VeAhavta, A Non-Profit Corporation

On October 1st, the Grace Care Center celebrated World Elders and Children's Day. Children from Grace Girls Home and Grace Daycare visited the elders of Mercy Home and gave them cards wishing the elders many happy returns. The children further celebrated the event by putting on a talent show program. Among the many honored guests present was Mrs. Muralitharan, the government Social Service Director for orphanages in the Trincomalee District. It was an enjoyable time for all.

On October 3rd, Grace was visited by a government social service officer – a friend of Rev. Gnanapragasam, the Grace Care Center Manager – who met with the staff and children of the Grace Daycare Center to see its progress and provide some helpful advice.

Fifteen new school uniforms were made and donated to Grace Home by Miss Mithuna, a Grace Vocational Training Center graduate. Using a sewing machine at the Grace VTC, Miss Mithuna made all of the uniforms in her spare time and handed them over to Grace Home on October 10th. Our heartfelt thanks go to Miss Mithuna for her kindness and generosity.

The Grace Girls Home participated in the Eastern Province Government Cultural Program conducted in Batticaloa on October 25th. Fifteen of the Grace Home girls and two staff members traveled to Batticaloa to attend the program.

Rev. Dr. S. Jeyanesan and Mrs. Jeyanesan visited the Grace Care Center for a few days beginning on November 4th. They were welcomed with flower garlands handmade by the elders of Mercy Home and the Grace Girls Home Band. In addition to attending to his regular duties at Grace, Rev. Jeyanesan participated in the annual sales event at the Grace Vocational Training Center, during which time most of the students had the opportunity to exhibit the talents they learned at the Grace VTC.

On November 11th we were privileged to receive a new elder into Mercy Home – a Singhalese gentleman named Wemalasana The Silva Lorence Hevage, who was referred to Mercy Home by a government social service officer. Welcome to Mercy Home Mr. Hevage!

The children of Grace Home faced their dreaded annual exams (finals) at the Methodist Girls College in Trincomalee beginning on November 22nd. Argh! All of our children studied very hard in preparation for the exams and we have every indication that they did a wonderful job! Congratulations kids!

December 6th was Oli Villa (Oli Vizha) at the Grace Care Center. This annual dance and drama program is coordinated by all the departments at the Grace Care Center. Parents of the Grace Daycare children and other friends, family members and honored guests were all invited to see the performances of the children, elders, VTC students and Grace Care Center staff. The Mercy Home staff took the lead in coordinating a very special program this year. Everyone was so happy and surprised to see the new "fancy-dress program" put on by the elders, which we’re happy to say seems destined to become a permanent part of the annual program. Gunawathy Amma was dressed as a teacher, Meanaka Amma was dressed as a bride, Indrani Amma was dressed as a school girl, and Shiyamala Amma dressed up as a teenager.

Make sure to review "Images of Grace: A Photo-Journal of the Grace Care Center" to see photos of some of the events described above.

The residents and staff of the Grace Care Center take this opportunity to say a special year-end thank you to the donors and supporters of VeAhavta: "Without your love and concern for us, we would have little hope for the future. Thank you and Happy Holidays to all of you!"

We also want to thank the children and elders of Grace for blessing us with the opportunity to be of some help, and the entire staff of the Grace Care Center for their wonderful work in 2006. We know you all worked very hard. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

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