What a welcome, what progress at Arklow Boys Home Sri Lanka

I arrived to an incredible welcome, so full of love, what a Valentine’s gift it was to see their smiling faces and shreeks of joy, SO much progress has been made, computer room is almost complete and shower / outside bathroom about half way there. You might notice some new cricket and running shoes which mum and I bought them along with some cricket gear. Thanks to Amir, Alan, Mairead and all of you most generous friends, family and colleagues helping to make this happen, without your support these boys lives would not be as joyful, you give them hope because your contributions allow for us to direct funds to their education, so again sincere thanks,

Hi Everyone, Many of you incredibly generous people may recall that around this time last year you contributed to an amazingly successful project to install solar panels at The Arklow Boys Home which fundamentally changed the Boys’ lives as they now have a continuous supply of free electricity to the Home, which has allowed for money to be redirected for provision of clothes and other essentials.

On 13th February I am returning to Negombo to upgrade their very poor sanitation facilities and commence an educational initiative.

Computing skills are as essential as reading and writing in todays world. So in order to ensure that the boys are not left behind or further disadvantaged we want to provide 3 computers, a learning space, connectivity and computing lessons. With these skills they can participate more fully at school and make the most oh their educational opportunities. Thus will enable them to never return to the poverty trap once they are 18 and have to leave the Home. These skills will give them a genuine future with your generosity.

For those who don’t know me, my name is Sandra McGarry, until recently I lived near Arklow, Co Wicklow and I have been involved in supporting a Sri Lankan orphanage, Arklow Boys Home, for a number of years.

While the burden of day to day operational costs have eased, unfortunately there is no surplus to cover building maintenance or improvements to the Home. In short, the water and sanitation systems are not fit for purpose and a washroom needs to be erected with a large water tank to give the boys showering facilities. I am going to visit the Home again in February (2025) hence I am starting this initiative and request your support again please.

Background to my fund-raising: The Home was built post-Tsunami by local Irish businessman Brian Brennan in 2006. We had been to Sri Lanka, almost 2 years to the day before the Tsunami hit on 25th December 2004. Since then we’ve been involved in supporting a number of initiatives for the beautiful people of Sri Lanka, but this project is so close to my heart having visited there a number of times since.

Your donations would mean the world to the 32 boys who currently live in the Home, ensuring they a constant supply of water for personal hygiene. I guarantee that 100% of the donated funds I receive will go straight to the Home, there are no administrative overheads and I will personally be there to oversee the project.

My employer Hostelworld.com has kindly given me leave to travel back to Sri Lanka to volunteer during February 2025 for which I am very grateful and my work there aligns our values of sustainable tourism. While in Sri Lanka I will be able to see the impact first hand of the project, as well as assisting with some painting and repair projects needed to be done at the Home, daily housework and helping out generally with the boys.

So on behalf of the boys I am SO grateful for each and every donation and it will be put to very good use to ensure the boys can continue to enjoy a better life than then would have had living on the streets.

Thank you.