Pahamune House is located in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka. The Centre is a 40,000 square foot building sitting amidst 6 acres of lush palm trees. It was originally designed and completed as a collage for  higher education, but has been made available for the aforesaid purpose.

The large building consists of four storeys with facilities for approximately 300 children. The building also includes bathrooms, class rooms with the required chairs and black boards, ample space for libraries and lecture halls. There is a kitchen and seating area. .

There is a large playground for sports.

  PH is approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours by car from Colombo. It can also be reached by train, with the closest train station being the Kurunegala railway station.

There are three hospitals within the vicinity. Two of the larger hospitals are approximately ½ an hour by car. They are the Kurunegala Hospital and the Kuliyapitiy hospitals. In addition, there is the Katupotha hospital which is approximately 15 minute by car.

The building has been made available to Pahamune House by the A.M.M Sahabdeen Trust Foundation (incorporated by Act of Parliament No 3 of 1991).

The Pahamune House is registered with the Department of Probation and Child Care Services and National Child Protection Authority. The activities of Pahamune House are looked after by these authorities.

  50 TSUNAMI AFFECTED CHILDREN ARRIVED at Pahamune House on the 17th of January 2005. The children together with their guardians arrived at PH after a 9 hour journey, having left their temporary refugee camps in Batticalo the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.

A further 42 children arrived on the 14th of February 2005. With a new intake, we have a total of 115 children. More than 100 children are in the waiting list for lack of accommodation.

The children now being housed and provided with a full time education at Pahamune House attend full time school. In addition, they learn English as a compulsory subject at the Monsoon Hall(funded by the Monsoon Trust U.K.)at Pahamune House.

Our Primary aim is

To house, feed and educate children, displaced, orphaned or destitute as a result of the Tsunami disaster on the 26th of December 2004.

Residents at Pahamune House are

Mainly Children who have either lost both their parents or one of the parents or lost all their belongings in the Tsunami disaster.

 Boys and girls aged over 6 years from very low income families.

Children belonging to various religious or ethnic group who are in desperate need for help. 

Abandoned children needing custodial care.

Food

The Monthly cost of feeding a child is approximately Sri Lankan RS 5000 per month. A new kitchen has been constructed to ensure that the children receive fresh and healthy meals on a daily basis.

Education

ALL the children at Pahamune house have been admitted to  local schools and receive a full time education. The vocational studies school has commenced at Pahamune house in January 2006. The much awaited Monsoon Hall was completed in 01/2006. The vocational studies school now holds classes in English, Basic computing, sewing ,Jewellery stone setting , Art and other courses during the afternoons. The Pahamune House children are  encouraged to learn a skill with a view to following a career in their area of interest. The Pahamune House vocational studies school is registered with Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission, Sri Lanka.

The 3rd  Anniversary of the Tsunami having passed, the children at Pahamune House have much to remember and ponder about.
However we have not forgotten our promise  made to these children to give them a future, in order that they may return to their home towns and villages as strong, confident individuals who can benefit their community.

To date we have:-

Refurbished an entire floor spanning 10,000 square feet where the new vocational classes have commenced

  We have had seven volunteers from the UK, teaching the children English and Drama. This was achieved with the help of David Summerscale, on behalf of the UK Headmasters Association, leading to a better understanding between the volunteers and the children and their respective cultures. The H.M.C. continues to support us with funding and manpower.

There are many more volunteers hoping to visit Pahamune House with a view to helping the children, whereby they will learn more about the world and their cultures

Established an Information Technology and Computer Centre  with library, funded by our "Friends from Dubai."

  A new dinning hall is being constructed at present with the help  of the Irish N.G.O.” TOUCH”

The children are actively involved in sports on a daily basis and periodically visit their home towns to meet friends and family.

 The building of two separate hostels (one for the girls and the other for the boys)

 A well equipped library

A sick room

Recreation facility

Inviting specialist teachers to raise the standard of teaching English and computer studies;

Send Pahamune House students to schools in Europe and the U.S. as summer placement candidates to further their education.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

QUALIFIED VOLUNTEER TEACHERS

We need qualified teachers with a TEFL qualification, who are willing to volunteer their services for a period of 6 months or more.

ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING TO BUILD TWO SEPARATE HOSTELS, A SICK ROOM, A LIBRARY AND A RECREATION CENTRE.

PAHAMUNE HOUSE as a  children’s Rehabilitation Centre is an affiliate of
A.M.M.SAHABDEEN TRUST FOUNDATION (Incorporated by Act of Parliament
 No. 03 of 1991) and is administrated by its Founder Chairman Dr.A.M.M.Sahabdeen in
association with Mr. David Summerscale Former Head Master of Westminster School-
London & Educational Advisor, Sri Lanka, Delhi.