After many problems with the container, such as the bill of loading, what was in it, what was suddenly not allowed, additional costs etc. we managed to get the container out of the harbour once we paid 5000 euro. (this also included the rent of the container). For this reason many filled containers are rotting away as foreigns organisations won’t /can’t pay the ridiculous amount of money the government is now demanding through customs. It was hard work but quite rewarding. All together we visited 40 nursery schools, 1 secondary school, 4 childrens’ homes and gave the (folding) cots, Medicines etc. to a hospital.
How did it work?
I woke up around 6.30 AM, walked to town; got a tuk-tuk and arrived at the factory around 7.45 AM. We were able to use a part of the warehouse from a biscuit factory, free of charge.
We (Gamini, me and the driver) packed what was needed in the van depending on where we went. We took 1 or 2 vans. Arriving at the school, temple or home, we took out the appropriate boxes. If we would arrive at a temple, the monk would pray for a few minutes to say Thank you to God and me (which should be really us, everyone who helped making this possible) for helping the poor. Well, that was what I understood after translations. In any given temples there would be one or more schools. At one temple we visited had 14 schools. The children, parents and siblings gathered together on their free Saturday to wait for us. The children were in full uniform, all 500 of them. It was a bit overwhelming and we decided to close all shutters and only allow one school in at the time.
Coming back …
I would start (with helpers) to give out the stuffed toys, presents, toothbrushes, toothpaste etc. At the back of the temple or school the other helpers made sure that the clothes, shoes etc were distributed as equally as possible. Every school/home would be given different boxes of clothes and shoes. There would be baby-toddler-nursery-children-adult clothes and shoes. We gave all teachers shampoo, toothbrush/paste, and soap, all expensive items for them. Afterwards we often were invited to eat something with the monk which was normally Jacobs crackers, plataans, and tea. Othertimes we were invited by the teachers for a drink and cake (they wouldn’t eat or drink, just watch). If we had gone further away we had to be sure that the driver got his food and had a quick curry on the way home.
We would return to the warehouse, changing into our workclothes and start packing for the next day. It was around 40 ºC. and very hot. The warehouse had no airconditioning and was above the oven of the factory. Towards midnight I was drivin back (by the owner Ravi) to the B&B. There I would do my paperwork, and get to bed as the next day would start very soon again.
The future
Looking at the next shipment the government is giving us 2 choices: Pay a great deal of money (1500 euro) or give all donations to the social welfare…. So they can decide how it is distributed. We will not do the latter one as we want to be able to continue helping as many schools/homes as possible
We will continue.
There is another small problem, and that is of course…money. When the goods arrive in Kandy we need to pay the transport. I pay for the helpers hotels and my own hotel but I can’t pay everything.
So we need sponsors to continue. Not only big gifts will count but we really appreciate smaller gifts!!