Berichte / REPORTS Physiotherapeutisches Pilotprojekt Sri Lanka

Hello everybody,

what an exciting year is coming to an end!!

The kids of Samanali have made great progress in their tasks. Everyone has developed positively for themselves.

We had a great events happening this year: Physiotherapy – Craniosacral Therapy – Dance Class – Music Class – Swim – Cricket & Sport.

A colorful program, where the children have a lot of fun.

Thanks to many wonderful people who firmly believe in the children of "SAMANALI" and the project, we were able to organize very special highlights this year:

• The annual "Magic Day of Giving" On the first Saturday in the New Year, all children and their families are invited to an unforgettable Magic Day. The group from the dance class shows their skills in a cultural dance performance. In the foreground of the day is, of course, the magic with a magic show, magic balloons, face painting, bouncy castle, popcorn and many more surprises.

• With the teacher Sunethra, the dance group has found a wonderful patient teacher who teaches the children the traditional dancing and drumming with much love.
  
  

• An unforgettable experience: with 2 leased buses we went on the highway to Colombo to the airport. That alone was very exciting for everyone. But it should be even more exciting:
  After everyone was warmly welcomed by the Srilankan team, there was not only a complete tour of the entire airport area with a small ice cream break, but also a grand finale:
  The crew had only provided a Boeing ashore for the children, where they were served lunch and explained everything exactly. A dream that will be remembered forever, including most parents.
  
  

• What a great fundraising campaign by the band Easy Road for the project SAMANALI. A beautiful day with wonderful people took place on the 10th of September 2017. Many friends and acquaintances met after a long time in the old home with great live music and sunshine again. Thanks to Easy Road and Niko-Team for this indescribably great event, which was moderately organized.
  Also a big thank you to Conny Hecker-Stock from the BT for the great reports and all the others who have participated in their way.

• Rangi completed a traineeship with the children as a physiotherapist for a very long time and finally graduated with bravura and got a state job. Since the children are very dear to her, she wanted to have the kids from Samanali with her "Big Day". This is not typical of Sinhalese relationships-hence all the more exciting for the children and their families to participate. With the bus we went elegant dressed up for the party in the vicinity of Horana.
  
  

• Unfortunately we had to give up the premises in Peralycentre in middle of November. After a long search and countless conversations and looking at places, I was finally able to find something. An old colonial house, which is in very good condition, was put up for rent. After meeting the owner, Mr Paale and his son, and telling him for what purpose I wanted to rent his house, he was very enthusiastic and immediately pledged me for a fair price. Mr Paale himself is very visually impaired and very quickly became part of the Samanali project.
  All parents offered grateful help immediately and thus the move could take place quickly. We had to get some new purchases, reorganize a lot, which was only possible with your help.
  We have purchased the following for the new center: new benches, class tables and chairs, new flooring for the dance floor, mirror, whiteboard, therapy couch, grass, plants, wood and materials for swings and covers, refrigerator, shelves, paint and artisan utensils, Buddha statue, kettle, kitchen utensils and crockery.
  There is still something missing, but in the beginning this is more than enough. With the time we will manage it!
  
  

• After the Sinhalese Buddhist ritual, the new center was inaugurated by the families. For a certain time, a fire is kindled in the new premises, where milk is boiled over. We sung for this a prayer mantra. After that, Milk rice pudding and other traditional foods were distribute to everybody.
  
  

• In collaboration with Foundation of Goodness. The children could have their first experiences with different sports and devote themselves completely new hobbies. Thank you all!!
  
  

• A check-up of vision where most of the children have done well in the eye test. Only a few had to be provided with glasses. Every year I try to organize a medical checkup.

• In December of last year, the Australian couple Rob & Jolanda approached me because they wanted to help the deaf girl Surali. They met her during their stay in Sri Lanka. Surali comes from a poor family, she is a smart girl, who goes to school diligently, but hardly notices her deafness. Rob and Jolanda asked me for help if I could find someone to teach Sign language to Surali. With the help of friends, we set out to find the young teacher Nirodikha Ishani. She promised to take care of Surali and teach her the sign language. Successful as we could see. Surali has already learned a basic base of signs and can already communicate quite well. Although she is very shy, she enjoys learning a lot. Rob and Jolanda came back this year and convinced themselves of their diligence. Together with the teacher, we visited the family of Surali, who are very grateful that someone believes in their daughter and supports her development.

• Regularly Herman visits us to control and ensures that the children who are receiving orthopedic care are adapted to their growth. This year I was able to bring a whole box of discarded straps to Sri Lanka from Rehability Heidelberg-Frankfurt in Germany. The owner, Jule Heil was so nice and provided us with a whole selection. Tools that firstly do not exist in SL and secondly would be priceless.
  
  

All this and those wonderful moments would not have been possible without your support.

Therefore, I would like to thank my dear friends, faithful helpers in need, my saving angels from the heart:

* Simone and Josua Kohberg from Kosys (www.kosyshilft.de) spontaneously agreed to take over the annual rent from the new center.

* Anish Seth and his family, who have been with me from the beginning, always and always at my side, they support the project from the start. Deeply Grateful!

* Susanne Grothey and Jacek Kociszewski, who support the project not only by a sponsorship, but also with a lot of commitment to many loved ones in their friends & acquaintances collect donations. Since both come to Sri Lanka several times a year, they are of course always with the children of "SAMANALI" to visit.

* The guys from Easy Road (Florian Meyer, Klaus Leppert, Juergen Forcher, Jochen Pregger, Torsten Ilg) for the sensational charity concert – Niko Span and family & team-company "Heinz von Heiden" – company Horst Höll – Jutta Peter – Sandra Damentgen – Anja Riedel – Conny Hecker Stock from BT

* A big thank you to a wonderful woman, dear friend, mother, web designer and author: Melanie Huber & Family

* Herman & Cheryl Wendland and Matammana Ortopaedic

* Jule Heil from Rehability Heidelberg

* To all my dear friends who accompany me in their own way:
Susanne Oberegge, Henrik Pattensen, Fam. Gudrun & Jürgen Hund, Fam. Flotho, Fam. Dr. Ludwig, Fam. Ball, Fam. Dr. Kolodjezak-Winkelmann, Robert Bleil, Fam. Wimmer, Fam. Reis-Wagner, Daniela Stücker, Josef M. BartholemyCanan, Joland & Rob, Fam. Ruth König und Fam. Erich Wühr, Mr.Pale & Family, Sumudu, Manoj, Tashii & Friends, Yasas, Ruwan Studio, Suresh, Dinesh, Paola, Shawn, Brian and of course ALL that I did not mention by name. I appreciate your support and I am grateful for it:

A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles ...

"All kids need a little help, a little hope and someone who believes in them"

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

The greatest Gift you cannot wrap up in Paper:

Family, Friends, Peace, Joy, Happiness, Smiles, Health ...

Thank you so much,

Barbara & Kids of SAMANALI