Gurudeniya Madhya Maha Vidyalaya

Responding to a Facebook post GH published in April 2022, Mrs Bisomanike, the o/l teacher at Gurudeniya Madhya Maha Vidyalaya, joined the project. It was a matter of great appreciation of the programs done by good hands in the Central Province. Then according to our requests, after many rounds of discussions with the principal of that school, GH made a preliminary survey for a program. This school was located adjacent to the main road from Kandy to Rikillagaskada. More than 1000 grade 6 to A/L Level students are currently studying in this school. After several long phone conversations, we received an invitation from the principal to come to the school and discuss the project and further details. Accordingly, after visiting the school and discussing with the principal, we could take the initial steps for a program.

In the last week of September, our team launched the good hand’s program on the school premises covering the Gurudeniya area. Thus, in the basic awareness program held, college academic and non-academic staff, Kandy district teaching advisor, parents and many students participated. After presenting the mission of managing the coconut plantation and the good hands project, the discussion was held for a few hours about the current status of the coconut plantation in Sri Lanka and its future with the help of the principal and teaching advisor. After this, parents and students joined for practical activities in an open part of the school’s agricultural farm. The necessary knowledge and seed nursery techniques, as well as solutions to problems related to coconut cultivation and other crops, were given to the parents and students. It was obvious the enthusiasm and interest of the participating students.

The next step was to nurse over 100 seeds with the participation of the students mainly and as a hands-on assignment. The student-parent union also planted coconut saplings on the school premises after we provided almost all the necessary practical knowledge. At the end of the school project, participating parents and teachers were given coconut seeds to plant in the nursery, along with coconut saplings. As an investment for the future, our team also arranged to hand over 50 good hands manuals to the school library through the principal. Also, GH concluded the program by giving the good hands manual to all the participants and explaining how to record seed growth.

Thalathuoya Police Station

After being briefed by the principal, our team went to the police station of the area, Talathuoya Police Station. OIC of the Police Station, Mr Krishantha, welcomed us and expressed his gratitude to Good Hands for the selection of Talathuoya Police Station and the organization of community programs at the village level. In the police station premises, the GH team organized a coconut seed nursery with the participation of several police officers; the GH team gave coconut saplings for planting and distributed good hands manuals among the participants.