mail: info@dutchconnect.org

Netherlands:

Stichting DutchConnect

De Sitterlaan 10 A

2313 TN  LEIDEN

Tel: 071-5136393

Sri Lanka:              

Surfcity Internet Cafe

274/5 Parangiya Watta

Unawatuna

Tel: 0914-384790

DutchConnect is an organization set up to support and coordinate post Tsunami relief operations and development projects by Dutch private initiatives and organizations in the south of Sri Lanka. 

The main focus of DutchConnect is to develop a gateway for any organization or individual in Netherlands looking for relief activities, voluntary work, teaching or study in the south of Sri Lanka. 

DutchConnect is aimed primarily at the long-term development of Southern Sri Lanka. We hope to achieve our aims through small-scale projects, always TOGETHER with a local counterpart.  

DutchConnect is founded by Imco Flipse and Helena Postma who have been living in the south of Sri Lanka for more then 5 years.

The goals of DutchConnect:

  1. To act as a platform, meeting place and information centre for companies, foundations and individuals from the Netherlands and other countries, who want to help, in whatever way, people, local organisations or government agencies in the south of Sri Lanka.

  2. To develop lessons and courses which are mainly taught by students and volunteers. Our intention is to always work with a local counterpart who in due time gains sufficient knowledge to give the lessons him/herself.
  3. To place students and volunteers in a wide range of positions within local organisations and companies. Naturally the aim is not to fulfill positions that would otherwise be held by locals, but to provide expertise where it is needed (for example, in the field of psychology and environmental care). Here again we work, as far as possible, with local partners. 
  4. To organise active holidays for young people, whereby the focus lies on sports and cultural activities TOGETHER with local youngsters.   
  5. To provide financial support for local youth programs, schools, community centres and sports clubs.
  6. To support unemployed youngsters and adults and help them to find work. The support can consist of financial aid, provision of materials or training of specific skills.
  7. Helena specifically: setting up a psycho-social training program in collaboration with local Mental Health Officers in hospitals. Specialised in trauma relief techniques such as EMDR.
 Unawatuna Tourism Development Society (UTDS) 

A community based organization coordinating post Tsunami relief and development work in Unawatuna. DutchConnect is supporting UTDS in various ways. Imco is appointed as Director of the UTDS main committee. Click for more information:

  

Volunteers coordination center

Surfcity Internet Cafe is a guesthouse in Unawatuna, partly owned by Imco. The place temporarily functions as UTDS and DutchConnect office and is located in Unawatuna. Surfcity is appointed as JOHO-Netherlands volunteer coordination centre in Sri Lanka. Through 'Work for Asia', Dutch volunteers are involved in various post Tsunami relief activities such as rebuilding houses and businesses, teaching and training, fund raising and promotion activities. Volunteers and students from any other countries can apply as well.

Trauma relief courses

Helena is strongly motivated to make a positive contribution to trauma relief issues in Sri Lanka. Helena has worked in Sri Lanka as a social worker / trainer through VSO for the Ministry of Social Service in Galle and Trincomalee for 4 years. She has finished the first part of a course EMDR in Colombo, which she could use for / integrate into the trauma relief course.  At the moment, Helena is working on a pilot psycho-social support project in corporation with the hospital in Weligama. For more information on EMDR, visit www.emdr.com.

Hot News: 

  1. Dutch and English volunteers help with teaching art, music, dance, computer and English classes. Various classes are worked out by Fun for Life UK, such as dance and movement and puppet making. A magic show is also planned.
  2. The CSW, a secondary school in Zeeland, donated Euro 13.850 to build a Community Center in Unawatuna. More info ...
  3. A Dutch TV-team reporting the situation of a family in a temporary houses camp in Unawatuna six months after Tsunami.
  4. Volunteers and locals work together cleaning up the beach in Unawatuna. Now beach cleaning is funded by UTDS and worked out daily by a private garbage collector in Unawatuna.
  5. Drawings made by Tsunami affected children in Unawatuna will be printed into postcards and sold by the schoolchildren in UK and Netherlands and to visiting tourists in Sri Lanka over Christmas this year to support UTDS Children's Club and the building and running costs of a newly to be build community centre. Click the postcards below to read more about UTDS Children's Program and to see images of all six postcards.

One of the drawings made by the children to be printed into a postcard

Donations can be made through ABN-AMRO Leiden Netherlands, account no. 49.37.20.375, SWIFT CODE: ABNANL2A

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