Frist Day of School

Day 3
After a brief planning session yesterday, in which the Middlesbrough volunteers produced all manner of wonderful resources (from Teddy Bear songs to animal masks), we were off to the school to put them to good use! The classrooms that we were assigned were very different to those we're used to; we knew about the different style of teaching that was employed in Sri Lanka but the classroom also differed. With the heat necessitating grills instead of glass windows (not to mention the fear of a batsman putting a bit too much weight behind a swing!) and the absence of the colourful displays that we are accustomed to, the school had a very different feel. We set out to provide a different few days for the children, so that they could experience a more interactive learning environment and, as our main focus is teaching English, learn words through play. We've also decided that it would be nice to try and create some displays to brighten up the classrooms after we've gone.
Many have mentioned that the school environment differed from their expectations, it was widely felt that the school would be far greyer and have less of a positive atmosphere. The neatly kept playing space and the trees and paintings on the walls made the school far pleasanter than many had expected.
We were working with primary and secondary children, trying to improve their English through games and activities. After countless handshakes and 'What's your name?'s my group started off with a rendition of 'Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes'. From the classrooms around us, where our groups were working, similar songs and cheerful rhymes echoed back. An assortment of role plays, a medley of songs and a variety of games were tried out today but the one thing they all had in common was the children's reaction. Huge smiles and eager faces were everywhere we turned and their enthusiasm was astonishing.
We hope that this morning taught them a variety of things, from different body parts to phrases and greetings. Over the next few days it will be very interesting and exciting to build on this and see where we can take it. Already we are able to see the impact our contribution makes; with the importance of 'Hello, my name is ..... . What's your name?' being reinforced to us, we all ensured we started our lessons in this way. By the end of the day we were absolutely inundated this is from all sides... I don't think any of us have ever shaken so many hands in our lives!
In the afternoon we returned when the school day was over, to play games with those who had chosen to return. Walking down the lane on approach to the school we were met with a cacophony of noise from all the children who had chosen to return in their free time. Although we were delighted with the turn out, it was definitely more than we had expected (or planned) for!
Parachute, drama, ball and cricket games started off the afternoon which soon descended into a dance session in the hall, a cricket match on the field and a rugby style scrum out the back. It was all great fun and although a more planning is definitely needed, it was a wonderful experience to have to deal with so many children and completely think on your feet in an alien situation. I wonder how many people would be able to say they taught sixty Singhalese children the Macarena (sung, not played!) before they were twenty?! ...or maybe that's something we'll all desperately hope wasn't caught on video!
Katherine

Day 1

For years I have heard about Athidiya, been involved with projects, seen photos from previous trips, but walking through, seeing it, being there, is startlingly different. Photos cannot prepare you; you can put photos down. What struck me about Athidiya is that this is people's lives. We were able to return to comfy hotels after a short while, yet for the people who live there, there is nothing else.

There is often a set view of poverty, a stereotyical image of ramshackled housing, dirt paths and children playing that has become a caption in people's minds when poverty is mentioned. We hear about it, read about it, it's perpetually in the public eye yet, for me, it wasn't truely real until now. My view of poverty was two-dimensional, but stepping into Athidiya changed that.

When we arrived at the new Asha community centre we were met with one of the warmest receptions I have ever received. Garlanded, blessed and fed, we sat down and watched a show put on by the children at the centre that had been organised by Sister Concepta and Mrs Vellupullai. The children looked amazing, bedecked in their finest clothes - ruffles and bows galore - and made us very welcome. Several wondeful dances, a few lovely songs and one indecipherable story later I was amazed by the enthusiam and excited energy that every one of the children had. There was no sense of unwillingness to get involved, no embarrassment that would have been very present if the idea of putting on a show had been raised in England. It was humbling to see how those with so little didn't simply 'just get on', but did so with an eager grin.

Later, walking through Athidiya, we saw the children again- this time out of their clothes, with siblings or parents, outside their houses. The difference between seeing them, who we'd learnt the names of twenty minutes before, now in their houses, was very prominent to us and yet they were playing happily. It reinforced how real it is.

Back at the hotel, I thought again how easy it for us- able to leave when we want, return to comfy beds and warm showers. But as Radhika has said today; we are here, our presence is showing that we care, that people thousands of miles away are thinking and working to help Athidiya and similar places.

Katherine

We're here

Tonight we checked into Tropic Inn, for those of you who have been on previous trips you will be able to imagine the friendly welcome we got. Tomorrow morning the eston park school group arrive. We are looking forward to meeting them.
We met up with Sister Concepta , Beulah and Barbara yesterday. They are all doing well and still full of ideas of how to change the world.
This morning we met Miss Silva, the principal of the school, which is where the group will be spending a lot of time, teaching English, organising games, drama and other activities. Andy, (our very own expert on all things practical, who has travelled with us) seems to be on the case as far as any practical tasks are concern. No dodgy wiring this year one hopes!! Shocking.

going soon

We are in the final stages of preparation for the group joining us on the 29th July. This will a school group from Eston Park a secondary school in Middlesbrough the second is a general group. We are very much looking forward to introducing them to the local workers and getting stuck in to some activities. If you wish to keep up with all our adventures then please check out this blog. Thanks

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