Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Fides Service) - Two Italian development programmes in tsunami affected Negombo and Trincomalee have started as a result of an agreement between the Italian civil protection unit and Salesian NGO Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS). The local Salesians, present Sri Lanka for 50 years, offered shelter and assistance to the stricken families as soon as the tsunami happened. Now they are helping with rebuilding and resettling. “Aid is indispensable at this post-tsunami period stage - said VIS president Antonio Raimondi - but it will be only aid for aid’s sake unless it becomes a concrete opportunity for human development in these countries. Aid must help citizens become more mature in order to build a sustainable future”. VIS will help rebuild homes in Trincomalee, revive small family businesses such as fishing and shop keeping and provide psychological counselling. It will also arrange for adolescents to attend technical training courses at Don Bosco Centre in Kandy.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/2/2005 righe 19 parole 198)
