INTRODUCTION

1. ‘Help them to stand on their own feet’ is the theme of the joint project initiated by Rotary Club of Battaramulla (RCB) with the assistance of Rotary club of Panduwasnuwara (RCP) to rehabilitate PATAPILIGAMA, a small village 3 km away from Hettipola town in Panduwasnuwara, in |North Western Province of Sri Lanka.
2. This is a worthy and ambitious Joint Community Service Project phased out with short, mid and long term objectives to provide facilities for water and sanitation, basic infrastructure, Literacy and education culminating in achieving the following goals.
   1. Access to clean drinking water and sanitation.
   2. Education at least up to secondary school for all children.
   3. Full employment of all able and willing adults.
   4. Access to religious and recreational activities to all families.
   5. Bringing all the families above the poverty line.
3. The survey carried out jointly by RCB and RCP to determine the assistance required by the villagers revealed the following details.
   
   1. The village consist of 84 families living in 78 houses.
   2. Total No. of villagers. 268. Each family consist of an average of 3-4 members.
   3. The three generations living in the village could be identified as follows. First generation earns their living by working in the metal quarry. The second generation consist of labourers, Farmers and a few tradesmen who live out of metal quarrying. Third generation which consist of youth and children are keen to pursue their education.
   4. Majority of the houses are temporary constructions with no water, toilets, or electricity.
   5. The entire village has only one well. This has no water most of the year. The water collected at the metal quarry is utilized for washing and bathing. They have to trek a long distance to fetch drinking water.
   6. The only tank adjoining the village is silted. As a result it does not hold any water. This affects the cultivation of available paddy fields and other crops.
   7. Proper roads are not available making transportation extremely difficult and hazardous.
   NEEDS IDENTIFIED
4. Needs assessment was carried out in order to identify, plan and implement a Joint Community Service Projects to develop the village and uplift the living standards of villagers on a short, mid and long term basis.
5. Short term projects that have been completed already.
   1. Water: Construction of a deep well to obtain drinking water.
   2. Sanitation: Construction of 10 toilets for those who did not have.
   3. Education: Provision of school books for the entire year to those children who persue studies. Scholarships in the form of a monthly stipend for to those who persue higher studies and professional courses. Teaching English as the second language.
   4. Micro credit: Provision of loans through Banks to indulge in self employment projects. .
   5. Provision of safety bottle lamps.
   
   
   
   
6. Mid term projects planned
   1. Water: Provision of 03 more tube wells for drinking water
   2. Rehabilitation of tank for agriculture
   3. Provision of electricity to all houses.
   4. Further assistance for children’s education in the form of providing books and equipment, Granting of scholarships, continuing with English classes.
   5. Popularizing Home gardening
Long term projects planned.
1. Construction of a community centre.
2. Construction of a shrine room
3. Establishment of a Vocational Training Centre that will provide Vocational training including Computer education.
7. Financial assistance in the form of Matching Grants has been requested for this project. Rotary volunteers as voluntary teachers for English classes being conducted, Donation of Basic English language books, computers and other educational equipment are most welcome. Those who wish to assist may contact the following for further details

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