Mercy Corps funded Trinco YMCA training center opened

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 March 2006, 17:39 GMT]
Ms Gretchen Ansorge, Regional Programme Manager of the Mercy Corps in Trincomalee district Thursday evening declared open the reconstructed Vocational Training and Youth Center of the Trincomalee Young Men Christian Association (YMCA). The building was reconstruvted at a cost of about two million rupees with the funding of Mercy Corps which has its headquarters in United States of America.

The Vocational Training and Youth Center of the YMCA was destroyed by tsunami on December 24. The Center is located along the Inner Harbor Road in Trincomalee town.

Mr. J.W.M.Borham, President of the Trincomalee YMCA said in his welcome speech that deadly waves took away the building, which housed the training and youth center of the YMCA with all materials needed for the vocational training. Miraculously there was no loss of life because the disaster was on Sunday as no was in the building, he said.

Mr.Borham thanked the Mercy Corps for funding the reconstruction of vocational training and youth center.

He added the vocational training center has been conducting training programmes in the field of electrical wiring, welding and motor mechanism for unemployed youth from villages, Muttur, Kinniya and Kantalai for youths of both sex.

The aim of the project is to make the unemployed youths marketable in the employment sector with necessary training.

Several youths trained in the centre have been working in the Indian Oil Corporation and other private sector establishments as welders and electricians earning a sum of Rupees 800 - 1000 daily, Mr.Borham added.

Mr.S.Wijekulasingham, Deputy general Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Sri Lanka was the guest of honor.

Rev.Fr.Lorio held the opening prayer and blessed the new building. Ms Mahilini Perinpanayagam, Chairperson of the YMCA Education and Vocational Training, Mr.Wijekulasingham and Ms Gretchen Ansorge spoke.

Children of YMCA Children Club held an entertainment show.Mr.G.A.Francis, General Secretary of the YMCA proposed vote of thanks and Mr.V.A.S.David, YMCA Treasurer held the closing prayer.

The Australian YMCA has also provided about 3.8 million rupees for the construction of another building to provide accommodation to youths who undergo training in the vocational training center. The construction work on this progress is in progress, YMCA sources said.