Initiation

What: Initial stages of building a vocational training center to offer targeted trades courses to local residents. In the initiation stage we met with community leaders to discuss local needs and possibilities and secured property on which to develop the center.
Where: Valaichenai, Batticaloa District
Why: Lack of employment opportunities, combined with a shortage of training opportunities for individuals seeking to join the labour force, plague the post-war, post-tourism eastern seaboard. The VTC will assist unemployed or underemployed local residents in developing the local economy and responding to changing local and global conditions.
When: February 2008 (initiation stage)
Who: Nick, Ruwan, Cory, Margaret, local contacts in Valaichenai and Batticaloa.

Development

What: Began development on the property site. Built and equipped a cement fence-post shop.
Where: Valaichenai, Batticaloa
Why: Fencing is required to secure the property; by setting up our own fence-post shop we can reduce the costs of fencing a large area while simultaneously establishing a small business.
When: July 2008
Who: Nick, Gereon, Ruwan, with advice from local contacts and help from Margaret, Ainslie and Frances.