Um
A train takes you to your destination
But education has the potential to take you beyond your expectations
This is a story of a community project
That takes its beneficiaries beyond their expectations
through education
The one world college of the one world foundation which is a unique educational establishment
Has been turned in the community into a learning community
lifting the barriers to education
The concept of this community project was originally conceived in the minds of an austrian couple
During their very first visit to aturkama village in the hungal area
in sri lanka in 1983
Yeah
So
So
Hey, uh
So
So
Bye
Hi I am
Professor catherine messner one of the co-founders of the one world foundation
verbalizes how the concept of the one world foundation has been practically implemented
Anniversary 25 years ago we founded
one word foundation school
but I have to
Tell you a little bit about
the development of that idea
I came in 1983
the first time to sri lanka with my husband joseph ortner and my
daughter siane so I came first time in
1983 to sri lanka by coincidence. We are working in vienna in
international contemporary art
We have an immaterial museum museum in progress in vienna, but we were looking for a second place
And we are looking
Around the whole world, but we never could find the place
Here we came by coincidence
And we were overwhelmed
By the beautiness of this island and of the warm and charming people
So we we fell in love very fast
With this situation and we decided to try
To build up situation here. Fortunately we could find
a land in this village in maturigama
And the first thing what we did is we built up bougainvillea. This was the first house
And we knew that we want to make an educational project
Because at that time we had the feeling
that the children
And the young generation was very weak
with their english knowledge
so
We wanted to help them to learn a better english
and
Because
Otherwise, they are very isolated and this is a window to the world
when they can speak english, so we
Decided to to start with english classes
and
We found in the neighborhood
Old family house, which we transformed to a school and we started with very few. I mean
It's not so few but hundred children in the beginning
and we had
preschool classes in english classes
And then some tailoring classes
so the decision came very fast and
we
Followed our wishes in our plan very consequently
Because every year we came three times here always in the vacation of our daughter
And also, we had to look about the financial situation because
We had to earn with the guesthouse book in media
The income which makes the school possible because we had no other financial possibilities
so
we worked on that so very
Slowly when the year years passed because we came only always for a short time
It was only in the vacation time of our daughter so step by step
Over the years we build it up very slowly
But we never gave up and we could in
2003 we had the first time
A good result. That means that the income from this one house from this media house
Make it possible to run the school in the neighborhood in
in the naval garden
But then came the tsunami and the tsunami in 2004 destroyed
the whole school building
So, uh again, we had nothing, you know
but
Then we got help from jana from our artist friends
and
They did
Auction a benefit auction in gallery green singer and good money came in and we could buy
A new school land because at that time it was not allowed to rebuild the school in matthorigama
because the the tsunami the the
Rules have changed
Through tsunami, you know people were now more
careful, they didn't want to have it so nearby the sea so we were looking everywhere around in the area and we found a
place in hungary in
uragawa road
and
We found a nice place and there we could with the help from vienna
We could buy this land and we could rebuild a new school in amhongala a campus a very beautiful
school
In the meantime, we had 700 children, but no classrooms
So we rented a walaway in palapitia. It was an old colonial style house and there
we could
under very difficult circumstances
teach continuing teaching
And it was not easy, but the children they loved the place and they were very happy there
But we had our difficulties with the electricity and with some installations was very very complicated
Then in the meantime in two years we built up the new school
and
in
2007 we changed to the new school building then we always talked to the children
Now you will have soon a new school. You can be happy to have a new school the children. They didn't care a lot
They were so happy in the malawi. They said no, it's very nice why we need a new school because children like this old
You know environment they they felt very happy and also the teachers they could teach well they were not so interested about the new
building and
Then at that time also there was a muslim community there nearby
And the muslim children also came and I asked to our principal. Mr. Prabhak. Is it not?
Complicated or difficult because this is a buddhist school and you take now the muslim
children also and he said because this is his attitude he said
No, i'm a buddhist, of course. I'm a buddhist
but for me
It's not the question of religion or from where people are come every every human person is welcome
Who comes to me? So he opened?
the doors also for the
People for the muslim children, and it was so nice to see they became friends
and they were
There was a very good development
Then after some time I told him now we go soon in the new school
and then they
The parents of the muslim children said no. No, we our children cannot come
No, maybe are not because they always like to have them a little bit
Under control and to know where they are
and
They were not happy about the idea. So the the the children the pupils and
They were very sad because there were friendships
And they said oh what a pity they don't come with us and the children were also sad
And then in the last moment when we opened the school
They came they they came they decided to come
And I never forget the moment
From a little girl. She was her name was fatima. She was I think
Eight years old and she made a wonderful speech at the opening of the new school
and all the people were so
Touched and everything everybody was happy and we had a good beginning
See also what we mean with one world foundation
It's because we live in one world and everybody is welcome
We are all the same. We live in one world and we want to work and to live together in a peaceful way
How you did it many years in sri lanka even in the villages?
but from time to time, there are some
misunderstandings and also riots and very sad
Happenings. So this was I remember always very well and
The start from the school then slowly the children accepted also the new building because it was contemporary architecture
Our special thanks and gratitude to Contemporary Architect: Professor: Carl Pruscha who made the unique architectural design for the one world college.
no easter attack also due to uh
religious reasons many people died
This was again very sad. And now we have the problem with that
covet
Virus which is a very big sad
situation for us because we are
we
The guest house makes the school possible and we have no more
Income now because now since may I think since may no more guests are coming here. It was the lockdown
and this is a very difficult and
very
Hard situation for us. Of course. We have some friends and sponsors in
in
austria, and in switzerland
And also here we have friends who are supporting the situation
Otherwise we could not survive
So you see we live in one world. This is also a good example that if we help together we can survive
We can survive if we are so isolated that we not have not any contact with anybody
around
of us it's very difficult, you know because alone you cannot be successful you need to work with people and
With the teachers are really and a very good example is our principal. Mr
Prabhak and also our manager miss archie de silva because she has as a sri lankan she can see so many
Nationalities to come to here in this guest house. It's all there was all very new for her also, but for her also
was clear it's one world foundation and I have the feeling that she uh,
She loved to develop this, uh this logo and this content of this
Of this school and this guest house. This is now a resort here. We have now many bungalows. We have 13 rooms now and
the last year was a very good year and
We hope now very much that we go in the future with the help of the manager. Mr. Silva and the principal
Mr. Prabhat, which is secular to go on in this in this philosophy of one word foundation
Foundation school started in 1995
As a small unit this school was completely destroyed by tsunami the new school built at uragaha road
In front of the railway station now, it's a college with many facilities for more than thousand students
One will foundation is school celebrates 25th birthday on 27th of august 2020
On this special day. I would like to remember our late director, sir
Joseph ortner and appreciate about his excellent service to anwar foundation
And big thank to our chief directors madam professor kathryn misner and madame
Gala, that they are continuing this school project so successfully
panvel foundation school gives great
opportunities to the students of the area
For this purpose the principle of anvil foundation. Mr. Prabhat vijay's secret is guiding the school in good path
The preschool coordinator mrs. Keshini fernando women's corporation coordinator mrs
Sureka pereira and all the teachers in every unit the english unit the computer unit and the women's cooperation
And the photography primary and sports and also the non-academic staff are giving their precious support to the principal
as a team
Cornwall foundation school and governor guest house come together for one purpose
That's the educational success of cornwall college behind this screen globally staff is giving their support to the school
The rv the doctor mrs. Chanaky pereira and the team and the friendly burgundy team with all the unit supervisors
Give their best service to the guests at bougainvillea
That's why many guests would like to come again. And again because movingly like a second home for them
the staff is happy because of they can contribute their service to the school through the earnings of
bougainvillea guest house
The administration office in bergen villa is doing the financial management and bookkeeping
Every three months we have to send the progress report about one world foundation to the relevant authorities of the government
the officers of the government
Appreciate about one world foundation and also about the directors because of the value of this project for the society
We had many difficult times in the past
Like tsunami time to time with the changes
Easter attack and very recently covet 19
But every time we could come to the difficulties
Because of the correct guidance and positive attitudes of our directors
We are so thankful to our foreign supporters and members because of their generous support we highly appreciate their
contribution for all over the years to one world foundation
Our wish is one world foundation to be continued with high standard level in the future too many
Happy birthday to annual foundation. Thank you so much to everybody
Sri lanka is usually
regarded as a
developing country in south asian region and as a country that places a high value on
education usually our parents places
lots of emphasis
on educating their
children
and
educated people are
generally respected in society
one reason is
people vary on
education
because education is seen as the
bridge between a person's class of origin
and a class of
destination
The class a person was born
into and the class
He she will occupy as a result of their achievements
having understood
the importance of education
And with the objective of helping for the people
Who are living in the area in suffering?
with many difficulties
The free education unit of the one world foundation which was established in 1995
27th of august
by professor catherine messner
and
The founder director played mr. Joseph partner
now
The owf completed 25 years history and at present it has been locally
an internationally recognized registered
and accredited institution
one world foundation
Has stepped several stages since its beginning with the objective of uh, encouraging
social mobility
of people living in not only a hungal
Area and
Several part of uh gold
district sri lanka
in introducing unique educational opportunities that can be
benefited by the people of free of charge
the schools open from preschooler to an
adult without considering their
status class
religion or ethnicity
Presently the one world college which consists of several?
units such as
pre-school with the
branch in kateville village
Our vision is to develop
Physical
mental educational
and social condition of the children
as well as
providing helping
circumstances and facilities on behalf of the formal
education
according to the early childhood education
Yes
What's the meaning of a best preschool?
Actually, I think this is the best preschool in this area
as
our children can
gain, many many benefits and facilities from here
especially
There is a very huge
Playing area with attractive reefs and pure natural environment
So children can develop their physical and mental fitness
Mental fitness is very important for everybody
always they play and
enjoy with
Natural resources
Oh
Oh
Bye
So
And get more
experience well our children
can develop
their good
behaviors
skills
and abilities
through
our
outdoor
indoor motivating
activities
Children can
Improve the knowledge of the english and tamil languages
They can use
many
musical instruments
and computer facilities also here we have standard and
attractive classrooms
and
Good and qualified teachers
our preschool children can
participate in
many special locations
such as
national day celebration single and tamil new year's festival
batiki
Observing seal a polar perihere dental and nutritious programs
Excursion
Sports meet children's day celebration handwork exhibition and finally the annual concert
So
Actually, I think this is an
Unprecedented
unprecedented place
which support
to generate a creative
child with perfect
personality
and suitable for formal education
Bad
The one world college of the one world foundation has also taken steps to open the doors to the global village
in order to deal with the global village
One needs a global language
Hence, the college is running a separate unit in order to develop the english language skills of the students
Language training unit
vocational training unit primary education
extracurricular activities like sports
Music
So
And as well as a center for women cooperation
uh all the vocational programs
and courses are offered from level 1 to
Level 4 under the framework of national vocational qualification it is called nvq
Yearly around 100
are
learning a various educational and vocational programs
In order to achieve their goals under the guidance of around 40 qualified and experienced teachers
And trainers as well as guiding them by
four coordinators
I want to
emphasize that four coordinators of the college give their high contribution in order to
strengthen for the development of the college the bergen
Guest house is the key facilitator
of the
one world foundation the manager
Mrs. Rajeev silva
And the staff do a great support
to the college
for its continuous existence
I am so proud to announce
You that at the moment at her 25 years celebration?
around
16 000 students have successfully
completed different educational
programs and courses
and pass out since it founded
Many are engaging in various
fields of job opportunities in locally and internationally
and sharing their knowledge
and skills for the benefits of the country 6397
Students
completed different english
tamil and primary educational programs
And courses which have been designed
for the age group from
years
And the english unit of the college also provides a special english
language courses
For the students over 15 years age groups
Up to now 2000 students have completed these courses and 900 women
craft trainees have
passed out in completing their
courses of
Foreign
So
Is a unique opportunity which was implemented in 2009 in turning the new page of the college
Informing the students to a different lifestyle in identifying youth's hidden skills
up to now
293 students completed the course and they have been qualified for nvq
level 4
Many of them are engaging
as photographers in different professions
Specially I would like to tell that the one world foundation is the only center which is offering
the nvq level for qualification for photography at present in sri lanka
In addition as a as curricular activities
We organize foreign voluntary teaching programs
leadership
training career guidance workshops programs social and environmental programs
health and nutrition awareness programs
for every group
during their study period
One well foundation would also like to express that now is planning to step uh to level
five in the framework of uh
Nvq
and
We would like to
Invite all communities to join with us and to get qualified with the skills
And competencies which are needed to challenge
in the global village
Information and communication technology is a growing field that has added new dimensions to almost every field in the world now
Therefore the position of the knowledge and the skills of this field has been a vital aspect in one's life
The one world college has also been run in a computer unit
Which has been offering locally and internationally recognized professional ict qualifications
Accredited by the tertiary and vocational education commission
The compete unit has also been backing the ict syllabuses taught in garment schools
The computer unit of the onewheel college has been a key contributor
To the goodwill that the one world college has earned so far. The reason for it is
The fact that one world foundation has heavily invested in the computer unit in order to equip it
with the necessary technological
infrastructure
and qualified teachers
One of our major objectives is to make the students in our college ict illiterate
the ict knowledge and the skills that they receive from our unit help them to
Reap the benefits of globalization
Actually our students
Can connect to people around the world share their ideas
and acquire knowledge
Through the sk through the knowledge and the skills that they that they acquire from our unit. Other than making our students ict literate
We are producing hundreds of low-level ict professionals in order to strengthen the ict workforce in the country
finally
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the donors for their valuable contributions to the foundation
and
My dedicated staff members are for their fullest support that they always extend to me
in order to reach
The objectives of the computer unit. Thank you
Finally
Our vision is that to develop the physical mental
educational and social condition of the children
and the mission is
to provide the helping
circumstances
And have facilities on behalf of the formal education
of the children and generating a generation with
advanced professional skills
For the necessity of the human power of the country providing the apprentice and developing
The skills for you
I would happy to tell that
the one world foundation
performed
an excellent educational service during the
past 25 years
And as well as our director professor catherine messner
Administration and the team are planning to develop these schools
As a
long-standing one
for the benefits of the society in sri lanka and this is very deep in my heart and
every day i'm
You know because i'm a foreigner I live here now many many years
But I love to stay here and I wake up in the morning
I'm, so thankful to be here because I love your country. I love your people
I like to stay here and I love that mix from europeans
From europe and asia to bring to a beautiful result
You know and I work on that with all my energy and for sure it will after this terrible
Uh break now from one nearly one year. Um, I feel and I pray and I hope
The deepest that it will go on next year in a positive way
Because uh because it's such a good uh, it was such the results. We are so good about the school. Mr
Prabhupada about the school, you know
but uh
I love to go there and to see the pupils in the in the computer classes in the english classes in the tailoring classes
In the photographic classes and in the morning the preschool children, it's so nice to see you know
And gives me the energy to go on with this project because for a foreigner it's not always easy
also, you know because very difficult to understand your language for me and all and
So but but I go on because I love it and I will always go on till i'm
Very old but then my daughter will come and support me. She loves also the project
And she she will come more and more to support me
Time is passing. The world is constantly changing
New challenges are emerging
We are strengthening people
People belong to the world the one world foundation belongs to people
This is our salute to all those who have been with us
in order to make the project successful
Congratulations
Foundations
We me so much
