This year was a difficult year.
Gamini had had an eye operation and couldn’t carry or do anything. I had no help and so I had to do everything myself. So I knew then things needed to be changed. I decided it was time to take other people on board. People I could trust 100 percent. I knew who. I asked and they were delighted to help sri lankan-hope-for – children.
Gamini could decide which projects he would keep. He decided to keep the Eastern projects.
Ramani would keep her projects ( sponsor kids and helping schools)
The new helpers are:
Samon and Kanchana, both English teachers , and very close friends . I have been in contact with them for many years. They will keep in touch with a boys home –Saravena- and give food when needed. They will also help a village school (nickname Ravi’s school) around the Kandy mountains.
Chichandri is the second person who will come on board. She has been my dearest friend for a long time. I never asked her as she was too ill but now she feels much better and is very happy to help me.
She will be in charge of a new school. She gives once in the 2 months food supplies to the neediest families. Furthermore she buys cupboards, toys, whiteboards etc. for the new schools we take on. She is also in charge with our project y4y.
Sandra found me through my website and became a volunteer for an autistic unit near Kandy. She helps me as well with the paperwork. She lives in Holland.
So what have we done?
The first week I had one day rest. Afterwards I started to unpack the big bags and put say put books, bricks, games, dolls, cuddles, jigsaws, outdoor materials, art activities in piles together. Take care of banking problems, change money, buying rulers, rubbers, sharpeners, etc. for all schools.
After 3 days I and Kanchana left for Vaviniya and stayed there for one night. Vaviniya is the start of the Northern region. I met up with my daughters family for the second time. They speak Tamil, I speak English and so I was very happy Kanchana spoke Tamil , English and of course Singalese.
Saturday , 2 May
Shopping at the Montessori wholesale. I bought for about 10 schools.
I walked to the bank (30 min) in Kandy to sort out my banking problems.
I bought in town clay, scissors, paint , paintbrushes and special paper for 15 schools
Then I walked back (30 min)
Sunday , 3 May
I had a good sleep and rest. Went back to Gamini. Very hot at his place and started to divide al the items between the 15 schools/homes
Walked back to the hotel , took a shower and left for Lesley and Ralph’s house. We had Sunday roast (yummy) and stayed their till 21.00
Monday , 4 May
Walked to Gamini’s place, went on with the packing. I check what schools asked for last year and then I see if I can give this to the school.
Back hotel, body wash and tuk tuk to chichandri.
Meeting with the headteacher about students who are coming to Sri Lanka to help at this school.
Eating out at restaurant History with chichandri, Namasha, Jaynika and Gamini.
Tuesday, 5 May
Get bag with toys from Gamini. Take tuk-tuk to Chichandri and walk with bag up the hill to visit a sweet little nursery.
Afterwards with tuk-tuk to Chootis nursery . I gave there their bag and discussed some cleaning issues of the toys.
Stayed there for an hour back in tuk –tuk and quickly to Kumudu who helps at her home an austistic boy. This all for 1 o clock. Here I wanted to see what I could do to help.
Back to Gamini’s , starting packing again.
Bodywash
Walking to the bank again
Late afternoon visiting Saravena boys home
Wednesday, 6 May
Ravi , my driver , picked Gamini and me up with 3 bags. We left for Bandula’s school. 45 minutes in car. Stayed and admired new playground ( with money from last year) Gave a bag with educational toys. Went to new temple nursery school. Saw very sweet kids and a good teacher with no toys at all.
Discussed what was needed first. This year whiteboard, stickle bricks and cupboard will be given so they can put the content from the given bag in the cupboard.
Quickly moved on to the next new nursery but the teachers had left and only one teachers was waiting for us. We looked around gave the bag and left again.
Shiftly we drove to an primary school/ autistic unit. We spoke their about Sandra, somebody who would come and help .
During the afternoon I and chichandri went to town where we bought a CD player for the above school and a container for lego. We also looked for matresses, cupboards and bought presents for Ravi’s school
Thursday, 7 May
We drove to Ravi’s school. This will take a whole day. First we drive about 1 and half hour to get us far into the mountains around Kandy. A tuk-tuk man, and also our contact person is waiting for us in the village. Then we put all our bags into one tuk-tuk and with the other tuk tuk we dwindled down the village path ( around half hour) where we arrived at this beautiful small village school.
Every girl got a doll, teachers a weekend bag and the boys a train, car, or aeroplane. They got lots and lots of educational materials. Kanchana and Samon will now stay in contact with this school
Friday , 8 May
We visited Janikas school. Took some photos and discussed further matters around the students.
Then quickly into the tuk-tuk with the bags and on our way to a new school. Nickname chichandris new school. We looked around , see what was needed and if there was a click between me/chichandri and the teachers. Every child got a roll of biscuits. Many families here have hardly any food. During the afternoon I did some shopping for the East.
Saturday, 9 May
Early morning Ravi picked me , Gamini and Wasantha up and we left for the East. Unfortunately I had a horrible pain on my back which I thought was kidney pain so we decided first see a doctor. He checked me over gave some painkillers and finally we set off. It was not a good day for me.
On our way we stopped . We bought food for a very poor family and dropped this off . We arrived at a very bad hotel and after an upgrade we still found us surrounded in a very hot room with not enough air. Horrible.
Sunday, 10 May
YES, MY FIRST AND ONLY DAY OF REST.
It was hot and I sat on a bounty beautiful beach under the palm trees . I jumped on the waves of the ocean. It was great!!! The boys lounged on the sofas. But Ravi and Wasantha were brave enough to be in the ocean as well.
Monday, 11 May
We visited the village we have been helping over the last 4 years. The Louisa foundation gave money for 56 bikes (see separate report). We gave the bikes to each family who were selected by the army. We also visited the nursery school who Gamini and Wasantha had decorated /painted a few weeks earlier. All educational materials are given by us.
We had lunch at the headquarters of the army base. This was a special occasion. Then we headed back to Kandy where we arrived very late (around 23.00)
Tuesday, 12 May
There was no time to have a sleep in. Me and Ramani had to visit 3 schools before 1.30. Those schools are our sponsor schools and schools were we help .
Ramani dropped me off in town late afternoon where I did some private shopping. Afterwards I had to do some admin jobs with chichandri.
In the evening me and Gamini had a fantastic meal at Ravis place.
Wednesday, 13 May
Again I was picked up early by Ramani and Sameera. We had to visit 2 others schools which is around 1 hour drive to one school, etc. Not very close by. The afternoon was used to do the admin work about the sponsor project and schools. Afterwards back to Gamini’s place where I finished and divided the last left toys. A few weeks later Chichandri gave those items to those schools
Late afternoon I met up with Lesley and Ralph and the Royal Bar where we had something to drink and eat.
Thursday, 14 May (finsh off day)
Chichandri and I went back to her neighbours nursery school were we gave 3 tricycles. On to Janikays school to take some photos. Back again to town to change some money for the projects.
Early afternoon met up with a friend Nishanta at Pizza hut and we caught up on our news. Nishanta left and I met up with Kanchana and Samon to give the papers, tel.numbers, money and information about the project they take over from Gamini. (the village school) I started to feel very tired and had headaches. Something was not right with me.
Afterwards we all went to Saravena childrens home as Samon and Kanchana will take on this home as well. Just before I returned to chichandris place I met up with Tony and gave him his present.
Friday, 15 May
Visited autistic home where I gave some art materials. Talked about students visit. Did the Admin with chichandri. Started to pack. Slept in the afternoon and I felt very tired.
Saturday, 16 May
I got up at 5.00 in the morning. Ravi picked me up and we left at 5.30. I hugged my dearest friend chichandri and slept in the car to Colombo from where my plane left for Holland at 10.30