Annual Report – HELP-O

2008 - 2009
This annual report shows about the
achievement of the year and what are the
services that provided by the organization to
grass root level community.
During the year we got an award from the
Japan Housing Association for provide
shelters for homeless people. For this
Panasonic company was sponsored. We
constructed 27 houses for the homeless
people and established a people’s movement.
HELP – O also implement micro finance
program for provide financial support for the
grass root level self employees through many
people developed their monthly income and
living standard too.
One of the best achievements is we
implemented a biogas program with
participation of United Nations Development
Program and Central Environment Authority
and we constructed 09 community biogas
units in Galle Municipal Council area. From
this program we able to generate some jobs
for the jobless persons and now they are
getting monthly allowance from this
program.

Human & Environment Links Progressive Organization (HELP-O)

No.364 / 18 A, Samagi Mawatha,
Dangedara,Galle, Sri Lanka.
T.P / Fax – 091 – 4380121
E-Mail – helpogn@wow.lk Web – www.help-o.lk
 Contents

1. Background of the Organization

2. Introduction of the Programs

3. Short Message of Mr. Chathura Welivitiya – Chairman / Chief Executive

4. Community Biogas Programs

5. Mahamodara Hospital Biogas Program

6. Gampaha Municipal Council Biogas Program

7. Balapitiya – IUCN Biogas Program

8. Welson Pura – Practical Action Biogas Program

9. IYSH Memorial Program

10. Livelihood Support Activities – SMAGL Project

11. Rehabilitation Tsunami Victims – R.R.L.C Project

12. Community Model Farm

13. Paraliya Handy Craft Program

14. World Habitat day Program

15. Scholarships for the Prisoner’s Children

16. Coir Mill – Paraliya

17. Especial events of HELP-O

18. HELP-O Staff Participated International Programs

19. HELP-O Board of Directors and Staff

20. HELP-O Partners and Donors

21. HELP-O Annual Audit Report

2008 - 2009 Annual Report – HELP-O 2

Background
Human & Environment Links Progressive Organization (HELP – O) is a non profit
organization which was established on 1993 under Social Welfare act of the Sri Lanka.
The organization is implementing many programs for the grass root level people in
southern province. One of the main fundamentals of the organization
 To treat the poor community.
 To accept that community development is with Human and child right protection.
 To accept that the community is aware.
 To accept that the community cannot be classified by their religion , race, caste, and
the social status
 To accept the position that the community should be given the leadership when
preparing programs
 To refrain from party politics
 To help the community and learn from them.

HELP – O is always dedicating to protect the environment and provide legal aids for
the community needs.

Introduction
In 2008 we implemented many programs for the grass root level community. One of our
main activities is livelihood support for community. We have been supported from
many sides to improve the livelihood one side is providing financial support for the
grass root level community and second is build the capacity of the community through
the awareness and exchange the experience.
On that year we implemented another housing program for the homeless people and
we got an international award for providing shelters for the homeless people and
forming a people’s movement. Through this people’s movement we empower the
community for a better tomorrow.
With the help of the people’s movement we implemented a biogas project and it has
much impacts now people away from the LP Gas and they have started to use the
organic fertilizer for cultivation. On the other hand the total waste has been decreased
as one of reason of this biogas program. We can burn the Methane gas and it heals the
environment and it directly effect to the Global Warming.
For our organization 2008 year was very success and achieved many target during the
year with the community.

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Mr. Chathura Welivitiya – Chairman / Chief Executive HELP-O

2008 year was successful year for our organization. On that year we
could able to reach many targets that we focused on beginning of the
year. One of the most successful program is community biogas
program this is first time that we used this concept for the waste
management. The concept is Public Private Partnership and program
was very success.
In end of the year our organization got an international award name International Year
of Shelter for Home less People (IYSH) for providing shelters for homeless people and
establishing a people’s movement. I think this is one of our major achievements of the
year.
Also we could able to construct more houses for the homeless people of the Galle
district. And through our Micro Finance program we helped to more than 1000 self
employees for improve their living standard. The people’s movement that we formed
has been expanded.
In next year we expect to expand our services for many people with good quality. Our
next year concept is “Through the Experience Sharing Empower the community”

Community Biogas Programs

In 2008 HELP-O has implemented many
environment programs with support of UNDP.
On that time the total waste collection was 50 tons
per day and the Galle Municipal Council didn’t
have a good dumping system. On that time HELP-
O has planned to decrease this and find a
sustainable solution for it. Many citizens were
suffering from this serious problem even many
children were affected to diseases.
This program was implemented with Central Environment Authority (CEA), UNDP,
Galle Municipal Council (GMC) and the people’s movement that we have formed.
Through this program we have constructed 09 Biogas units in Galle Municipal Council
area. After started this program the total waste collection were decreased for 25 tons per
day and for this biogas process is one of reasons.

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 Biogas units and community has started to cultivated with organize manure

HELP-O has introduced a tricycle to collect the organic

wastes. The cyclist collects the waste from small hotels
and restaurants. Through that we could able to
decrease the waste collection and we motivated the
community for decrease irregular waste dumping. We
achieved to decrease the methane gas emission to air
and it’s directly effects to the global warming. Now
waste has a value because through the biogas units
they can get biogas for cooking purposes many
members has started the many self employees like making lunch packets, making string
hopes and other short eats.
The community has started to cultivate from the Organic fertilizer this fertilizer was
very popular because it has good efficiency. The members of the people’s company use
this fertilizer for the cultivation. This is one of good benefits for the community as well
as for the environment. Also we are following new
method for colleting waste. The strategy is using a
tricycle for carry the waste. The cyclist is monitoring
by the village people’s company branch. And they
collect daily amount for carrying the waste from
hotels and factories and small restaurants. The village
people’s company members have started to bottle this
fertilizer and sell it now they have more incomes for
the people’s company branch. Under this program we
construct 08 Biogas units in community level in various Municipal council areas which
waste highly generate areas.

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 Mahamodara Hospital Biogas Program

Our second Hospital Biogas program was

conducted in Mahamodara Teaching hospital
because this is the second main hospital of the Galle
and many people daily coming to this hospital and
waste generation is high. Early time they suffer
from this program Municipal could not able to solve
this massive problem and Hospital expended much
money for the LP Gas usage.
Then UNDP and HELP-O could able to solve this
problem through a constructing a biogas unit for this hospital. This program also
implemented under Community Biogas program
which was funded by UNDP. Also we have provided
some technical programs for them now the problem
has been solved. Now they have a profit from the
biogas now they could able to earn more than Rs.30,
000 monthly from this biogas program. Also they
have started to sort the waste inside of the hospital.
Now they dump more than 500 KG organic waste per
day and rest of other waste they collect it and recycle it.

Gampaha Municipal Council Biogas Program

Gampaha city is one of main city of the western province and many people are coming
to this city for various purposes. The daily waste collection is more than 55 tons per
day. 75% is organic waste from the total waste that means they can use this waste to
valuable thing.

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HELP-O and the Municipal Council agreed to provide a sustain solution to this waste
problem. Through this understanding they came to Galle to study this program and
agreed to start this program in their area. “Pilisaru Project was funded for this program
and this is a public private partnership waste management program. At this moment
Municipal Council provides biogas to neighbor houses and collects Rs.500 each month
and this program became an income generating program. And they could able to find a
sustain solution to their waste problem.
We constructed 02 biogas units in their land that can dump one ton organic waste per
day. Now they expect to cultivate from this organic fertilizer which gets from the biogas
units.

Balapitiya Biogas Program (Madu River Biogas program)

Balapitiya is one of main tourist area and Madu River is a good wetland in all over the
world and this wetland has many threats. HELP-O and IUCN has been involved to
protect this valuable wetland through a constructing a Biogas unit and conducting
many awareness programs. The main topics were to decrease the mangroves cutting as
an energy source and stop the waste dumping to water. Most of residents are cutting
the mangroves for generate the energy and they don’t have an enough place to dump
the waste in a proper way.
Also we expect to establish a strong community
network to protect this land and empower them to
face a good tomorrow. When constructing the bio
gas unit we could get community support
maximally for some activities. According to that
we could get the support from them for preparing
bio gas plant
site, cleaning
the site, and
other small
works. Through these activities some good
attitudes for bio gas unit can be created in their
mind. Then they tend to protect the bio gas unit as
they think that it is there own property. Through
establishing the bio gas unit it can be reduced
cutting mangroves as fuel wood for cooking
purposes. Most of people have been started to cultivation with using organic fertilizer
which they get from the Biogas unit.

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 Welson Pura Biogas Program

Welson Pura is one of most populated place in Galle city and most of people are street
vendors and they don’t have a proper income and toilets. Most of people are living in
slums their health situation and other infrastructure facilities are very low. On that area
have public toilets and Galle Municipal Council is carrying the sewerage waste but that
is not possible always because they have to expend much money for this purpose. And
the public toilet is not good for use it should be repair as soon as possible.

Before Construction After Construction

When it rains the toilet pit overflow and many

diseases spread with in this area and residents
had to face big programs through this program
and without fixing this problem. But Practical
Action and HELP-O could able to solve this
massive problem. From this program we
establish a Biogas unit that can use sewerage and
organic waste now people are getting the biogas
for cooking purpose. Before they used LP Gas
and Fire wood for this purpose and most of
beneficiaries are making short eats and this work became much easy through this
biogas unit.

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 IYSH International Award for HELP – O

Human & Environment Links Progressive Organization (HELP – O) got the 21st
International Year of Shelter for Homeless (IYSH) award from Japanese Housing
Association and Panasonic Company. Our organization has nominated for this award
by the CITYNET – Japan.
After the Tsunami many people got houses and other facilities from many donors but
we met some families didn’t get a house because one reason that is they were lived on
Government land because of this reason they didn’t get a house from the outside they
were lived in small tents with lots of difficulties. Our organization has requested from
government to provide a land to construct the houses for those people but we cold not
able to find it.
After that we get the help of Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) for a purchase
a land and we got the help of A.N.P.A.S Italian Organization for construct the house.
With those people help we could able to construct 27 houses for those homeless people
in Manavila.

Before

After constructed houses

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Our organization got the 21st IYSH Award in 2008 for those activities. The
commemoration ceremony was held on Pastoral Hotel – Tokyo the chief guest of the
ceremony was Mr. Yasushi Kanko Senior vice minister of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism. Also for this occasion participated special guest from the Sri
Lankan Embassy and professors of universities and members of CITYNET and some
other government agent participated to that program.

The Moment getting the Award and Special gift from chairman of Panasonic Company

From the IYSH Fund we received ¥ 01 Million and through this fund we constructed
houses under recovery process. This fund will recover by the Village people’s
movement and the organization is monitor about this fund. Under this we gave this
opportunity for the 18 members to reconstruct their houses. Every person has low
income and they can’t go the bank and get a loan to reconstruct their houses. HELP-O is
only monitoring this fund and recovery we facilitate to the village people’s movement
to implement this fund is sustained and proper way.

Livelihood Support Activities – SMAGL Project

The other program was Micro Finance program with

support of Stromme Micro Finance Asia Guarantee Ltd.
Through this program we provide financial facilities for
the start the self employment. We implement the Micro
Finance program through people’s movement that we
established after the Tsunami disaster. We got the
support from Stromme Micro Finance Asia Guarantee
Ltd. From our program grass root level community gets
the leadership for monitor and implements the program they lead the others.

2008 - 2009 Annual Report – HELP-O 10

During the year we disbursed 1197 on Galle and Matara Districts. Our organization
process is little different the community participation is high of our program. The client
has chosen by the group and they present this request to their village people’s
movement branch after getting the approval of the all treasurers they submit the loan
application to organization. From village people’s movement branch recommend many
loan applications and leaders provide those applications to the organization after
monitor the all applications we provide the financial support for the necessary self
employees to develop the business.
Also the organization has organized many awareness programs for the grass root level
community to develop the capacity like leadership, basic accounting, book keeping, and
social mobilization programs. HELP – O also provide technical assistance to the grass
root level community and we help them to find the market that they could not able
reach to market.

R.R.L.C Project – Rehabilitation Tsunami Victims

In Weligama and Matara Districts were badly effected to Tsunami Disaster and many
people have lost their every thing. HELP-O and Stromme Micro Finance Asia
Guarantee Ltd involved a micro finance program to rebuild their lives. We have started
this program on end of the 2007 and provided loans for 843 people to improve their
living standard and the lost livelihood. At this moment people are repaying this money.
Most of people could able to start new self employment through this help also we guide
them to start this new self employment.
Still we provide the guidelines to expand their business and market. As a second step
we could able to organize them to one purpose. Now they became our people’s
movement members not they can get bigger loan to expand their business. They save
the money in their small groups and the organization monitor about this fund and
through this fund they get instant loans for their daily needs.

Started New Self Employments of Tsunami Affected People

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 Community Model farm

Our organization has been involved to establish a

community model farm in Samagiwatta Area. There
is an abandon land which is belongs to the National
Housing Development Authority (NHDA) and
request from them to get the permission to cultivate
this land for the community.
We conducted many awareness programs for them to
aware about new
cultivation techniques and strategies. At this moment
they have cultivated this garden and only manure we
used is Organic Fertilizer which gets from the biogas
unit. For this effort many people’s movement were
participated and they worked voluntary to success
this goal. Under many awareness programs we aware
them about how to cultivate within a small capacity
and what are the suitable techniques for this. After
those programs most of people have started to cultivate in their homes.

Paraliya Handy Craft Program

Paraliya village is one of main Tsunami Affected place of the
down south. Many people are making handy crafts as an
income generation activity. Professor Lani Gunawardana a
person is living on USA for a long time and she become
interest to help those people. She made a link with the
Peacecraft organization. They have been agreed to provide a
Handy Craft order to uplift their living standard.
Under this link we have prepared to ship the samples of those people’s productions.
Through this order we expect to uplift those people’s life and living standard. The all
producers were Tsunami Affected people.

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 World Habitat day Program

HELP-O and Natioan Housing Development Authority (NHDA) has been

implementing programs for celebrate the World Habitat day. Under this program we
conduct awareness for the School children. We provide the resource person as a
voluntary service. Every year we conduct this program for the school children. Manly
we discuss about future cities and we conduct some cleaning campaigns in low income
settlements. Through those programs we expect to aware them about the value of clean
and green environment.

Scholarships for the Prisoner’s Children

Our organization implementing another social work that is provides scholarships for
the prisoner’s children. This function is conducting from many years. Through this
program we expect to give a strong support for the children who have good skills but
have many difficulties. Every year we provide scholarships for the 22 students. We are
conducting this from our own funds and we don’t have a sponsor for this program. We
have started this program since 1998 year.
Through this support many students could able to overcome their challenges because
they don’t have any support from the outside and our organization is monitor about
these kids in every year. On that year Prison Welfare Association of Galle Prison has
been decided to construct a house for the prisoner and HELP-O also able to sponsor for
this house too.

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 Coir Mill – Paraliya

During the last few months HELP-O able to provide another

facility for the Tsunami Affected people of the Paraliya by
providing Coir mill with the support of SPF Organization
France. In this year we conducting this continually with the
participation and involving of the grass root level community.
From this mill we can provide the coir need of the area and
most of beneficiaries are our people’s movement members and
we sell this coir a little less price than the market price because through this we expect
to uplift their lives and living standard too.

Especial Events of HELP-O

 A drama for the World’s Food day

Our organization also contributed the capacity for celebrate the World’s Food Day with
the involvement of the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2008. Our
contribution was present a drama which is say about Climate Change and Secure the
Foods for the Future.

 Celebrate the Tsunami Anniversary 2008

For this program more than 1000 people were participated and all religious were
participated to this occasion. We have light the oil lamps in streets and whole night
conduct a paritta program and when the morning time we gave arms giving. We
celebrate this function with the people who affected to Tsunami every year.

 Experience Exchange Program – Panadura & Galle

During this time ASIA ONLUS has been organized a experience exchange program
with Galle cities. Through this program they could able to learn about HELP-O created
people’s movement process and strategies & followed also the structure of the people’s
movement. Also they find out the function process of the community biogas program.

 Community Resource Center

With the Support of CITYNET, HELP-O started a Community Resource Centre after the
Tsunami Disaster. In this year we could able to conduct many awareness programs
about disaster also establish a people’s movement branch on that area with the
participation of Galle Municipal Mayor in 2009. We expect to conduct more programs in
next year too in this resource center.

2008 - 2009 Annual Report – HELP-O 14

 HELP-O Staff Participated International Program

KLRTC X111 Intergraded Urban Planning for Sustainable Urban Management

In March 2008 the organization got a chance to participate for the Kuala Lumpur
Regional Training Center (KLRTC X111 Program). For this meeting Mrs. K.K.
Abeywickrama – Executive Director were participated. The topics of the program are
 Green Building
 Public Private Partnership
 Solid Waste Management
 Climate Change
 Gender Perspective in Planning

As one of main outcomes of the program are

Experience Exchange and Information Sharing
between cities and organizations. Through this
program we could able to absorb much
knowledge and we used that when we
implement waste management program. This
program was conducted in Malaysia with the
participation of CITYNET – Japan. From the
learned things we have implemented success
waste management programs with the Public
Private Partnership Program. Through this program learned how to involve private
sector for the waste management. CITYNET was main organizer and also they have
funded for this program.
Perspective Building on Social Performance Management – India
In 2008 October HELP-O got another opportunity
for participate another training program which was
conducted in India about Perspective Building on
Social Performance Management. For this training
program Mrs. K.K. Abeywickrama – Executive
Director were participated. Social Performance
Management (SPM) is a systematic approach to
putting that mission into practice. Through this
program we could able to learned about the value of
SPM and process of defining social objectives more smartly and identifying, collecting
relevant information.

2008 - 2009 Annual Report – HELP-O 15

Also experience exchange and knowledge with each
other was valuable to improve the MF program of
our organization. Also discussed about the social
responsibilities including how we create a positive
changes in our client’s lives. We got a chance to
learned new strategies about Micro Finance. Also
we realize that social performance is one of main
part of the Micro Finance program and able to
develop that thing of our MF program from this
program’s assistance. From the Sri Lanka 10 Officers were participated include 10
Bangladesh officers.

KLRTC XIV: Sustainable Solid Waste Management in the Asia-Pacific Region

June 2008 we got another opportunity for

participate training program which is
conducted in Malaysia. The program is
about Sustainable Solid Waste Management
in the South Asia – Pacific Region. From
our organization Mr. Darshana Maduranga
– Project Manager was participated to this
program. This program was very useful to
uplift our waste management program in
proper way.

The topics of the program are

 Challenges and Opportunities on Urban Solid Waste Management in the Asia-

Pacific Region
 Planning for Sustainable Solid Waste Management
 Financing and Funding of Urban Solid Waste Management
 Service Provision in Solid Waste Management
 Global Warming and Solid Waste

2008 - 2009 Annual Report – HELP-O 16

Micro Finance Exchange Program - Bangladesh

HELP-O could able to join another great

program which is about the Micro Finance.
This program has been supported by the
Stromme Micro Finance Asia Guarantee Ltd.
And this is an experience exchange program
between Bangladesh and Other countries. This
is a great opportunity for us to study about the
Micro Finance program and strategies and new
techniques. Ms. Dulmini Wickramasinghe was
selected as one of participant. The total period
of the program is one year. During this time they can learn about theory and practical
things of the micro finance.
This program conducting from the beginning level and this program is also use to
develop our MF Program. This experience exchange program was very useful to
develop our program we could able to share their experience with our officer.

HELP-O’s Partners and Donors

We would like to thanks to all our partners and donors because we got their support to
implement those program in sustain and success way. Without their help we could not
able to implement this kind of service to the public and for environment. Here we
mention about all donors who supported us in this years. Ones again we want to thanks
to our donors and the donors are

 United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

 Central Environment Authority (CEA) & Pilisaru Program
 International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN)
 Practical Action Organization
 Japanese Housing Association (JHA)
 CITYNET – Japan
 IYSH Memorial Committee
 Panasonic Company – Japan
 Stromme Micro Finance Asia Guarantee Ltd (SMAGL)
 Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR)

2008 - 2009 Annual Report – HELP-O 17

But even though donations were crucial in getting the projects off the ground, none of
this work would have happened without the full co-operation of the following partners.
Also we want to thanks them too for giving this full of support for implement those
mention programs in proper time.

 Southern Provincial Council

 Galle District Secretariat

 Galle Municipal Council

 Balapitiya Pradeshiya Saba

 Balapitiya Divisional Secretariat

 National Housing Development Authority (NHDA)

 Gampaha Municipal Council

 Our board of Directors

 Karapitiya Hospital & Management

 Galle Prison

 Schools in Galle

 Urban Development Authority (UDA)

 Sevanatha

 Galle Police Station

 Housing and Livelihood Development People’s Company (HLDPC)

 Sri Lanka Nature Forum (SLNF)

 ASIA ONLUS Organization

 SPF Organization France

 United State Agency for International Development (USAID)

 Mahamodara Hospital and Management

2008 - 2009 Annual Report – HELP-O 18

 Names of HELP-O Board of Directors

1. Mr. Chathura Welivitiya - Chairman – Chief Executive

2. Mr. Amarasinhe Kudagallara - Wise Chairman (President Coordination Director)
3. Advocate M. Wimalarathna - Director Independent Television Network
4. Mrs. K.K. Abeywickrama - Former Deputy Secretary Southern Province
5. Dr. Jayasiri Lokuge - Treasure HELP-O
6. Mr. Thilak Kariyawasam - National Coordinator Sri Lanka Nature Forum
7. Mr. Sampath Atukorala - Secretary HELP-O

Names of HELP-O Staff

1. Mr. Chathura Welivitiya
2. Ms. K.K. Abeywickrama
3. Mr. Sampath Athukorala
4. Mr. Darshana Maduranga
5. Mr. Rasika Hewawithrana
6. Ms. D.L Indunil Manohari
7. Mr. Janaka Chandrajith
8. Ms. A. Chamila
9. Ms. Ayoma Tennakoon
10. Ms. Roshani Damayanthi
11. Ms. Kanthi Lanka
12. Mr. L. Madushanka
13. Mr. Sally B. I
14. Ms. Shasika Gamage
15. Mr. Mahesh Wijesinghe
16. Ms. M.N.F Nuska
17. Mr. Isuru Ambagahawatta
18. Mr. Prasad Nanayakkara
- Chairman/ Chief Executive
- Executive Director
- Secretary
- Project Manager
- Micro Finance Manager
- Accountant
- Field Accountant
- Assistant Accountant
- Field Officer
- Field Officer
- Filed Officer
- Filed Officer
- Recovery Officer
- Receptionist
- Technical Officer
- Computer Operator
- Technical Assistant Officer
- Voluntary Officer (Sociology School)

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Audit Report – HELP-O

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