April 25: Day 7 - Day Off and MUCH Deserved

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country offering many different options for R+R. Here is how our weary and sore workers enjoyed the day.

A group headed to the beach and ocean at Palm Paradise – a favourite destinations for TRIP Canada volunteers. It was a glorious day.

Richard and Joan went to tea country and were thrilled with the climbing, plantations and magnificent scenery.

Some of the girls returned to Amanwella resort by “special invitation” and spent the day swimming, resting and possibly getting a bit too much sun!

Most of the gang went to Galle to explore the Dutch fort, shop and drink gin at hotels memorable of the colonial days. At lunch they were quite shocked when soldiers came in with Kalashnikovs, gunboats entered the bay and armed helicopters landed. The new President (in white) was dining next door and they managed to sneak a photo!

It was much calmer on the lagoon where George and Ron went bird watching. They saw many beautiful birds and up the river discovered a cistern deposited many miles in land by the tsunami.

“Auntie” Am visited the family she has a very close relationship with. Kal is a mason who has worked with TRIP Canada for 10 years. We have all been delighted to see him move his family into a new home built by volunteers, marry Madu, raise Manudi and get ready for the arrival of his son in August.

A wonderful day for everyone.

Janet McKelvey 

DWC/TRIP Canada Team Leader

Sri Lanka, April 2015

April 24: Day 6 - Tired and Happy

Day four of hard work and our muscles are aching! It’s another sunny hot day here in paradise. We all celebrated Kim’s 25th (???) birthday last night where the staff at the hotel made her a beautiful cake and sang happy birthday with much enthusiasm. Everyone made her feel so special on a day that she was celebrating without any of her family.

Team 1 at Sudharma – One of the benefits of working on this site is that we are smack in the middle of the town, Tangalle. Richard led us on a quest for popsicles. The townspeople watched us as we paraded down the road to find Food City. Eight of us decided to remain in the air conditioned store as we enjoyed our treat. Glynes is our paint perfectionist. She spent most of her day adding something extra to the walls and windows of the community centre making it extra special for those who will use it.

Team 2 started the day off when “popping pill” Mary took her vitamins as usual but mistakenly included her sleeping pill in the mix. Mary slept until she joined the crew delivering lunch to the sites. Rockin’ Ron was dancing to Sri Lankan disco in the middle of the construction zone. We did 14 cement loads and the skirt of the new building is done. We all (including our Sri Lankan colleagues) put our initials into the cement…even though they will be covered up with bricks.

Team 3 was at the Muslim School. We had the kids and music to give us energy but we all felt a bit tired…..and we had a good laugh when Joan’s camera posted the message ‘Exhausted Battery’.

Kylie was sifting the sand for parging, which is hard work.The highlight of the day was when we created an impromptu band – our colleagues using the most basic of construction equipment to create the percussion. Kristian sang Electric Avenue….and we all joined in for the chorus. 

The day was capped with a magical evening at Hotel Amanwella. Delicious seafood dinner by the beach, listening to local musicians and the sounds of the waves.

Janet McKelvey 

DWC/TRIP Canada Team Leader 

Sri Lanka, April 2015 

April 23: Day 5 - Hardest Day Yet

It seems that many of us felt that this was the most challenging work day yet. Was it because of the crazy hot temperatures or the fact that day 3 fell on hump day? Who knows? But just for today, there will be no mention of parging or pounding or painting or lifting or measuring or cutting or sanding or sifting or sweeping! Because it turns out that, even in the midst of the most gruelling heat and hard work, some fun and fabulous and interesting things unfolded today at all three work sites.

Team 1 had a rather fun physical day, starting when they took their morning break. With the beautiful Indian Ocean acting as a backdrop to their worksite, and a makeshift sifter, surrounded by piles of sand and gravel sharing the field with the school playground, many of the students started a ball game during their recess break. The volunteers couldn’t resist joining in the game. Richard made up some rules, and even though Blair was not sure of the point system, she felt like a winner with all of the children surrounding her. By early afternoon, the children had left for home, and out came the IPod and speakers. Bruce was dancing while prepping concrete and our Sri Lankan partners were all about playing their shovel guitars. It was an energetic end to a very hot day!

Team 2 spent the day working at the Preschool where no children were in house due to New Years. But other creatures were very much in attendance and made for an interesting day! A poisonous snake was found sleeping behind some bricks that were being moved. Since our Sri Lankan friends will not kill any animals, they painstakingly captured it while it tried to bite them! Later they released the snake into a field. A toad then hopped out from the same area…it was apparently a nice damp and somewhat cool place to live. Many geckos scurried about as the walls were being painted and even a monkey or six paid a visit!

Team 3 had the opportunity to say “goodbye” to Sajini, the lovely young Sri Lankan lady who is attending university thanks to a TRIP Canada scholarship. Sajini was so gracious, expressing with such passion her gratitude for the support she has been given and for the beautiful new laptop that she will proudly be taking to her new school. We also heard about the “hazing” like orientation that new students go through when they start University. Possibly there is a bit of nervousness combined with excitement for Sajini, but she did not show it. The heat and humidity created some interesting fashion looks today…George’s shirt appeared to be wetter than if he had worn it into a shower and Carolyn’s curls really took on a life of their own. But for a day that was filled with challenge and hard work, all three teams managed to pull together, finding moments of laughter and play. 

Our toughest day so far became one of our best!

Janet McKelvey 

DWC/TRIP Canada Team Leader 

Sri Lanka, April 2015 

April 22: Day 4 - Happy Earth Day!

It’s Earth Day and we are working alongside our Sri Lankan colleagues, building a better community.

We are divided into three work teams and rotating around three sites. So while we are creating a team identity, we are also sharing stories about all sites. Each of us takes great interest and pride in how all sites are progressing.

Today Team 1 had the opportunity to work with Amalie at Palatheduwa Buddhist Temple. They unloaded two truckloads of bricks, and passed the bricks alongside the monk, who chose to join in. To work alongside a monk…that was special. Several volunteers visited the sacred temple and were awestruck by its beauty and magnificence.

Team 2 was parging the walls in the new computer room at the Muslim school. They loved having the children in their uniforms watching them as they sifted the sand. Some were shy and stayed back. Others wanted to chat, showing their knowledge of English. Watching them on the playground made us realize the joy of simple play, not seen enough in our own communities.

Team 3 – yes, this team was also parging! George was back parging after a previous trip and was proud of his skills. Team 3 had this awesome experience of having the female monk react to the upstairs community room they had decorated – cleaned, painted, and organized. They realized they had made the monk happy and it made them all so happy in return. They all posed for a group photo including the temple dogs. Thank you Joan for applying your design skills and making the room come alive. 

Our evening was capped with a perfect dinner on the beach – sand and surf, crescent moon and twinkling stars, warm breeze, a bonfire, and lots of conversation. Sharing our stories and reliving our very special Earth Day.

Janet McKelvey
DWC/TRIP Canada Team Leader
Sri Lanka, April 2015

April 21: Day 3 - The Vets and the Newbies Get to Work

It was quite a day for the 28 of us here in Tangalle. While we have been divided into three work teams, the more significant difference between us is not that we worked at the Muslim school, the female monk’s temple or out in the fields of the Palatheduwa temple. It was whether or not we were one of the vets or a first timer. On this trip, we are split about 50/50.

For those returning, it was all about putting to use the skills learned on previous adventures and catching up with people they have met along the way. “More painting. More parging. More mixing. It’s so hot. More sweat!!!” It turns out that parging (plastering) is second nature to Katy. And Kristian KNEW that the first day would be the hardest with all time devoted to making and pouring concrete.

Our dear Susan and Hilary were so happy to re-connect with the people and families who have become so special to them. Hilary wondered if she would be remembered by the mason Suresh only to find that he got quite a kick out of her new hair cut!

Then there were those of us who had no idea what to expect. (Even Christine was amazed at what could be accomplished with simple tools! Lucky she raced down the driveway in the morning and managed to catch the van!) What did became clear early on was how quickly and well we worked together.

David and Scott are both convinced that their teams are the best! We can’t overlook our Sri Lankan partners, who not only kept things running smoothly, but also organized our “tea time”.
So we are off and running. By tomorrow, we will all be old pros! The divide between us will have faded and we will all know what is coming our way!


Janet McKelvey
DWC/TRIP Canada Team Leader
Sri Lanka, April 2015

April 20: Day 2 - Visiting Work Sites & Meeting Sri Lankans

After a great dinner the jetlagged group enjoyed a long sleep – for most anyway – and awoke to a beautiful day. The plan for the day was to understand the work ahead and how it would help others while gaining a deeper appreciation for this country and its people.

We visited all three worksites with the biggest highlight meeting Sri Lankans. The children at the Muslim School gladly abandoned their academic studies to play cricket with the volunteers, say hello and learn our names. It was very inspiring to meet the female monk and understand the difficult conditions under which she has been living while providing for community needs.

Then at Palathaduwa Temple all were warmly welcomed by the resident Buddhist Monk. As a special gift, he arranged for a guest Monk with excellent English skills to share the basic precepts of the teachings of Buddha and the role of meditation. It was insightful and interesting both from a personal perspective and to gain a greater understanding of the Sri Lankan people.

A visit to Ketakalawatta, the tsunami village built by TRIP Canada volunteers and donors was very moving. Especially for some of the returning volunteers who helped build the homes. It has changed so much with families really living in the homes, making alterations, growing gardens and really making the home their own. The team was treated to a Sri Lankan lunch made by the women of the village and, in smaller groups, invited into their homes for tea.

A torrential downpour brought our visits to a very wet conclusion! And, in spite of the weather, we had a fabulous dinner at the guest house where some of the volunteers are staying. Lots of lightening, fun and laughter. Especially when Ron asked when the first pay cheque would arrive.

A good day and night. Everyone is looking forward to getting to work on Tuesday.

Janet McKelvey
DWC/TRIP Canada Team Leader
Sri Lanka: April 2015

April 19: Day 1 - First Update From Team 11!

Amalie, Bruce and Janet arrived early to make sure everything was ready for the fabulous Team 11 starting to arrive in the early hours of the morning Sunday April 19.

Sri Lanka is hot and beautiful as always with all recovering with the Sinhalese-Tamil New Year’s celebrations. A time for family, thanksgiving and much consumption of Arack!


A warm welcome from our good friends here Raelene, Anil, Ruwan and all our friends at Moonstone.

A flurry of last minute arrangements and changes – we are pretty sure that Kristian and George won’t want to share a double bed so a number of hotel and room changes.

TRIP Canada Students: At present we are providing scholarship support for 11 university students and 7 high school students in tuition classes to improve their education opportunity.

We were delighted that the university students were home for the New Year’s break and able to come for tea. For the seven new students we presented them with new laptops which make a significant difference to them for their studies:

A visit to our three work sites which have been underway since January with local workers under the eagle eye of our boss Podi – who is quite possibly the smallest Sri Lankan we have ever met and the best construction manager.

Team 11 has 28 volunteers – half veterans some who have been here multiple times. And the rest very welcome newcomers. Over their time here the volunteers will be making a difference in literally hundreds of lives as they work on schools, spiritual centres and playgrounds for several communities.

The volunteers will be divided into three teams and each team will rotate through the different worksites several times providing exposure to different construction skills, cultures and local people.

Not only are they giving their time, each volunteer has donated $500 to the cost of the projects and thanks to our generous donors all building will be completed over the next few months.

Here is what they will experience……

SUDHARMA TEMPLE AND PRE-SCHOOL – Is home to a female monk who has sustained a crumbling temple and school for 42 (ages 3-5) with virtually no formal financial support.

The facility is also used for afternoon tuition classes, community gathering place and meetings. The volunteers will complete one large room, a kitchen and playground spending their time mixing concrete, plastering, putting down floors and learning how to erect a playground, something we have never done before.

PALATHADUWA BUDDHIST TEMPLE – In the community where we have worked since the tsunami we have a very special relationship with the Monk, who is in great need of a new building for Sunday School and other important community events.
The temple is truly the spiritual hub for the 200 poor families who live here. The volunteers will start from the beginning here digging foundations in hard packed earth with many tree roots:

TANGALLE MUSLIM COMMUNITY – 300 families live in their own community with their own school of 91 students all grades. Generally they work in the garment industry and the living conditions are quite desperate. The volunteer will complete a new building which will be their library, computer lab and meeting room – more concrete, plastering, flooring and they will be putting the roof on. Within the community we will be clearing land and building a new playground for all kids.

EYE GLASSES & SUN GLASSES – Under the leadership of long-time volunteer Hilary Bruun we are experimenting with a new eyeglass project which will provide instantly adjustable readers and distance glasses and sun glasses to prevent eye damage. Most people who need glasses do not have access. This was started by the Developing World Connections team in February. More info to come!

We are happy to report that all the volunteers arrived safely and we had an amazing welcome dinner Sunday night. This is a special group of people eager to work hard, make a difference and have lots of fun!

Janet McKelvey
DWC/TRIP Canada Team Leader
Sri Lanka: April 2015