Shakti Village Empowerment Inc

"Shakti" ...meaning "to be able to"

http://www.shaktivillageempowerment.org  

 

The Shakti Village Empowerment Program is a volunteer effort that provides improved health care, quality educational programs, and economic development assistance to the villagers of Blackpool, Sri Lanka. The organization was founded in 2007 by Sri Lanka-born American citizen, Adrian Dunuwila.     SVEP's Goals for the project:

1. Improving schools, increasing attendance, and providing better facilities for students and staff
2. Introducing accessible healthcare and improving the living conditions for all residents
3. Ensuring successful business ventures through a micro-loan program
4. Identifying a severely impoverished family each year and providing them with essential resources
5. Teaching the Blackpool residents essential businesstactics, helping them become self-sufficient, and alleviating the village of social poverty
6. Continually assessing our progress towards reaching our long-range goals: caring for the poor, sick, and orphaned.

Some accomplishments we've made thus far:

1. During our most recent visit to Blackpool, a very impoverished family was chosen to receive additional help and support from SVEP. The single mother living in the home, along with her two young children and sick grandmother, are in desperate need of basic necessities. You can read this woman's story on our housing page.
2. In 2011, an annual award ceremony was established to recognize the accomplishments of students and faculty at the school.
3. A playground was built in 2008 on the school's campus that is severely lacking of facilities. The classrooms and bathrooms were also remodeled.
4. A computer and internet service was provided in the same year; the first in the entire area.
5. Yearly health camps were established in 2007, providing residents with eye exams, general health exams, and eye glasses, if needed.
6. Over 400 women have received essential funding through SVEP's micro-loan program.
7. Through a partnership with the Department of Agriculture, an awareness program was housed in Blackpool that over 150 farmers and residents attended.
8. A year's supply of books was donated to the school from a partnership with two Sri Lankan-based Lion's Clubs.

Our funding goal:

If we can manage to raise $1,000 in 60 days, we can give up to ten individuals the opportunity for a better home, business, and/or overall living standard.