WUSC assists youths in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 August 2005, 18:07 GMT]
World University Service of Canada (WUSC) donated twenty sewing machines to the first batch of girls and boys who have completed six months' sewing training course in the Government Technical College in Trincomalee. The course was conducted under the Project for Rehabilitation through Education and Training (PRET) of the WUSC.

The handing over of sewing machines was held last Thursday evening in the Trincomalee Government Technical College with Mr.Douglas Graham, Country Director of the WUSC as the chief guest. Mr.V.Suntharalingam, Principal of Government Technical College presided.

Mr.M.Pushparajan, Trincomalee District Programme Officer of the WUSC also participated in the event. Mr.R.Manivannan, WUSC Trincomalee official conducted the proceeding, sources said.

Trained boys and girls with their parents participated in the event.

Mr.V.Suntharalingam said the sewing machines were donated to beneficiaries to earn for their livelihood under self-employment scheme.

Mr.Douglas Graham and Mr.Pushparajan also spoke.

Representative of the beneficiaries and one of the parents said they were thankful to the WUSC for providing training and sewing machines to earn for their livelihood.

WUSC founded in 1939 in Canada is a non-denominational, non-sectarian development organization. WUSC is incorporated as a non-profit organization and has been granted Tax exempt status by the Canadian Minister of National revenue. Currently, WUSC is involved with projects in Canada, Asia, Africa and South America, sources said.

WUSC commenced the implementation of the PRET in Sri Lanka in 1989. The purpose of the project is to enhance the standard of living for poor, under unemployed women and youth who have been directly affected by the conflict, through the removal of barriers to the acquisition of skills required for employment and the promotion of economic development, sources said.

The PRET project covers the districts of Vavuniya, Mannar, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Matara, Hambantota, Moneragala, Batticaloa, Amparai and Trincomalee, WUSC sources said.