Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
The Rekawa, Ussangoda, Kalametiya (RUK) area consists of several villages. About 40 village families are benefiting directly from the project’s work with over 500 indirectly benefiting. The project proper started about 3 years ago and Renton used his own funds and the support and good will of his friends (especially immediately after tsunami of Dec 2004).
The Sri Lanka villa accommodation land and building is owned by Renton's daughter who has provided it free for the venture. Renton renovated and equipped the property to operate it as a social enterprise, without amortizing the costs to the operation. All guides and tour operations in the locality are handled by local people. 60% of the operational profits are utilized to support community operations with 20% reserved for maintenance and 20% to pay architects fees until amortized.
At the Sri Lanka villa accommodation we support the conduct of :
- An environmental education programme in five schools of the area
- A village development programme through the development of a temple, Sunday school and a vocational training centre
- We are establishing a community operated camping site
- A family operated eco lodge and herbarium
- The temples in the area that work as catalysts to develop the communities
- An English teaching programme for children
- Computerization in 4 schools, school playground development, library and home science labs
- Setting up of a maternity and child care centre
- Support for a home for the blind elderly of the area
- Award of bicycles for 23 women for use to transport their craft, food and other produce
- Conduct of several competitions in the area to promote local capabilities (local folk poetry, art and painting, photography, music etc)
Other programmes run are schools environmental education and Conservation awareness programmes through guide training etc.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
