Sri Lanka - Last Day: Celebrating Together

The day is hot and beautiful as Team 11 sets out together to inspect all the worksites. For the last 10 days we were divided into three teams rotating daily through all locations so it is very exciting to have a chance to take a good look around and see all that has been accomplished.



First stop the Muslim School where the crew worked to “parge” the walls both inside and outside the library and computer lab, put down floors, finish ceiling, cleaned up and built walk ways around the outside. The rock is a special tribute to tripcanada designed by Christine. The building will be completed by our workers by the end of May.

 

 

It was hard to tell what was more exciting for the kids in the neighbouring Muslim community – ice cream for everyone or the fabulous new playground with swings, slide and teeter totter.

 

The teams worked hard at the temple pre-school cleaning, painting and “redecorating” a community meeting room and the children’s classroom – and donated some new much needed school supplies. Many hours were dedicated to “parging” the new kitchen building. The children were dressed in their best and patiently waited through a thank you speech and tea for the volunteers provided by their mothers and then ran outside thrilled by their new playground. 

 

 




On to the peaceful and beautiful location at Palathaduwa Temple a new community gathering and worship room is rising from the hard red mud. Is the team celebrating or rebelling at yet another photo?

This site started with a few holes in the ground and it was back breaking work to dig, build a complete foundation and support columns and start to brick the walls. At the same time, the Monk’s meeting room was re-painted for the May full moon festival.

 

 

 

The Monk’s delight in the contribution by our volunteers was evident with the very serene and meaningful blessing ceremony and handing out of personal certificates and gifts to each volunteer.

 

 

Our evening started with a thank you party for the 20 men who have worked beside us, laughed with us and taught us many new skills and a deep appreciation for this country and its people. Kristian is getting a last lesson in the art of dancing from Priyantha and the party ended with a heart-felt sharing of the Canadian and Sri Lankan national anthems. We returned to Moonstone Villas, where we were treated to a show by native country dancers and a delicious farewell dinner.

Team 11 has left a lasting mark at the places they built and made a difference in hundreds of lives enriching the opportunities for education, worship and play. We are forever connected to these people and each other sharing many unforgettable memories. Some captured in a few comments:

“I have reached a new low dressing each day trying to decide – what is the least dirty thing I can put on!”

“We are lucky to have so much. But at the same time it blinds us from what is really important in life.”

“I have found muscles I never knew I had – both from working hard and laughing. We laughed so much I feel it right down in my belly!”

“It is quite astonishing that while I came to make a difference to others, I feel that the life that has changed the most is my own.”

Thank you Team 11 for making a difference in hundreds of lives. 

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

 

Sri Lanka - Day 9: Getting it done

Sudharma Pre-SchoolKim had a personal mission today. While she was happy with the facilities at the pre-school, it wasn’t enough. She identified a need for classroom supplies for the preschoolers, persuaded others to chip in and she and Jennifer went on a shopping spree accompanied by a very excited teacher. Three stores later they returned with many needed bags of pencils, markers, pens, erasers, pencil cases, musical instruments, tambourines and pastels. The teacher was so grateful to be able to buy her students so many things that would enhance their learning and schooling experience. The smiles on her face was the reward.
 

Muslim School
In the morning parging was still the main task and the volunteers took turns sifting the sand, making cement and then the art of getting it on the walls! After lunch, Glynis, Eloise, Katy, Blair and Peg, left the school to paint playground equipment in the middle of the Muslim neighbourhood. Armed with brushes and pots of red, blue and yellow paint, we began to brighten the look of our jungle gym and swing. It wasn’t long before we were approached by a lovely local woman asking if she could help. We all looked at one another and immediately handed her a brush! Having her join us not only lightened our load, but became a bridge between the volunteers and the local community. What a significant moment! Never before has a woman stepped forward to work with us!

 

 

PalathaduwaWhat a busy day team 3 had at the Monk’s temple! The morning was spent mixing cement, moving bricks, building walls, pouring cement into forms and painting. At noon, the volunteers were treated to a traditional Sri Lankan lunch provided by Chamalie at the community centre. Then they set to work sorting all of the gifts brought from Canada by the volunteers: piles of clothing, toys, school supplies, dental products, toiletries, and of course, Canadian flags! They will go to needy families. After lunch, it was all hands were on deck to finish the painting with that Full Moon ceremony coming quickly!

 

It was truly a good day.

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

April 26: Day 8 - Re-energized and back to work

Muslim School Progress

The day started with parging inside the library (the computer lab is done) and some heavy duty “landscaping” until lunch. Then we took a little extra time to go to the Sunday market where we all bought spices, sarongs and “Sri Lankie blankies” (beautiful Sri Lankan bed sheets that make perfect tablecloths or beach blankets).

Then it was off to the Muslim neighbourhood for the installation of a much needed playground. Easily the most scorching site yet with full blazing sun and no breeze at all in the hottest part of the day. As we toiled away the neighbours all came out and brought plastic chairs which they placed in whatever shade they could find. The children crowded around and watched excitedly as their new playground was being prepped for installation. Everyone was all smiles which felt great as this is a new community to us and we were made to feel very welcome. David and Bruce pulled an extra-long shift at the new playground site, working most of the day there. David becoming a neighbourhood favourite as he sprayed the children with the water hose the family next door lent us to help mix concrete with. It was a tough go but these kids are going to be very happy.
 

 Sudharma Pre-School

What a hot and still day at the female monk’s preschool! Poor Scott and George were closet pargers for the entire day…no air…no room to turn around, let alone see what they still needed to parge. Interestingly, they never came out of the closet! In Scott’s own words, it was like working in a greenhouse in 40 degree temperatures with their work boots slowly filling with sweat. On a high note, they never had to take a pee break in spite of all the water they consumed.

The rest of Team 3 had a slightly easier day, finishing up a few spots that had been missed by paint, and then putting the preschool back together. Thank goodness one of the Sri Lankan women hovered in the room while we put the furniture and flooring back as she knew where everything needed to be placed. By the end of the afternoon, the room was swept, organized and ready for the school day tomorrow. What a wonderful feeling to have finished one of our projects! The second floor room was also swept and the freshly painted furniture was put back in position. Two rooms completed!

The playground was worked on with the new equipment placed, the holes dug and the cement poured. The children will be so excited to have a place to play outdoors!

It was a great day for Team 3, with their close proximity to the market a wonderful lunchtime bonus!!

Palathaduwa

The team flipped back and forth between the new building and the community room. At the new building, some helped with the forms that were put in place, soon to be filled with cement which will form the walls. The workers were happy to teach Amalie choice Sinhalese words, which she later found out could not be repeated to either Anil or the monk!

There was a press to finish the painting in the community centre. The full moon ceremony is fast approaching and the monk would be delighted to see the space completed beforehand. He is thrilled that we have been able to re-paint this room as the May full moon is most significant as this is the month Buddha was both born and died.

Local children attending Sunday school, spent a good deal of time watching us paint. From a shy start, soon the students were climbing through the windows to get their picture taken by Eloise! Given more time, they would have tried to help us paint which may not have been so bad, as we seemed to be getting more paint on the floor than the walls!

 

While many spent lunch at the market, the monk provided a special moment for Janet, Peg and Richard when he invited us in to see the private room in which he worships. It was such as honour.

Many wonderful memories for all of us!

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

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