the Lumbini Eye Institutes program in training village female community eye workers www.lei.org.np/communout.html to screed for eye disease. Early detection of conditions such as glaucoma or trachoma is essential to prevent blindness.
Rose Charities New Zealand www.rose-charities.org also sponsored a visit by Dr Basant Raj Sharma - current Vice President of Rose Charities Intenational and Senior Ophthalmologist (and founder of several of their programs) at Lumbini Eye Institute to Visit New Zealand.
