DutchConnect is a Dutch foundation, initiated by a Dutch couple living and working in Sri Lanka. After the devastating tsunami, together with a group of like-minded people they started helping the deeply afflicted people of Sri Lanka’s South coast. Thanks to their years of experience in Sri Lanka, the foundation now has an extensive network in the country. The foundation can draw on a number of skilful and reliable Sri Lankan specialists. In the Netherlands, all the work is carried out by volunteers, so overhead costs are negligible.

The first year, DutchConnect’s activities have focused mainly on psychosocial support, empowerment and support of activity programs for children. The projects are run by Dutch volunteers in Sri Lanka who participate in governmental programs. The volunteers train local people to continue these programs independently. To fund these activities different means of fund raising are employed. Besides small subsidies, they reseive donations to the foundation and volunteers in Holland actively raise funds on markets and fairs.

For Sri Lankan youth, it’s very difficult to establish a decent way of living. DutchConnect has investigated ways to enhance the possibilities to a better future for this part of the population. It turns out that besides housing and infrastructural improvements, there is a particular shortage of high quality vocational training programs. Enthusiastic support from a large bakery in the Netherlands, combined with the goals of the foundation, led to a new project in which the establishment of a professional bakery is being linked to vocational training. The bakery in Sri Lanka will provide the practical training and will generate a continuing source of income for the training program. The classrooms of the bakery school also provide the opportunity to accommodate other courses and activities carried out by the foundation. Possibly, these will also be financed by means of the bakery project.

For the development of the training part of the project, we approached the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) of Sri Lanka. The VTA will guide the vocational training and will train the students to become certified professionals. Our intention is to involve the students in as many steps of the process as possible, from the design of the building until the baking of bread, the retail and the marketing. All of this supported by Dutch volunteers and Sri Lankan professionals and experts.

A substantial portion of the funding for this project has been raised. For the remaining sum, the foundation is currently looking for sponsors. If this project appeals to you and you wish to make a financial contribution, please contact the DutchConnect foundation.