19th Aug

We returned today from Uda walawe National Prk. It's a great place to see elephants in the wild and everyone had a great time, very relaxing after such a busy week.
Last week we spent time teaching English at the centre in Athidiya in the mornings and then went across to Battermulla in the afternoons and did it all again there. In addition, Denis Anthony , Omar and I have been painting the outside f the centre at Athidiya and also the main room at Sioll. WE have more or less finished the centre and should finish Sioll in a couple of days. All the children we have met have been just great and keen to learn a bit of English whilst having some fun along the way.
Met a neighbour from Forest Gate last week. All very Bizarre you travel 6000 miles and bump into people you would meet down the high st. Shaine's daughter and Shyla have know each other though school since they were 5. Shaine and her friend Kate came for a walk about around Athidiya and visited the school. We are grateful that they were able to take time out to do this.... you know how we love to show off the place and people.
Steve

Katherine Leaves Sri Lanka

I wish everybody in the world could do this trip. I wish everybody in the world could get the opportunity to see poverty; to understand why it must be eradicated. I wish everybody in the world could see how the littlest things can mean so much, and that that could be done by them.
I have learned so, so much from the last few weeks. I've never felt so moved, compelled to do something. I hope with all my heart that myself, and the rest of the volunteers, keep what we've seen in Sri Lanka in our minds for as long as we can, so that we can't rest until we act. Normal life must resume but Athidiya and the children at Sri Punikami shouldn't just occupy a small corner of our minds; the experience we've had and the opportunity we've been given has ignited the spark, now we just need to blaze into action! (Or, in other words, to go, go, go, there's no stopping us!)
I can't remember my expectations before our plane took off now, simply because the reality far exceeded all of them. Walking around Athidiya and the days we spent working were some the most moving experiences of my life and I feel so different for having been given them. Why worry about that pair of shoes you couldn't get in your size if you know, somewhere in the world, that someone can't access an education because they can't afford a pair of shoes that cost a fraction of the price. I'm not suggesting I'm flying back to England to live a frugal life, wearing hemp and only washing every other day to save the water, but it definitely makes you think. The chance we've had to challenge our priorities, to see what really matters and, most importantly, to see how we- as students, as young people, as future voters and leaders- can contribute to making the world a better place, was truly special.
And we've done it all whilst having such great fun! From seeing the elephants at Uda Walawe to twilight swimming Hikkaduwa we've had the chance to see two sides of the country, a valuable insight craftily designed to instil a love for the country alongside the desire to help it.
I honestly don't believe I am articulated (ah, how we laughed) enough to translate how I feel, sitting here now about return home, into words. But I know that I feel that I've been part of something incredibly special; I feel so proud to have been here, to have worked alongside everybody else and to have had an impact with the work we've done. I know that I never will, nor want, to forget what I saw in Athidiya and sincerely hope that impacts upon my future life. I also know that so much of this is down to Steve and Radhika. I'm sure they would be absolutely delighted for me to sing their praises on their own blog but, quite simply, I think they're amazing. I want to thank them, not just for this opportunity, but for everything they do and everything they will continue to do- they're Sister Concepta's in their own rights!
What this trip has done is to bring a third dimension to poverty and need, to make it real. It's no longer an abstract, generic 'lets fight poverty!' but a personalised and fierce desire to actually improve the lives of the people I've met and others like them. Upon giving us a present, a little boy's teacher asked him why he had done so and he replied 'because it was the happiest I'd ever been'.
For me, that says it all.
Until next time,
Katherine

11th Aug

It's been a day of contrasts today.
I pottered this morning, while Denis, Anthony and Tina, had an easy morning, walking along the beach or chilling at the VERY nice Mount Lavinia Hotel.
This afternoon we visited the Empire Nursery, there we met Thilika and other members of the local community association, plus Anita the nursery teacher. We were treated to garlands, food and drink, the children sang and showed us there work. I always enjoy visiting this community, they are always so warm and open. After a large number of handshakes and high fives with the children we wandered back to the van.
We then noticed a sign for the 'Commonwealth War Graves'. WE were met by the chief gardener who opened the gate for us. The area was beautifully kept and very peaceful. An oasis of calm amongst the hustle of Colombo. Reading the graves reminded us of the number of peoples form host of nations that were caught up with war during the 2 world wars. There were graves of Sri Lankans of course , but also Indians, Arabs and North Africans, Dutch, Italian and British. There were Christians, Buddhists, Hindus. Muslims and Jews all fallen for similar reasons. I forget how wide the war spread, often thinking of the ''War'' as a European war. But the Japanese were knocking at the door of India before things started to turn in the Allies favour. Seeing those graves reminds me of the tremendous sacrifice that was made but so many. Lest We Forget.
Steve

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10th Aug

Yesterday the Eston Park crowd went off for they well deserved rest at Hikkaduwa, a beach resort about 80 KM from Colombo. On the way we stopped off at a Turtle Conservation Project, turtles and their are still seen as a bit of a delicacy here and so they eggs are often taken off the beach. The Project pays fisherman to bring the eggs to them and they then rebury in hatchery's , once the egs have hacthed they keep them for 3 day and then release into the sea. They have so far released 2 million baby turtles, of which about 25% will survive.
Looking back over the last2 weeks I can only describe it as amazing. The young people were just great, raising to every challenge and conquering them with gusto. Dr King once said ''we can all be great because we can all serve' every member of the Eston Park group showed themselves to be truly great. They parents , school and community should be very proud of them.
Today the Group have gone off the Galle for a walk around the Fort, built by the Dutch in the 18th Century.
Meanwhile, I came back to the Tropic Inn and met up with our 2nd group. A much smaller team with 3 of them and the 4 bynon's. We plan to spend some time at Sister Concepta's centre, doing some painting and teaching English. We will also go to Sioll most days and do some stuff there to.
We ae all looking forward to meeting some of the chldren in Athidiya and at Sioll again.

day 6&7

We've been back working at the school for the last few days; the days are structured differently now as the school term is over. This means we've been running a holiday club each day opposed to lessons then games. It could have meant utter chaos but thankfully we were dealing with fewer children this time and had made sure we were very organised!
Once the children are divided into their different age groups we run various activities across the school. Now we're working with smaller groups we are far more able to successfully get things done and so some sessions have seen absolutely wonderful work produced:
Beautiful butterfly pictures, glittering name pictures and sheets and sheets of colouring are amongst some of the creations clutched by children at the end of the day.
We also feel a little responsible for the worrying amounts of elephants now roaming around Columbo, but once they take off the masks we believe them to be fairly harmless. The lions however, are a different matter entirely. They can sing a lovely rendition of 'In the Jungle' though...
Another hit as has been the Eston Park printer. They brought this fantastic gadget where you take a photo on a digital camera and plug it into this tiny little black box and a sticky-back photo slides out! The children, who adore having their photos taken anyway, utterly love this. We've been sticking the photos onto pieces of card and getting the children to write their names and other details underneath.
We've also put our weight into decorating some classrooms. We moan at home about the state of our schools but it's nothing in comparison to what some areas of this school are like.
We've set about painting the walls and sanding down the grills that function instead of windows, to rid them of rust and then painting them with non-corrosive paint.
It's very laborious work and very messy (we've all become very good friends with white spirit over the few days!) but all managed to make it a load of fun. Also, I personally have enjoyed it in a very different way to working with the children because it feels good to be doing something that will make an immediate tangible difference.
Tomorrow is the last day that we're spending at the school and so we've all been given the task of trying to prepare some items for a little show tomorrow. Should be interesting...
Katherine

Today was our last day at the school and although we are all very tired and quite ready to go, the general consensus was that we were sad to be leaving. The children were certainly unhappy to see us go and we've all got many promises of letters following us across the ocean, we should all be inundated from the amount of addresses we gave out!
We needed to finish with a bang and so pulled out our wonderful dance routines that we'd managed to perfect (well, almost) over the last two weeks and YMCA-ed and Marcarena-ed our way through a little show.
It was great just have such a laugh with the people we'd spent the past fortnight with and, as always, we were overwhelmed with their exuberance and their readiness to just throw themselves, headfirst, into whatever came their way.
Their were several items, ranging from a beautiful song by two of the Eston Park girls, who both said that they've discovered their ideal duetting partner in each other, (its great- because for them, they've not only formed relationships with the Singhalese but have also really bonded with each other- many had never exchanged more than a few words but are now inseparable!). There was a lovely rendition of 'In the Jungle' accompanied by newly made lion masks and a good few cheesy English dance numbers (the boys' dance medley proved especially amusing)! It didn't stop there though, as soon as we paused for breath the Sri Lankans were up, dancing and singing away! It was fantastic for us all to be having such a great time together, us teaching them and them doing likewise- a wonderful embodiment of what the trip was about. We wanted them to have as much fun as we could manage and, judging by today, we've been successful.
Leaving was sad, but it didn't feel like goodbye. Whether it's through fundraising at Eston Park (back to the bag-packing for them), sending letters to our new penpals or just through remembering the difference we've made to them and the change they've catalysed in us, we'll never forget and, I hope, we'll all keep on 'doing our bit' wherever we are.
This afternoon we took Tuktuks (always exciting!) to Mount Lavinia Hotel, the poshest place for miles around and either swam or sat around for a few hours. Not only was it just a little bit nice, but it was also really interesting to side another side to Sri Lanka. No one place is just this, or just that and its good to be able to hold the two realities side by side in your head. One of the most challenging things I think we'll face returning home is what to do with everything we've seen. A return to normal life is inevitable, but a complete regression to the mindframe we had before leaving would be very hard. It's this getting the balance right; being able to live an affluent life without guilt or shame but not to forget, as a coping mechanism to deal with this experience. If you haven't seen it, been amongst it and poverty is still an abstract notion then the plea of ignorance could almost give you some excuse. But we have, poverty is tangible to us now and leaving that behind when the plane takes off would be a real shame. Now that we know what's there to combat we can get at it.
Let's go change the world.
Katherine

Sister

Until now, amazing people have been confined to books and television screens, assembly halls and history lessons. They existed in the remote way that people who are willing to give so much often do, in an almost legend. Yet Sister Concepta is definitely real, definitely present and definitely an amazing person. Sister is a community worker, employed by Asha to facilitate and instigate various projects and provide counselling and assistance to the many who are in need of it. She is, of course, a religious person yet doesn't see her work as that of a religious nature; in a discussion I had with her she told me she aims simply to instil values into the children she works with, not of a religious nature, but just human values, as she believes them to be a fundamental part of a child's development and life.
It is hard not to feel in awe of her, yet her warm personality and perpetual smile make her highly loved in the community as well as revered. Everybody in Athidiya knows her, and she knows every one of them: their names, their story and, most importantly, how she can help them. Her willingness and desire to assist the community is astounding, she works so hard in such difficult circumstances because she wants, wholeheartedly, to see better lives for these people.
It highlights the power of the individual- if one woman, albeit one extraordinary woman, can have such a huge impact upon a whole community then we, as a society, a nation, a global collective, should be able to make a world of difference. Yet we don't. The gross domestic product of 41 of the world's poorest countries (consisting of 567 million people) is less than the wealth of the world's 7 richest people combined. Less than one percent of what the world spends on weaponry each year was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000... it didn't happen.
To hold this knowledge alongside the memories of what we have seen in Athidiya is too difficult, I can't begin to comprehend how we live in a world where this can exist. But for every shadow there must be light. And that can be found in people like Sister Concepta. She is inspiring in so many ways, but knowing that one woman can make such a difference gives us hope that we can all have a place in fighting such injustices.
We can learn so much from Sister Concepta- she does so much, has made an unbelievable impact upon so many lives, yet acts like it is nothing at all. I feel completely humbled next to the unswerving dedication and love she gives to Athidiya. She has committed her life to improving others' in the way you read in textbooks. Yet it is not a book and she expects no such accolade.
I have never met anyone like Sister before. I've never felt so moved to hear someone speak, never wanted to spend so much time in someone's presence, never felt compelled to do something. She makes me want to go home and yell at people in suits, sit in tubs of baked beans for hours on end, hold rallies in my back garden... do anything I can. To have met such a clearly remarkable woman is an honour for everybody on this trip and I'm positive she'll be a person we keep with us for a very long time, through links to her projects (that we'll do all we can to help) and in our hearts and minds, as an inspiration and an embodiment of, quite simply, goodness.
Katherine
Link to the Eston Park website: Eston Park School website

una walawe

After a busy and tiring week we went of for a well earn rest at Embilipitiya, close to the National Park at Uda Walawe. We arrived early afternoon and spent the rest of the day relaxing by the pool and generally doing not a lot.

On Sunday morning we arose early to meet the jeeps at 6am who then took us to the National Park where we saw dozens of Elephants ans scores of birds plus other wildlife. It was truly magical to view a large herd of elephants, including small babies. We then visited the Elephant Transit Camp , an elephant orphanage run by the born Free Foundation. They presently look after 28 elephants which will be rehabilitated back into the wild. There we saw the baby elephants be fed.

We left for Colombo this morning stopping at a Buddhist Temple on the way, arriving back for dinner . It was a great relaxing weekend, which set us up the the week ahead

Steve

day 4

Each day is easier than the last as we become more and more familiar with what we're doing: what works, what doesn't and what they love (it appears anything with a ball or some music does the trick!). Structurally today was the most successful; the morning ran with English classes and the afternoon was packed with a variety of different activities. Parachute and other outdoor games ran in one area- the parachute is adored by the students even if getting the games to work properly is practically impossible. In another area is art and skipping- the last two afternoons have seen those volunteers emerge triumphantly holding a fantastic piece of artwork that's covered in multi-coloured thumbprints, all made into different faces or animals. In the hall dance and drama games run, where pandamonium inevitably eventually descends as, after several hugely enjoyable games, the children's begs for 'dancing! Dancing!' are given in to. Elsewhere people play cricket and netball which is highly successful due to the Sri Lankan love, and aptitude for, sport.
Another advantage of this being our third day is that now we've started to build relationships with the children. It's far easier for them to remember our names, with their being far fewer of us (and our names being far shorter!) but we're slowly improving. There great demonstration of this during our break when, as the girls were playing netball, they started chanting people's names to come up a shoot a hoop. It was a wonderful scene of cohesion between our two groups, with the Sri Lankans cheering and, if someone couldn't get the ball in, our lot hoisting them up to the hoop.
“Run won parti sum-mun-nel-a-ya
Rosa malay panni bee-lag-ee-ah
Ai-eth ay-vither ay sum-mun-nel-a-ya
Mul vella panni bon tah”
As we walked down the back to the hotel once finished at the school, a gaggle of children walked beside us, singing loudly. A visit to Sri Lanka with Radhika guarantees 'Run won parti...' (a Singhalese song about a butterfly) will be learnt and so, with children clutching on to arms or running alongside, we sang several renditions. (In line with tradition the Eston Park volunteers have been taught the song on the coach today!) Old MacDonald's Farm put in an appearance, a song about aliens flying around the earth (excellent resource for teaching numbers from Middlesbrough) and of course the favourite 'Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes'! In scenes very reminiscent of the Pied Piper some students from the school had taken to following us up the road back to the hotel at the end of the day. The last three days must have been quite a sight for the residents of Vijayah Road as we trooped up it, hot and sweaty but all having a great time. It's great, not only because it's fun (and educational- we now know how to count to 10 in Singhala!) but because it shows us that what were doing is making an impact. We're trying to bring some fun to their day and it is clearly working; they wouldn't be chasing us up the road grinning otherwise. A few girls have twice bought a few small ice-poles and given them to some of the group. It really touched us because it was such a lovely gesture of appreciation, and it's just great to know that they'd had a good enough time to warrant it.
We especially appreciated the girls' gifts because, as we neared their homes, we were reminded of their situation. Gifts from those with few always seem to mean more and this struck us they parted from us, after countless handshakes and kisses, and skipped off down an side street. Glancing down we saw something resembling a shanty town. Lots of people commented at our daily discussion how poignant they felt it was to see them so happy, yet returning to homes in such a poor condition. 'Money doesn't buy happiness' is as cliché as it gets, but this is the perfect example- the cheerfulness, exuberance and generosity of these children wasn't hampered by their living in poverty and it's just wonderful that they want to share this with us.
Katherine

Day 3

Day 4
Today followed a similar pattern to yesterday; we left early in the morning (though not by Sri Lanka standards, the students had all left their homes at least three hours before!) and settled down into the groups and classrooms of the day before. Activities continued as they had yesterday, with two primary classes, one secondary and a decorating group. The aim of groups teaching in the primary age range was to try to instil a enthusiasm for English early in their school career. The aim of the secondary was to build upon the foundation that had already been laid and give extra support (especially to Grade 10 and 11 who were coming up to their exams). Decorating over the last few days has consisted of painting classroom desks great shades of pink and blue, in order to brighten up the rooms. Once the school term has finished (day after tomorrow) we should be able to start redecorating the classrooms which should hopefully make a wonderful difference.
Some have mentioned today, when we were summarising, how having seen Athidiya yesterday has changed their view of the children we are working with. Having seen their home life and the conditions in which many live has created a great respect for them; the sheer enthusiasm and vitality of every single student amazed us and combined with a new understanding of their situations we realised how truly special these children are.
It made me think about human qualities- it's easy to assume that because a somebody is living in poverty that they are a reduced person. But this is so far from the truth. Everything that makes us human: friendship, love, laughter, work, play, all of that is no different from a person living in less fortunate conditions. The children we have the honour of working with are some of the happiest people I have ever met, and this has nothing to do with their circumstances, just in the same way that we are having such a great time has little to do with ours- it is simply because we are all human. And regardless of any differences between us that is something we can all share.
Poverty should be eradicated because it is appalling, we knew that before our planes even took off and we know with even more certainty now, but it should be seen as a restoration of a basic human right rather than a self-righteous charitable act. Do it because you mean it. And after this trip, no one could feel otherwise.
Katherine
The young people from Middlesbrough have entered into the spirit of this trip with huge enthusiasm and energy, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves enormously, despite the heat, humidity and challenging conditions at the school. They have even had a taste of discomfort back at the hotel: the top floor lost power the other night, and about half the group found themselves without fans during a very sticky night. Having valiantly tried to get to sleep, they finally came up with a solution – 14 people moved their mattresses down to the restaurant area, (including staff) and they camped there for the night! All done with great humour and joy – just part of their Sri Lankan adventure. Power is back now.
The daily de-brief is the highlight of my day – as they reflect on their experiences, we discuss the nature of poverty and appropriate interventions. Those who have been were shocked by Athidiya – who wouldn't be – but they are getting to know the children living there, and it changes everything. Another group go off for a walk around the community with Sister today.
Radhika