Montessori Pre-School Construction and Teacher Training July 1995 - March 1996 Moragollagama, Sri Lanka Funded by: MOFA Implemented by: Agromart, ICA Sri Lanka, ICA Japan and local people
PROJECT OVERVIEW Moragollagama Village is approximately 200 km northeast of Colombo, and is covered with greenery. This village has a national primary school for 40 families, but there are many children who cannot go to school because of poverty, parents' ignorance of education and distance. There are also many dropouts. This project aimed at providing the first authentic Montessori pre-school education program in a village in Sri Lanka. We constructed a pre-school in the village and trained the teachers in the Montessori method for six months. Under this method, teachers are facilitators and respect the independence of these children, and use many teaching aids. Approximately 60 children, including those from neighbouring villages, have been attending the pre-school since it opened in 1997.
1. The completed preschool building.
	2. Moragollagama village is approximately 200km away from Colombo in the northeast direction.
	3. It is in the dry area. Most of the villagers are farmers, but in the dry seasons they cannot do farming due to lack of water.
	4. The village is surrounded by bushes and palm trees.
	5. About 125 families live in Moragollagama and in the three nearby villages who will benefit from the preschool.
	6. They are stricken by poverty.
	7. Standing in her backyard, this mother is looking forward to sending her daughter to the school.
	8. Although education of primary and junior high school is compulsory and free, parents have to pay for preschool, which is almost impossible for those in this poor village. But without the preschool education, the children find it difficult to succeed in the regular school.
	9. Before the project, children were spending their spare time playing or doing some homework.
	10. This boy had just taken a shower. He is also a beneficiary of the project.
	11. Our counterpart, Agromart Foundation, was established in 1987. In the center is Agromart's chairperson, Ms.Beulah Moonesinghe at the initiation ceremony.
	12. The staff of the foundation discussing in their headquarters.
	13. The staff and villagers assessing the needs of the village.
	14. The site was in the bush jungle.
	15. Villagers cut down some trees and then leveled the site.
	16. Agromart staff cooperated with the villagers.
	17. Laying of the foundation stone on an auspicious day.
	18. Villagers clearing the bushes.
	19. Villagers worked with great commitment and coherence.
	20. The cleared site.
	21. The site was then measured. In the center, from right to left, runs the only road for cars.
	22. First, the blocks were laid.
	23. Ms. Beulah Moonesinghe inspecting the site.
	24. The coordinator of the project, Ms. Puthrika Moonesinghe, who is doing the ICA leadership training in Sri Lanka.
	25. The laying of the blocks is nearly completed.
	26. The outer wall of the building was cemented.
	27. The construction inside of the building.
	28. The completed building.
	29.?@The school seen from the road.
	30. The roof was colored green for harmony with its environment. But the ruling political party tried to force the villagers to repaint it because green is the symbolic color of the opposition party. So they painted part of the roof brown. They are going to repaint it again, this time in yellow.
	31. The well in the playground. It was built in order to secure drinkable water for the children. Rain will be gathered and stored in the well during the rainy seasons. In 1997, an electric generator will be purchased to pump up and distribute the water.
	32. The adjacent house. The fence is for keeping wild elephants off the school yard. It will be replaced by cement walls this year.
	33. The villagers gathered to celebrate the opening of the school building.
	34. The children wearing their best clothes.
	35. Chairperson of Agromart Foundation, being greeted by a child.
	36. The religious setting for the opening ceremony. Inside the school people were waiting for the auspicious time to start the ceremony.
	37. Chairperson lite the firewood at exactly 11:02. The man on the left held a vase of milk. Boiling of the milk and letting it overflow is part of the Sri Lankan tradition as milk is the symbol of happiness.
	38. The Buddhist monks came to dispel evils. They are highly respected by the villagers.
	39. Chairperson and staff of Agromart, making address to the villagers. In the center is the feast covered by cloth.
	40. The traditional feast for a ceremony. In the middle are the milk-rice cakes made of rice and coconut milk.
	41. The villagers at the ceremony inside the school building.
	42. The children dressed up.
	43. At the entrance of the school building. She was very curious about the camera.
	44. The two teachers were born and had grown up in this village. Having just been trained in the Montessori method for half a year, they are looking forward to teaching the children this year.
	45. The ICA volunteer was greeted by the children with flowers at the gate of the school yard.

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