More last days: Teacher training to Colombo

More Last Days

A pleasant party with and for the teachers of the 13 playgroups whom OST support was held on the Thursday evening, where all kinds of silly games were played and playgroup songs sung. This had brought them to Batti town for the evening (many having travelled several hours to get here) so that they could attend the Teacher Training morning that we had arranged for Friday morning. The evening also allowed us to celebrate Matt's 21st birthday which followed this week.

 The teacher training event involved a starter circle-type session, followed by 5 separate group sessions which the teachers all attended carousel-style, and played board games, made model elephants, collage work, worked on children’s heights with a wall-tape, or did “physical games” – running around, balancing bean bags etc.

 The morning concluded with speeches, resources gifts, and certificates, and a final group curry. One snag – there was a power cut from about 1100, the fans stopped, and it got rather hot and sweaty in the heat of the midday sun.

The Team left Batticaloa at 2pm. Three vans, one mostly with luggage, left for the 8 hour journey to Colombo. Several of us – particularly those of us who got up for the Dawn Swim from Joseph’s hotel – managed to sleep at least part of the way.


Heavy rains fell again for a lot of the journey, so tribute to the driving skill of Janaka, Suda and Ranga, the latter who still found time to show us the sights including a huge lizard bathing in a stream somewhere along the way.

So just 24 hours from 10.30pm at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel Colombo to wind down with a flight scheduled at 2am on the Saturday morning. A sobering moment for all of us, observing the comparative tourist boom-led wealth of the capital city against the poverty of the East – there are no hotels like these in Batti, and few Sri Lankans know both parts well – a real divide. All the more pertinent that OST puts so many of its generously donated resources into those areas of the country.

Another great October visit, result of tremendous planning of naturally Ranchan “on the ground”, (and others in the country to get us to Vavunia and Trinco) and 6 months or so's work from Dilanee and the 2011 Team. Let us hope that the result is a strengthening of the Ocean Stars Trust’s work in Vavunia, Trinco, and Batti, and even to broaden the scope of the charity’s work in the future.

End of blog for;

 Dilanee, Dan, John, Carolyn, Matt, Lydia, Maggi, Kate,Helena, Danny, Maureen, Chris, and Janine.

http://www.oceanstars.org.uk/ 

Last Days

Day 7  Teaching at the playgroups

Today reports from some of the 4 playgroups visited by Team members in 2s and 3s. Teaching had been carefully planned from weeks ago, and since the nurseries were mostly local, I think everyone got there on time to complete a full 3 hour session with the children.

Chris, Lydia and Dan at Kirankulum.  (Chris)

It was lovely to go back to Kirankulum and see some of the children we had met last year, together with lots of new ones. The children were happy and lively, obviously enjoying the chick pea and milk lunch provided at the playgroup. The teachers encouraged lots of activities and enjoyed helping us with mask-making, collage and singing. Percussion was a highlight with the children counting in English and Tamil, their pronunciation putting ours to shame – our Tamil wasn’t nearly as good.

It’s humbling to see the vary basic conditions, with such limited resources available, producing an environment in which children can thrive and learn. It’s a very uplifting experience.

Carolyn and Janine at Kaluwarchikudy (Janine)

Carolyn and I arrived at Kaluwarchikudy just after 8 – the building was spacious and in comparison to Tuesday, seemed better equipped. 23 arrived, some of the children started crying and at one point 5 were crying at once, which was upsetting for us as we couldn’t comfort them as they were scared of us.

Circle time, the story and our first activity went well, the teachers helped the children a lot in terms of doing some of the sticking etc for them. After break we went outside and played “Elmer says”, which worked well, and then played with the bean bags. The children all enjoyed the outdoor games. Then we did one more collage activity and suddenly the morning was over – the session finished at 11, not 1130, so  there was a rush to get teddies given out, with masks and photos, and we didn’t have time to sing more songs or listen to the children singing to us.

The children seemed better nourished, and after playgroup we went for a walk around, arriving at the teacher’s house, passing a very large pink mansion which belonged to the aunt of one of the playgroup children. The teacher’s house was spacious and cool, and we were treated to a glass of king coconut juice before going back to the nursery for a delicious lunch..

During the morning Dilanee had phoned to say she had bought a bike for Indushan, and he was coming to Joseph’s at 3. The bike was amazing, shiny, complete with lock and bell – and pompoms on the wheels! Indushan arrived by tuktuk, with his mother and was a little shy at being photographed by about 8 people at once, but both he and Mum seemed delighted, and it was special for me to be able to present it to him while I was here. Thank you Dilanee for organising it – I think it will make a difference to his life.

Maggi and Maureen at Kurumunvely

Fortunately not all the 56 enrolled turned up. The 40 odd who took part in today’s session had the advantage of being in the church building, where there was more space. The ladies had a fun time working with Nilanthe, whom Maureen has known for several years now.

Meeting with sponsored girls from Vincent’s School (secondary) in the afternoon.

These sponsor arrangements go back to Dilanee’s first trip here in 2005, so many of the girls are approaching University courses. It was fascinating to hear about their ambitions, as these are all highly motivated girls.

Day 6: Openings and Toppings Out

Day 6:  Openings and Toppings Out

A later start saw us driving to Karaveddy first. Past familiar paddy fields and more paddy fields across the flat terrain we arrived to a welcome of some 60-70 mix of mothers grandmothers and tots. A novelty this time was being paraded in to the new playgroup building by a minor percussion band. The building itself was smaller than its predecessor that had been made unusable by the January floods, indeed a similar size to those other new ones we’d visited.

Danny, who had provided the funds to rebuild the playgroup, had the honour of cutting the ribbon. Then it was some very thoughtful speeches by the locals, but a bit too far for 3-4 year olds who were simply waiting for bthe orange and biscuits. Danny’s speech captured the mood – short and to the point!

Afterwards some gifts to the kids – flags and balloons – a good look at the well that Danny had also financed, then off to Mandoor.

Mandoor 1, that is. A notable achievement noted by all in the midday 30 degree heat, of the 28 feet well recently completed, to match the toilet also financed by The Bunches – “Bunches Bogs”.



Bunches Bogs... and Wells





 Then to Kurumunvely, the playgroup next to the Methodist church in the town of that name, where Collingwood College is supporting the extension build. A reception from the teachers and church workers (today is Diwali, a holiday, and therefore no school). Extension not yet completed as it was decided that the extension should go a little further to support the 52 tots who are registered.  Thus more funds required! So we called it a “topping out” ceremony to celebrate part of the roof being erected.  

The too small classroom for 56 tots!

Interesting roads along the way. Included a recently collapsed bridge where the roadway around it was flooded. More skill from our drivers!

Evening; entertained by the Deaf and Dumb group at Kalladay.

Day 5: Visits To Playgroups All Over The Place

Day 5
 Today my own personal visit was with Kate, danny, Matt, and Helena to Addachakal nursery, which opened with OST help in May, pays two teachers, Modisswari (18) and Malini (17) to teach the 35 3 and 4 year-olds who come there from 0800 til 1130 each day.
It was another very long trek, further indeed into the paddy fields than Little Stars was. we arrived at 0930, with Suda negotiating another lot of broken bridges and precarious sandy pot holes.

Day 4 Travel to Batti and Opening of Little Stars

Day 4:  To Batticaloa  and “Little Stars”

A lot of travel: 2 hours to get some chips at Polonnaruwa (where notably Queen Elizabeth 2 visited for chips in 1954), another 2 hours to Joseph’s hotel (AvonLea – “A home from home”) at Batti. Then, after a break, another 2 hours to get to Little Stars playgroup, which Matt had been independently instrumental in founding, in the middle of nowhere, down a long rough track from the main road surrounded by paddy fields.

Dan’s notes  

After a fabulous day at Trinco, the team were summoned to breakfast at 0630. As Dilanee stated today: “Tired doesn’t come into Ocean Stars vocabulary”.

The day involved a lot of travelling: we left at 7.30, and with a brief stop for French Fries which involved a stunning view of Sri Lanka’s mountainous landscape, we arrived at Joseph’s for  1130.

Our main event of the day was the opening of “Little Stars” nursery, which has been built over the past year and funded by OST team member Matt Marshall.

The playgroup was located about 30 minutes from the main road along sandy tracks often pitted with huge holes which made Suda think twice about carrying on. We were welcomed with garlands by the waiting women and children and a purple ribbon across the entrance. The ceremony inside involved lighting of the lamp by various members of the community, and speeches by Dilanee Matt and The Local Pastor, with Ranchan (of Ocean Stars Lanka) providing the translations. All were greatly received, and emotionally delivered on what was a very special day for Matt and OST as a whole.

The journey to the playgroup was rather adventurous, as it involved completely-packed vans and very mischievous roads – resulting in a very bumpy ride!

As I write, the team is preparing for all the fun and games tomorrow in the playgroups.

Matt’s report

Today was a highly anticipated day for myself and the rest of the team – we had the honour of opening “Little Stars” Nursery. After a perilous journey to the very remote village, we were greeted with the customary garlands. We then cut the ribbon, lit the traditional lamp, and The Pastor, Dilanee and myself said a few words. We then had a brief but wonderful time with the kids who’ll attend “Little Stars” and the local families.

Little Stars represents a whole new direction for Ocean Stars’ work. For me it felt great to give something back to the people from whom I’ve learnt so much.

Day 3, Trinco and the Jungle Lodge

Day 3 Trinco, the Playgroup at Vellaimanil, and the Jungle Lodge

Away from our hotel by 0645.  Arrived at the playgroup by 0930, and up the steps to see 35 litll’uns seated in a horseshoe in front of us, with Mums peering over the wall into the room.

They sang us a range of songs mostly in pretty good English, and then Maureen took over and led the party with Elmer-inspired songs and games. All followed heartily with the Team joining in.

Then  as the sun beat down Maggi and others took some out to play games outside, whilst others were photographed in the hope of finding sponsors at home.

Textiles were bought at the sewing project afterwards.

Then to various homes to deliver gifts from sponsors. I delivered to Joan Tasker’s child with Janine and Kate. This was a Moslem fisherman’s family with 5 children, the sponsored one being the penultimate one. They live like many others in a post-tsunami new house.

Father goes some 40 minutes on a bus to his boat, to start at dawn at 6.00. He usually returns  13 hours later, having hopefully caught 1 or 2 big tuna fish. These can weigh up to 80 kg.

Others brought back stories from their visits.

Then to Jenabdeen’s house (co-ordinator here of the programme). A sumptuous lunch of curried seafood (crab, prawn, etc).

A quick trip to the local coast of Dead Man’s Cove (only the British can think of names like these), presently a military area, but we were let through to see one of the (9) OST boats moored there (as well as seeing fantastic blue seawater).

Now to Rohan’s Jungle Lodge, a real treat. But on the way our minibus lingered by the road as we spied a dozen elephants down in the valley. Wonderful sight!

It took two landrovers, on a treachorous track to drive us to the hideaway. Sadly no elephants, but up on the rock we could have seen the whole world. Bit like the Lion King I thought.

Good drinks, a nice chat, and another sumptuous curry – string hoppers, chicken, bread fruit, potato, sambol, jack fruit. 

Earlier night tonight 10 ish before packing for Batti.

Day 2 Summary – Grace Children’s Home

Left JC villages at 7.00 after “English breakfast”.  Smoothish ride over mostly new roads still being built by local men and women, tarring away in hard hats and flipflops.

Around 9.30 we arrived at Grace Children’s home and were greeted smilingly by some of the boys.  After drunk our cokes  we were straight into activities playing with the boys – Frisbees, cricket, foam aeroplanes and whatever.

Then Maggi took over with her fantastic range of races and relays involving an hour of team-forming, cheerleading, balloons, beanbags,coloured papers and sweat. All played with a lot of great humour and competitiveness and light-hearted cheating.

And everyone got a medal, and of course some Scottish saltires.

After that time for cricket and walking around the newly furnished “peace –garden”, which boys tend daily.

Lunch – a superb one of many curries – was consumed late because everyone was having such fun.

After lunch it was Kate’s art project and one by one the boys got into it and produced some wonderful evocative stuff. Most intrigued by my little lad who took ten minutes to start, but once I had dipped his brush in the poster red paint, was off and away, copying my abstract shapes I was absentmindedly slamming on to my canvas. And taking just as long as I did.

Games followed: Connect4, Uno and the like, and it got hot in that little “classroom”.

We spoke to Mrs N, and also to the resident Pastor, Chairman of the Home (who also interviewed Dilanee for his magazine).

We finished with prizegiving and birthday party cakes for Pastor (50) and Mrs N (a sprightly 75). Then renditions by the boys in the chapel, fond farewells and dashes to the minibuses through the inevitable monsoon that started at 6pm.

Back to hotel at 9.15 and straight to spicy noodles. Staff meeting over dinner, a bit of prep for Trinco tomorrow… and our 6am breakfast!

Lydia’s thoughts      

What a lovely day at Grace!. The boys were so welcoming and it was great fun getting to know some of them. I think the best thing was seeing how they along with each other and how much they love Mrs Nadarajah. She has made a lovely home for them.

Maureen

It was great to return! Visiting again with Mrs N and the boys, playing games, listening to them laugh, painting pictures – it was such a busy day. I continue to be inspired by Mrs N’s love and commitment to the boys. It’s now a happy, peaceful place and it’s encouraging to see that OST’s commitment over the years has brought change and improvement to the boys lives. As per usual, they gave lots of love and warmth to us and it was difficult to say goodbye.

Yet again a very special day and I’ll treasure the memories.

Maggi

What an amazing place! A sense of calm prevailed all day yet all the boys had so much fun, playing together in silly potted sports. The lads are so polite and loved the individual attention given to them. It’s quite humbling that a few games made from paper, plus one or two card board games, and paint and paper means so much to them. We take so much for granted.

Very emotional leaving the boys. They were very affectionate.

Janine

I had a wonderful day, the boys and Mrs N were so welcoming and friendly and they seemed to lead happy lives, even though they do not have much in the way of individual possessions. The lunch was delicious, and the boys are so confident singing to us. It was a full day and I will never forget it!

That's all for tonight - is this downloading well?
John

Day 1 Heathrow to Colombo to Dambulla (via Negombo and Ranga's house)

Quick summary of day 1.     

Arrived Colombo international airport and sorted by 6 am, just as dawn broke.

Driven by Suda, Ranga and Janaka to Paradise hotel for 630.

Breakfast for 700.

Shopping for some at  1130. Others straight to Ranga’s house for lunch for 1230.

Lunch of rice + 9 different curries: bean dahl chicken hot chicken spicy jack fruit cucumber and beetroot, other + more!. Dessert of banana fritters, ice cream and curd.

Entertained by Janaka and Ranga’s daughters, Chamaya and Rashni, singing songs in Sinhalese, Tamil and English.

At 230  viewed temple and coconut farm.

Left for Dambulla at 3.30.  Off and on violent rain along the way.

Arrived at JC Village hotel at 6.45. Streaming monsoon rain. It was one thing just getting ourselves to our rooms, let alone our 22 items of baggage.

Dinner was rice and a range of curry sauces. All we really needed after 6 meals in a row without any sleep!

All sleeping in snatches at various moments during the day.

Up tomorrow at 6 for 6.45 departure to Grace children’s home.

Individual thoughts…

Lydia

All very clean at the airport and other places we came to. Surprised at how big the airport is. Good air con in the bus – grateful for that!  Good to drop my toes into the sea at Paradise Hotel. Found it noisy outside airport and in the streets.

Dan

Nice temperatures [in the morning](but got hot later prior to the storm).

Maggie (for now) 

Wow!

Janine

Feeling tired!

Loved swimming in the sea at Paradise hotel. Quite a nice team [only quite???]

Ranga’s family wonderful in inviting us all to lunch – very hospitable.

Very much enjoyed seeing Ranga’s Buddhist temple and the coconut industry by his house.

Impressed by the weather (!? We’ve had everything but hail and snow). Suda’s driving immaculate in the horrific conditions.

Kate

Lovely to be back for 4^th time. Never seen rain like it. Lovely team. Looking forward to next 10 days.

More thoughts

 Danny and Helena
Danny and I are setting off before the team this year. This fills me with
conflicting emotions. Excitement at seeing the Elephant Sanctuary and some
of the other delights on this beautiful island. Regrets at not being with
the team when visiting the boys at Grace and the Trinco Projects. Will we
miss all those arduous mini bus miles?? Possibly not.

Hopefully as Danny will have more time in Batticaloa he will be able to
achieve a great deal more to help with the ongoing reconstruction following
the January floods.

It will be great to see our ' three buskateers' again and all the Teachers,
Children and local Team in Batti.

So roll on dawn tomorrow when we will be off at last. ( Will be thinking of
you in your kayak, Matt...keep paddling...think of the money, not the pain.)
Danny & Heli

        MAGGIE BAIRD  

What is your goal for this trip?

Because this is my first trip to Sri Lanka, my very personal goal on THIS trip is to have a successful sports day, not to let the children down and to be able to hold my head up high with my fellow team members.

I also have the goal of actually opening a well, and pouring a glass of whisky over it to wish it good luck – an old Scottish custom

In a longer term, goals would to look closely at the orphanage to see how a sustainable vegetable garden could be installed to obviously provide food, but more importantly give the boys skills to garden and sell surplus provisions, and also perhaps set themselves up as gardeners long term to earn a living

Long term, I would like to see a nursery teacher training programme developed across the whole area based on good practise from this country, which is fully facilitated, and to guarantee a regular payment of the teachers.

Finally, I wish to raise awareness of Ocean Stars Trust within businesses and so encourage sponsorship and donations for the bigger projects, and also for individuals to sponsor a child

  Was there any particular reason you chose Pilot markers/pens?

I chose silver broad nib Pilot Pens because having used one in the past for a wedding book, I was so impressed with it’s durability, and amount of ink.  I felt this type of pen would last a long time after the Ocean Stars visit for the teachers to use for other projects they could devise themselves back in their nurseries.  I am sure the pens live up to their name, and high cost

Lydia:

Having joined the team at such last minute (two weeks before take-off) it is hard to summarise my pre-trip thoughts.

I am lucky enough to have heard about the work of Ocean Stars over the last few years as my brother, mum and finally dad have become involved with the charity. It will be so great to see the work that they do first hand, and to meet all the characters I have heard so much about! I am also just massively excited - it doesn't get much better than a last minute adventure and I can't wait to step foot in the airport on Thursday and join the team properly. I do feel a little bit guilty about the fact that I missed all the hard work of the preparation stages, but hopefully I can make up for this in Sri Lanka. Let's just hope I don't embarrass Mum too much xx

Dan’s pre-trip thoughts

The time has finally come for my first OST visit! I have been to Sri Lanka 3 previous times, but this is my first, eagerly awaited OST trip. The charity has been a significant part of my life in recent years and I cannot wait to see first hand, the direct influence the charity has on the hundreds of lives within the beautiful island of Serendipity. Sri Lanka, or the ‘motherland’, has been a place of great thought and wonder. It never ceases to amaze me how we are all of the same descent, yet through influence of location, politics and wealth, we live such unrecognisably different lives. The fact our lives are so different doesn’t mean that we can’t communicate in human endeavour and emotion; it is on this basis that the OST work becomes so valuable for all parties involved. Having seen footage from previous trips and spoken to those who have been involved, everyone seems to be amazed at the pure joy the OST work brings to the everyday lives of Sri Lankan people. It is this that I hope to experience and be apart of.

I hope during the trip I am able to contribute with my various skills and try to ensure that both I and all the lives we come into contact with are richer for the experience. Sri Lanka is such a diverse and beautiful place with inhabitants who are of great inspiration to me. Therefore I cherish any opportunity to go back and eagerly anticipate the OST experience at first sight.

Best stop writing now and better start packing…!!

Dan B   

Maureen...

At the minute it is all a bit of a whirl. To be honest my feelings are mixed.  I am conscious that the opportunity for me to join the team has come about as a result of illness to others.  So they are very much in my thoughts as are my own family members.  On the other hand I’m also excited – the chance to visit again with Mrs Nadarajah and the boys in Vavuniya, the teachers and the children in Trinco and Batti as well as Ranchan, Rangini and our driversRanga, Janake and Sudat. It’s a real privilege to spend time with each one of them.  Not looking forward to the flight or the pills (anti-malarials!!)  but…necessary I suppose. Anyhow, I’m off now to sit on the suitcase one more time!

Maureen

and now from Matt:
Now I've got 'Matt's kayak challenge' out of the way (and thank you so much
for the overwhelming support from the ocean stars family) I've got a couple
of days to get myself into the trip spirit. The 12 months since last year's
team trip have been the longest spell I've spent away from Sri Lanka since I
first went with team '09. I've found myself missing the culture as a whole
as well as the projects themselves - barely a day goes by that I don't find
myself thinking of the places I've been lucky enough to see and the
wonderful people I've met to share them all with. It's going to be so great
to be back in 'Sri Lankan time'
A new experience which I'm both excited and nervous about is the opening of
Little Stars Nursery. I'm excited because I still remember what a wild dream
building my own nursery felt when I was sat with Dilanee and Ranchan 12
months ago and I can't wait to see that dream come true! On the other hand I
know how overwhelming it can be to be thrust into a situation like this and
asked by Ranchan to 'say a few words!'
This years team seems like a really good group of driven and gifted people -
the past few meetings have descended into hysterics so I'm sure there's
going to be lots more laughs along the way.

Pre-trip Thoughts

This is the Blog for the OCEAN STARS TRUST OCTOBER 2011 VISIT to Sri Lanka.

Our first posting will be individual thoughts of some of the 13 participants prior to departure.