This year was a special year as my daughter and my partner a
Alfred joined me on my work trip to Sri Lanka. The first 2 weeks they were with me and the last week I was on my own.
This year I had a substantial amount of money with me from the company LC PACKAGING. This gave me a good chance to do a lot but also to do bigger projects.
And because I stayed a bit longer I could visit some school/homes more than once.
We visited some old schools and homes but added a new nursery school, a Autistic/Down syndrome home and a project in the East.
The new nursery was really a nursery I visited 10 years ago. (dambulla nursery) heard from a friend from Gamini things weren’t going so well and if I could help again. For me it was a chance to visit a school from the past and to see if the little tikes slide was still there. It was a big present It belonged to my daughter when she was very little. Arriving at the school it hadn’t changed and yes to my big surprise (and maybe hope) the slide was still there but broken. We looked at it and said it still could be used if they put something under it to make it stronger. Before we knew it, they turned the slide around and the kids could use it again. They loved it. They needed a lot and we decided on some posters, games, a doll, a big box of primo, domino, etc. Next year they will get a playground. This will be used by all children of this village.
Through a good friend (chichranganie) we heard of a Autistic home near Kandy which according her was very poor. Now normally we can’t find very poor schools/homes in or around Kandy anymore but we decided to visit it. From the outside it looked quite ok, so we looked at each other thinking: what is wrong ?
Coming inside we understood. The home was very poor. It was old and dilapidated. The name a home for down syndrome children was not totally correct as they were other youngsters (from the age of 11 till 41 years old) with other disabilities e.g. autistic. They were very happy to see us and one child played on the piano for us. Later on we met with the 2 metrons and asked and discussed their needs. There is so much to do. This year we/metrons decided on cleaning materials such as brooms, toilet brushes, cleaning solutions, brushes etc. I also gave a few posters to cheer up the walls. Next year we like to paint the entrance where the youngsters stay most of their time. Others things they needed were towels, clothes and food. After discussion we were not allowed to give food as there is a family living in Denmark, I believe, who’s job this is. We did say we will give some nice items as biscuits. Those youngster are going to school every morning and wear an uniform. This is a part of the home. I asked if I and Rosanne, who came to work as a volunteer at one of our projects, could stay one morning and see what they are doing. I was very curious as I saw this little school and there was nothing to do and the strangest thing was that the metron/teacher said she had everything she needed!!!?? I had a look and know what I could give her next year. I did give her some special help scissors which I bought in Holland.
The project in the East was a wish of Gamini. He wanted for a long time to help out there but my budget didn’t allow me a big amount of money, which you really need in East. The war caused so much hurt , sadness and poverty thus needed a lot of money. So I thought who am I with my small charity to go out there and help. This year I agreed although I still had my doubts.
Gamini got through friends in touch with an officer of the special task unit. ( the armed part of the police)He invited us to his home in Kandy where his wife and kids live and where he only is 5 days every 6 weeks. He works near Trincomolee. He showed us the most horrible images of the war. He got in touch with someone else, who got in touch with etc. We heard that the government was building a resettle village near the Northern-Eastern site. We could go there and see what needed to be done and because we aren’t a NGO we could go without filling in all kind of papers.
We Ravi, Gamini, Rosanne (a volunteer) and me set off to the East. WE met up with several people from the army who guided us to the re-settler village. On arrival we saw very small huts and some small houses and thought where and what to do. At that moment we were stopped by an army officer who asked us what we were doing here. Gamini explained the situation and we were invited to his office. To make a long story short. We decided to donate a playground next to a to be build nursery school funded by an Swedish organization. The officer promised that they would pick it up from Kandy and fix it in the ground. We also donated 15 chairs – for the community centre- and some educational toys. I felt very humbled by this experience. Afterwards we were invited to drink a cup of tea with some of the survivors of this village. The stories told were horrible and stayed with me for a long time
What else have we done?
We visited old schools and homes were we still have ongoing projects.
What did we buy more?
-drum
-educational materials for about 10 schools
-pocket money for the boys of Saravena home plus a cake and shoes
-shaving cream and soap for the metrons
-white board
-balls
-treats for the kids
-flashcards and posters in English
-fingerpaint, crayons and much more