The Exel Foundation helps rebuild education infrastructure in Sri Lanka

Shenali Waduge BA MA MIM (SL)

Funding provided for a Computer Learning Center for 1,200 pupils in a village school affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

On 11 September 2006, The Exel Foundation, which is in part funded by DHL Exel Supply Chain and DHL Global Forwarding, opened a brand new computer facility in a school attended by 1,200 students in the Sri Lankan village of Unawatuna which was devastated by the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

The Computer Learning Center in the Unawatuna Maha Vidyalaya mixed school in southern Sri Lanka.

In the aftermath of the tsunami, a total of 195 educational facilities including universities and vocational training centers were damaged on Sri Lanka with 59 schools totally destroyed and 117 partially damaged. The Unawatuna Maha Vidyalaya mixed school in southern Sri Lanka took in the total student body of one of the schools which was completely destroyed by the disaster, which killed 35,322 people and caused $1.5 billion worth of damage in Sri Lanka alone.

The Exel Foundation has been heavily involved in the Unawatuna Maha Vidyalaya mixed school's redevelopment project pledging £25,000 in support, with DHL in Sri Lanka playing a hands-on role in vendor selection, cost evaluation, site visits with the relevant officials, implementation and handover.

Whilst the Senehasa Trust, a charitable organization based in London, had taken over the renovation of the existing building and construction of the new school buildings, it did not have sufficient funding to provide for the Computer Learning Center. The Exel Foundation was able to step in and provide a comprehensive computer learning unit for the school, comprising 23 computers, one server, three printers, 24 UPS systems (Uninterruptible Power Supplies), two modems, print server, 23 headphones with microphones (connected to the language laboratory facility), necessary licensed software, networking and furniture (which was sourced from M/s ABC Computers (Pvt) Ltd., a business partner with HP Invent).

Mrs. Pushpa Wijesooriya, Deputy Director of Education, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka, said: "Today is a turning point for Unawatuna Maha Vidyalaya as a school. Our children's education is fundamental to both Sri Lanka's recovery from the tsunami and its future success. Having a brand new computer unit with the latest technology provides our children with the opportunities that they simply wouldn't have had otherwise. Getting involved in the IT field creates an interest in the children and will help them to recover psychologically in order to continue with their education. This is the reason that the Ministry of Education requested donors to fund Computer Learning Centers in the tsunami-affected schools. We cannot emphasize enough how greatly we appreciate the support we have received from The Exel Foundation."

This project was one of three embarked upon by the foundation: other education redevelopment schemes are underway in Nias, Indonesia and the Tamil Nadu province, India, which were both devastated by the tsunami. Following the disaster, through a combination of employee fundraising and donations from both DHL and the foundation's funds, £350,000 was raised for the relief effort.

Helen Parker, Exel Foundation Manager said: "In selecting this project we, as a foundation, were keen to contribute to and get involved in the country's recovery in some way. We wanted to harness the enthusiasm of our employees and provide support where we had the ability to facilitate the project. The redevelopment of the computer facilities, impacting the lives of over 1,200 children aged between five and 18, gave us the opportunity to do this.

"We're committed to this project and DHL in Sri Lanka will continue to be involved with the school, as we're keen to see its progress in computer-assisted education. We will also monitor its language laboratory function and the e-library to be certain that the program continues to run efficiently".

DHL is committed to supporting the local communities in which it operates through its global Community Investment program which focuses on three main areas: disaster management, future generations and supporting entrepreneurs. The Exel Foundation, formerly part of Exel plc., supports future generations through its projects which help children and young people to achieve their full potential.

Disaster Management at Deutsche Post World Net

Deutsche Post World Net, the parent company of DHL, has a comprehensive disaster management program - one of the three main pillars of its comprehensive Community Investment strategy. In addition to local community investment initiatives, the Group has a global community investment platform which it carries out together with its strategic partners. For example, DHL has a strategic partnership with the UN System in the field of disaster management. The partnership's most visible contribution to date is the global network of DHL Disaster Response Teams (DRT) which it is putting together in cooperation with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The DRTs support the UN and the international community's humanitarian response in the aftermath of major sudden-onset natural disasters by managing air cargo operations at the airport closest to the disaster-affected region - thereby reducing bottlenecks and keeping the airport open for additional relief flights. Two DRTs have been set up in 2006 and provide coverage of the Asia Pacific and Latin America / Caribbean regions.