Please see Steve & Fi's blog. Steve and Fi joined us for the last few days of the trip and are helping us with some media stuff... very exciting .
here's the link http://stevec-d.vox.com/

My experiences so far

Its the end of the week and I have spent much of the last couple days reflecting over what i've seen, heard, felt...Today we said good bye to the little ones and the workers at Sri punyekami school and the Asha centre, playing with the children and having them clinging to my arms and legs for the last time (at least for this year!) was a wonderful but sad experience. The children at Sri punyekami have emmitted so much energy, joy and fun that has left me smiling when ever i think of them! i will miss them LOADS!!!
The afternoon was equally moving and inspiring, the children presented an afternoon of beautiful asian/traditional dances and songs along with some drama and poetry. They were also presented with gifts in recognition of their efforts througout the year.. i was moved and blessed to see and experience such talent and gifting. They are so bright and beautiful, it is my prayer that they will be able to acheive and accomplish all that they have in their heart and use what God has given them for his purposes.

Last but not least i have to acknowledge the acts of kindness and service that the workers at both the school and the centre have shown us...i can simply say that i am humbled, they give of themselves daily and they showed us much of the same giving attitude by making us feel so welcome and valued. Beautiful people in the midst of much brokeness...i am truly touched.

Phina

Leaving Mount Lavinia

As we come to our last night in Mount Lavinia we reflect on the week that seems, for many of us, to have gone so fast. It was great to have the afternoon off on Thursday but it wasn't long before we missed the kids and were happy to return to the exhausting but rewarding work at Sri Punyakami. On Friday morning we resumed activities at the school, it was sock puppets for the little ones in art and collages for the older ones.
On Saturday we threw a party for the kids at Sri Punyakami with cricket and music and set up a little nail bar for the girls. Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves very much but it was sad and slighty surreal leaving the place that had become so familiar over the last week.
I was touched by a sight on my way home from school today, on the front of one of the houses was selotaped a picture that a girl had done in our art activity, it summed up my experience at the school- the children I met, although difficult at times, seemed so excited by what we had to offer and I'm glad to have been a part of it.

party day

Sorry for the big silence, this was due to 1. our laptop is rubbish!! and fustratingly slow, 2. it's all been a bit full on so there hasnt been a lot of time to write a blog.

Today was party day, we were at the school in the morning and organised games and a bit of dancing , a cricket match and also a 'nail bar' this was very popular. This consisted of Amy - cleaning off old nail polish, Lesley and Lynsey massaging peoples hands , and finally Serapina dealing with the purple polish, Beth the pink and Sarah the red.

At the end of the morning we gave everyone a choc ice.. what was interesting was people putting them in their pocket to take home to share, I guess most of these kids had never had a choc ice before and weren't aware that these things melt! We had to get the head to insist that they eat them now!

In the afternoon we went to sister C's centre.. and had a show. It was great with some of the kids having real talent. Keetana and Heruoni amongst them. we then had an inspirational speech from sister C ' we join in partnership to bring about the kingdom of love'' .

t's been a good week, and although looking forward to a rest we will miss the place.

activities going well

Having completed our second day at the school we’re now well in our swing. After some initial difficulties the first day (that were to be expected) everyone took what we learned and improved for today. That’s not to imply that our first day wasn’t a success, as it was pretty clear that the children were having a great time. The teams are split into four: art, drama, conversation and games. From life-size cut-outs of beautifully clothed children to echoing calls of “snap!” we all judged that we were doing pretty well, especially given that, for most, it was only their second day in Sri Lanka! Although we old hands reckoned we were having it pretty easy with a sky of clouds shielding us from the usually scorching sun.
No such luck today though, we set off- clutching our prescribed litre of water- leaving the lovely air-conditioning of Tropic Inn for the sauna of the Galle Road to cries of “and it’s only 8.30!”. But the sun didn’t manage to dry up our enthusiasm; rather, it spurred us on, as today’s activities ran smoothly, calmly and with great results. Going round the school on a mad plastic-fruit-finding dash it was wonderful to hear the different sounds ricocheting from the various classrooms; the conversation corner buying mothers and elephants at the market, the drama team roaring like lions because Simon Said So, the ten sausages sizzling very successfully in the pan in games and the (futile) clamour of the little ones to be allowed to splodge on the paint themselves.

The school day was rounded off with a mad parachute game (when will we learn?!) and a humiliating cricket game (when will we learn?!) that enjoyed was enjoyed by all.

A few naps, showers and short-eats later we set off again- half the team back to the school, where the decorating team have set about reviving one of the classrooms in a cheerful shade of blue and an o-level team are bonding and helping the older children to pass that all important exam.
The other half jumped in tuk tuks down to the ASHA centre in Athidiya. Here, another o-level group wrote stories in the hallway, the primary team sizzled some more sausages in (very aptly) the kitchen, and the year 7 and 8s wrote beautiful paragraphs about their grandparents, complete with portraits that all featured the apparently compulsory hair bun.

The remaining few took a trip around Athidiya town with Sister Concepta, seeing first the new houses that are waiting to be occupied and then the temporary housing that they are currently living in. Unsurprisingly, they returned a little dazed and later, in our evening meeting, spoke about their disbelief that people should be living in those sort of conditions in the twenty-first century. Jimmy poignantly relayed a conversation Sister Concepta had had with a woman whilst on their tour; she had entreated Sister for a loan of a thousand rupees (£5.50) that she was positive she could pay back with three months. As Jimmy said, everyone standing there probably had five times the amount in their pockets, without really giving it much consideration, but to that woman it could be a lifeline. Not only did he raise a good point about what we take for granted but also what we are able to do with what seems a relatively small amount; a little can mean a lot.

After most of the group took a trip to Pizza Hut (you can take the person outta the west, but you can’t take the west outta the person!) the evening was brought to a lovely close over a newly-developed game of frisbee and quick paddle in the Indian Ocean… what more could you ask for?

Katherine

Sunday morning 16th Aug

This morning we started off with a morning service and communion with orange juice! and sang a few songs. We were then introduced to Sister Concepta. Before our ride out to the shops we had a couple of hours to spare, so we went to the swimming pool next door to realise that we couldn't use it ,what a bummer! oh well next stop the beach. Lovely warm water and strong tides, we were all remind not to go out to far!

We then got a coach ride to the local town and went shopping spent some money. After a few hours shopping went to Sioll where we met Beula and were given a great show by the children, at the end of the show they said they would finish off with a song we all would know can you guess.......? yi yi yippy yippy yi! so we all sang along. After a great show we went round to Beulas house and had some great food yummy yummy! We got back and started to sort out different things for the different activities we will be doing during the week.

should go now early start to morrow

signing off now until the next person writes on here

Jess

Group have arrived

The group arrived this evening... a little tried but all well . They had a little touble at costums as they are carring about a million boxes of toys and paper and school books and pens etc etc, about 150Kg worth. but fortunately it was all waved though in the end .

Sister Concepta joined us for dinner and met the team. She gave a little inspirational speach ... she just cant help herself.

Off to Sioll tomorrow, there's bound to be a show!! then to Beulahs for food . Lovely.
S

We met up with the wonderful team yesterday. Sister Concepta and beula, plus Shyamini who has join the team to lead on the coordination and monitoring of Asha projects. Shyamini is already thinking of ways to build the work between the partners and improve the monitoring and financial systems that are being used presently. she's going to be a great asset to us.

We took a walk around Athidiya, there are still in the ''temporary '' houses awaiting to move into the new brick built houses . It must be about 2 years they have waited now. They were told they would move on 27th July , but then the MP, had to go up North for the election , so it's been but off for 4 weeks.

The new houses are very small so where everyone will go is a bit of a mystery. On the positive side each unit has it's own toilet which will be like luxury compared to the 2 standpipes and 2 latrines that they have to use presently.

One on the big concerns is that many people cook inside they homes which is causing a lot of respiratory problems. In the new homes there will be less ventilation so this could become a much bigger issue. So today Radhika and I visited ''Practical Action'' a NGO that works to find solutions to these types of issues using locally solutions. It was dead interesting talking about some of the options. Some are rather complicated and will need a fair about of community engagement and education, but there is a simple solution which allows 2 pots to be cooked at once and uses less fuel . This could be promoted very quickly and we may well be able to assist with cost (which is small about Rs300 , less then 2 pounds , but for some this is a days wages)

The team at PA are keen to come and visit Athidiya and meet the whole team and see how they can support this, which is just great!!

The stove looks a bit like this.

We are travelling to the hill country tomorrow and then to the best beach in the world at Mirissa. The group arrive on the 15th and we are going to spend time at the school, teaching English through games and sports and drama etc. We are ging to have alot of fun. We will also spend some time at the 'Asha' centre in the hreat of athidya... this can be a lottle overwelming when you see the acute levels of poverty that some of these people endure. But everyone speak so positivly of the people they meet , of their generousity of spirit and openess.

I will keep you updated .

Steve