Selected Beneficiary

Bashir Ahmed Rifideen

I chose Rifideen as our beneficiary, not because his was necessarily the most deserving case, but because he shows initiative and enthusiasm and I felt he had the potential to sustain the enhancement we bring to his business.

Rifideen lives in a Moslem quarter of Galle known as Katugoda; it is a poor area, which was seriously affected by the tsunami.

Full address:

4A Katugoda Watta
Katugoda
Dewata
Mobile 0777829933

Rifideen is married, wife’s name Faisa, with two daughters - Farvin 7 years and Rifna 3 and a half years. Rifideen also supports his mother.

Before the tsunami, Rifideen had a jewellery box making business employing four others. The quality of the boxes he makes is of a high standard, superior to any of the other candidates I short-listed. He came to the “workshop” I held in the office and completed a sample frame to a good standard once he had watched me prepare one.

In the tsunami, Rifideen lost some relatives including his father in law. He lost his house, contents and business. He has received no assistance save for SRs. 18,000 ($ 180) from Project Galle (PG) to replace lost materials in an attempt to restart his business.

Using a loan from the bank, secured by virtue of his previous business performance, Rifideen is rebuilding his house. This shows initiative as so many just sit in their temporary housing awaiting the aid. However the loan has been spent and the house is far from complete; Rifideen needs to earn money to finish the house and repay the loan.

The agreement I have reached with Rifideen and PG is therefore:

1. We, that’s you and me, provide all materials and equipment to Rifideen to enable him to make the photo frames
2. Rifideen provides the workshop, a temporary structure tagged on to his house (and which we have paid to make watertight and to keep the goats out – they now have a small pen) and employs additional help as necessary
3. PG pay Rifideen SRs. 75 (75 cents) per completed frame.
4. The agreement is for an initial 200 frames and, provided they are completed to a satisfactory standard and timescale, the agreement can be extended for up to 1,000 frames. 200 frames earn Rifideen $150 and 1,000 earn him $750. This is serious money. Additionally of course, PG get a good deal as we are paying for the materials. I calculate they save a similar amount to what Rifideen earns. I am not sure how far our funds will stretch; I don’t think as far as the 1,000, as I have had other expenditure, but probably 700 or so.
5. Satisfactory completion of the first 200 frames also secures for Rifideen the supplied equipment and tools. This comprises of the quality equipment provided by Duncan MacDonald of DIYframing.com,, tools, equipment and sundries I have purchased locally to ensure a properly fitted out workshop and various items of used equipment, spares and consumables I have couriered from the UK.

So what do we achieve with the donations you have all so generously made? I see it as:

a) We help a family continue in its endeavours to get back on its feet
b) We enhance a business that already has good potential
c) We create positions for perhaps two new employees
d) We teach those individuals a new skill with earning potential
e) We leave Rifideen with some stock as I am deliberately over-ordering materials
f) We reduce Project Galle’s cost of their worthwhile project

To secure orders for jewellery boxes, Rifideen has to travel around Sri Lanka visiting jewellers. Jewellers do not come to these sort of areas to place orders. There is therefore no reason why he can’t extend his ‘door knocking’ to take in photographic studios etc. to attempt to secure orders using his new found skill.


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