New Trip . New Blog

We are in the final days of preparation for the summer trip. We are taking two groups this summer, the first is a school and then a small general group.
If you wish to keep up with all our highs and lows, then please log on to http://tuktuktrips.blogspot.com/
Thanks Steve

Home to Home

Back in London now, lovely to be back safe with family and hear all the news, but was sad to leave SL. Just the best people.

Looking back over the last week it was wonderful to meet people and see projects that we presently support, as well as see new areas/projects where we maybe able to join in- helping to make a difference.

We are back in July with a group of 23, if your reading this and interesting in coming out, to '' do what we can , with what we have''(FDR), then let me know, or check out http://www.tuktuk.org.uk/.

I wasn't able to post this at the time as just too mad and busy .

Last day, visited Torrington which is a 'colony' of about 75 houses along narrow lanes. We support they nursery somewhat. They have a fantastic nursery worker , Anita, who has a lovely manner with the kids. They clearly love to be around 'teacher'. I met my name sake 'Steve' , one of the children at the nursery-- fine looking fellow as you would only expect.

Once again I was treated like royalty- garland of temple flowers, the blessing with the flame circled around your head, and the placing of saffron on my forehead. Of course being ''British '' I find it all a bit intense, that focus of attention, but also extremely honored and thankful for all the care and effort people have made.

Actually that 'flame ' thing is very symbolic - with the flame all of life's nasties are banished , replaced by blessings - nice hey!

We returned to the 'tsunami camp' and met some of the residents. Apparently they are 24 families still waiting there, 15 of whom are from another area and were 'forcible' brought there by the JVP shortly after the tsunami. Because they are not local folk the local authority will not assist in anyway. All rather grim.

Yesterday, I visited the RCCI , this is a school for special needs kids and where Barbara works. (Barbara is one of the 3 original women that we met in 2004 which sparked of the inspiration to set up Asha Trust) Asha has recently funded a class for autistic children, they presently have 7 but will soon have 9. The staff are highly trained and motivated and it was heart warming to see the children interacting with they teachers. The school is very open to new ideas and we are currently in discussions with them about a community outreach programme.

In the afternoon Sister Concepta , Beulah and I had a good chat about the projects , where we see the future, all that dreaming your dreams that's so necessary to do once in a while. We met at Beulahs house which has just the best garden. ( Beulah's dog was very sick that day. It seemed to be in some distress and probably pain, poor thing. He subsequently died the next day. Beulah rang to inform us and was clearly upset. I know for some who have never had a pet it seems a bit odd that others 'love' they pets and grieve when they die. But I think it's about how we've been ''wired', we naturally want to love and be loved and although it's not the same as between people, we can get that from our pets too. Or am I being ''British ' about this pet thing too )

ehhhh

sorry about the yellow. Not sure how I did that or how to get rid of it. Any ideas

Oh My God

It happen again! Something shattered the familiarity. You know how you get used to the stories , the sights and sounds, it's not that you cease to care it's just familiar. and the something happens, you see something, hear something, meet someone and it hits you again '' oh my God, where do we start- I just don't know. I was taken to see a new 'zone' in Athidya , its made up of lots of small houses crammed together with narrow lanes , all every which way. There we met Nilanthi I regonised her from the booster class we fund at the school. She took us to visit her Mum done there narrow lanes until we came to a low and narrow door. We were invited in. It was no more then 12x5 feet, no natrual light just a kerosene lamp and this for 6 children and Mum and Dad. Both parents are day labourers earning about Rupes 200 a day. ( about a pound). I took a family photo Nilatho and her parents- like many Sri Lankans she has the shapest brightest smile. It seemed rather odd, even ironic in such a place.

Met a group still working with Tsunami survivors. It seems these folk have recieved little or no help 3 years ago and the authorities have move on to the war now. Some of these folk are still in a ''camp'' in a school, while others are with families who themselves are struggling. But the worker were just lovely and clearly do what they can with what they have.

My day started not to well. I was invited to the school for a cultural show. In SL there 's any excuse for a show and I hought it was such a performance.. When I arived (late) in shorts and tea-shirt , I ralised this was a CULTURAL SHOW!! Woth all the bells and whistles, lighting the lamp etc. I was handed a programme to met with the words ''Key note speech given my chief guest'' - thats me. Not my best performance

Hi

yesterday left early yo travel to Kandy, on the way it struck me once again what a stunningly beautiful place Sri Lanka is.

I went up to Kandy to meet Pearl Stephen who founded and runs the Women's Development Centre. It all started in her front room and now it has centres for women fleeing DV, a home for girls and young women who have suffered abuse, training centres and so much more. I met to discuss how we might buy in some of there expertise, particularly around business Enterprise and micro-credit.

I've met a couple of amazing women and the WDC.

I met Chudra -Thilika about a year ago, she explained that she had studied business ans commerce to MA level and after leaving university got a job in a big company. Her journey looked set to move her up the levels of ''success'', good salary, good car etc. but after a few year she decided this was not where she wanted to go. She left her job and now works at the WDC training poor women in enterprise skills. I always find such stories an inspiration, but particularly in the context of a developing country. Most are so glad to get away for the mire of poverty that chosing a simpler lifestyle is jus not done. Chudra thilika really is on the road less travelled.

I also met Pearls PA . She informed me that she loves to read English books and has a library. I thought maybe 15 or 20 books. No-- 600! and her favorite author is Shakespeare . She started going off on one about the philosophy of Shakespeare. I was lost but I hopefully nodded in the right places- so I think I had her fooled.

Una Walawe

I spent the weekend checking out a few places for the summer trip. We plan to take the group to Una Walawe for a long weekend to give them a bit of a rest. Whilst there we can all visit the national park, a tea estate and a hot spring. The hotel we stayed at, and plan to bring the group to, is situated 0n a ‘tank’ , an ancient reservoir. The bird life was simply stunning we saw eagles and peacocks, and stocks and weaver birds and humming birds and and..
We arose early the morning 5.30 to check out the national park, loads of ele’s and more birds, but missed the leopard. We made it just in time to see the orphaned baby elephants at feeding time. The elephants are kept at the sanctuary for 4 years and then released back into the wild. It was a good day. And by the way the ants have vanished, must have gone off the invest something else.
Off to Kandy tomorrow.

Arrived- at last

I think the land mass of South Asia and Europe must be moving away from each other. This can be the only explanation of why the journey time seems to get longer and longer.
Ehhh. Anyway, arrived in one piece, if a little jaded.
In the Taxi from the airport I had a call from Sister Concepta to say she will meet me at the school at 10.00, that I should not worry as she has arranged everything with the Principal. It’s about 8 at this point and I still need to get across town to Moratuwa, which will take about an hour and half. I will then need a shower and change of clothes. Rushed around and got to the school at about 10.30.
We funded the refrub of a classroom used as a booster class for some of the kids who are really struggling. This included some building work to extend the classroom; the builders are presently on site so I was able to observe them doing their thing.
It was lovely to see the children in the class. Of course being Sri Lanka there had to be a ceremony I was given a garland of jasmine flowers. Just Lovely!! Going back there on the 6th to see their ‘Cultural Show’ it was originally going to be 2 hours long , but managed to get that cut down a bit.
Off to the visit Elephants tomorrow.

I’ll leave you with a mental picture. Here I am propped up on the bed , with the van blowing above me and the laptop on my lap. As I stare at the keys tiny red ants that seemed to have infected the keyboard, make a sudden dash for safety. Only to be consumed by the thumb of righteousness cashing down upon them (there’s another one… splat.. got it.) I’m sure this could be a metaphor for something … answers please.

Steve

Heading out

I'm visiting Sri Lanka in May and have been trying to think of the best way to keep people informed. There will be loads of people I meet that will be known to many of you, along with the famililiar places and projects. Others may not be so fimiliar with Asha project's and people so it maybe a way of gaining a greater feel for what goes on.

I fly out on Thursday 1st for 8 days, I will attempt to write something every day, at least every day I can get to a computer.

Do leave comments if you would like.
Steve