temporary arrangements
The schools in Katuwila and Galwehera continued in operation and their capacities were even increased so that pupils from Wathuregama could switch to them. The operation of the schools is made possible through the support of the Pro Juventute Foundation, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and through donations.
Parallel to the search for a new site for the school and the reconstruction of the basic infrastructure of the owf main building, Bogenvillya, temporary facilities for the Preschool Units for approx. 80 children were already set up in January 2005 in a Buddhist temple in Balapitya, about two kilometres away from Wathuregama.
In March an empty villa from the colonial period was rented, also in Balapitya, known in Sri Lanka as the Walauwe, where the other units from Wathuregama could be temporarily housed: the Computer and English Units, the Tailoring Unit as well as the newly created Primary Education Unit. In May the Walauwe was extended with open annexes for three classes and an extra English teacher was taken on. This was in reaction to the high demand of children from families from the surrounding area who had become homeless. In August the Walauwe was again extended with an open annex for one class. Physical education could once again be started, as well as music lessons after the musical instruments destroyed in the tsunami could be replaced. In summer, in cooperation with Women's Cooperation Vienna, a building was rented, also in Balapitya, for restarting operations of the Women's Cooperation Unit from Wathuregama.
The rapid establishment of comprehensive temporary operations ensured that the former capacity of the owf school facilities could soon once again be reached: at the end of 2005 658 schoolchildren were registered at the owf free education unit and 22 apprentices employed.
The temporary arrangements were in use from February 2005 until the opening of the new school campus in Ahungalla in December 2006.
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