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Tailoring Centre in Mannar

Mannar :
Mannar District is located in northwestern Sri Lanka . It is one of five administrative districts of the Northern Province . The district covers 2,002 sq. km, approximately 3% of the total land area of Sri Lanka . Geographically the bulk of Mannar is on the mainland within the arid and dry zone. High temperatures and low rainfall characterize the climate. The primary economic activities in Mannar are crop cultivation (mainly paddy), fisheries and animal husbandry. Employment opportunities in the district are highly seasonal, and there are no institutional facilities for tertiary education. 
The conflicts in Northern and Eastern region for lat 20 years have compelled the displacement and destruction of the large segment of the Mannar district. The war has destroyed the infrastructure and the displacement has left communities without maintenance and jungle has swallowed formerly populated areas.

Education :
The education sector has been badly affected by the conflict. Though 90 of 111schools are functioning, many of the original structures are damaged or destroyed. The SLA also has occupied a number of schools preventing their use. 

Tailering Centre:
With the help of TECH France , a tailoring centre was setup on 23 rd February 2006 in Andankulam, Mannar district. TECH France donated 600,000 Rs towards this project, which bought ten new sewing machines for the centre.

Participants, who so far have had the opportunity to be trained in these tailoring classes, were selected from a group of widows who suffer from extreme poverty. This training will provide a means to setup small businesses themselves, or at the very least obtain jobs in the garment industry. It will not only enhance/develop their tailoring skills, but will also provide a direction to which they can focus their energies, to try and generate a good income that will not only provide for her, but also the family who she is responsible for.

This project aims to develop the capacity of the local community, by helping in improving the quality of lives of people. Institutions like the above provide a helping hand to community members, who without it have no means or direction to try and take themselves out of the poverty stricken lives that they lead.


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