Matara Children Center (MCC)

Project managers: Christina Riddebäck, Christina@riddeback.se
                                       Kjell Arvidsson, kaconsulting@telia.com

Matara Children Center is celebrating five successful years! 

Matara Children Center
In Matara on Sri Lanka's southern tip the aid association Swedish Friends of Children in Sri Lanka (SFCSL) is cooperating with the Institute for Development of Community Strengths (INDECOS).

Together the organizations operates the community center Matara Children Center (MCC) where tsunami-affected and poor children and young people can come together for socializing, cultural activities and to participate in various educational programs.
In the mornings MCC also operates a pre-school for 25 children.

At MCC SFCSL also operates a child sponsorship program Matara Sponsor Program MSP 1-3 and a Star for Life School. Read more about the respective projects.

SFCSL is on behalf of MCC renting a house in a very nice residential area in the center of Matara. The house is surrounded by a garden with furniture and plantation suitable for play.
In the neighborhood there is a vast sports center with the possibility of both outdoor and indoor activities.
The MCC house includes a pre-school, classrooms, kitchen, computer room, and a library. A lot of books in English were donated by Läromedia in the town of Örebro in Sweden.

Swedish Friends of Children in Sri Lanka can also at MCC in coaction with World Volunteers make room for youths as volunteers and who wants to stay and work in 6-12 months.

Children aged 6-17 years are offered to participate in the following courses and activities at MCC:

• English
• Mathematics
• Computer knowledge
• Leadership
• Presentation Skills
• Positive Thinking
• Knowledge of writing
• Incentive to learn
• Teamwork / Group dynamics
• Experiences through field trips
• Manners & habits
• Cooking
• Diet and health
• Horticulture
• Games and sports
• Music and Dance

In addition to the above activities children can participate in programs dealing with democracy, human rights and the environment.

Articles / Reports

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Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2012
 - at Matara Children Centre
By Rasi Lakmali
Sinhala and Tamil New Year is one of the biggest festivals that is celebrated by Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindu people of Sri Lanka.
It is usually held on 13th and 14th of April and these two days are considered as national holidays.
To celebrate this event Astrologers usually come up with a set of times to do certain rituals.

Read the whole article, wonderful pictures! >>>

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On February 16, 2012
Matara Children Center celebrated a 5 year anniversary!

 In pouring rain about twenty Swedish guests arrived to honor the day.
They traveled to Matara on Sri Lanka's southern tip to celebrate with children, young people, teachers, directors and many other invited guests.
The day was filled with children's speeches, not an eye was dry when the children testified about the value of the MCC.
MCC is the center where they are always welcome and the manager Pearl Pereera has an armful for the little children to seek comfort in though a listening ear and a watchful eye for the older children.
Children and young people where dancing and singing merely accompanied by the SFCSL´s own Star for Life drummer Dasun and his musical friends. All performances and speeches were in English and of high quality.

In the evening the MCC employees gathered with board members of SFCSL to enjoy cultural dance and music.

Matara Children Center has great significance for the development of children and young people's future in the Matara district.
Help us operate the MCC by making a donation or become Ambassadors for the MCC.

Christina Riddebäck