WYE VALLEY TSUNAMI FUND

Update from K&S in Sri Lanka

We have had a wet first five days, very wet and it has rained everyday ranging from absolutely hammering down to full on monsoon at least it is warm.

We have managed to complete a number of missions. We went and checked on the house with the tarpaulin over the roof and made it more secure. They are so very grateful and we went in for tea. The most basic place we have ever been. Dirt floor, mud walls, no plumbing, electrics, windows with only oil lamps for light but out came china cups and saucers and a fantastic cup of tea.

Friday morning was the blessing of their new house, this happens when the door and window frames are to be fitted and we were invited. After a short service and the burning of various nice smelling substances the carpenter is second to enter, the first being a chicken presented to him by the family which he throws thorough each doorway in turn. We then had curry, rice, cakes and bananas for breakfast. We have sorted out all the glass for the windows (delivery this afternoon) and bought all the hinges latchet and ironmongery for the windows and doors. The house should be secure before we leave. When this done the family can move in. I am also trying to find a spark to sort out the electrical installation. Although not finished it will be better than their old leaky house when they move in.

We have also been to the school for mentally disabled children. The three people with new callipers were delighted to see us and looked so much happier and can walk so much easier. They could not really express how thankful they were and asked to thank all who have supported the Wye valley Tsunami Fund. There is now another man who also needs similar help so we will sort out him out while we are here.

It is apparent that this school is not really on anybody’s priority list. Perhaps not fashionable to be associated with them. They had an outstanding electricity bill which if not paid by noon Saturday would have resulted in the power being disconnected. Similarly the telephone. Water had been paid but all the bills were a worry to the Principal and staff. With the help of the money from Nichola and Teresa in Essex we went to the utility companies paid the outstanding bills and deposited sufficient funds for a years bills (circ £500 for all the bills for a school for a year). Is that worth while or not? By the time we had finished doing this the school had closed for the day so they will not know of this until we go on Monday. I think they will be pleased. We have also bought a load of other materials books pens paper sewing materials wood and tools for the carpentry class etc etc (half a van load).

We also went to Unawatuna School and saw some of the musical instruments that we bought with the help of Ralph and Kaushik in Sri Lanka. Without their help it would have been so much more difficult thanks to them both. Unfortunately the music teacher no longer works at the school and they rely on a volunteer who goes in three days a week to teach. He assembled a number of pupils to play for us a number of tunes including Jingle Bells.

We have also been to the Anula Davi School in Galle and delivered the collection of autobiographies produced by the pupils of Llandogo School. They were really pleased to have them and all ready the children are planning their reply’s with the help of their English teacher. We also presented them with a camera bought with the proceeds of the carwash held by young people in Llandogo on Saturday 23 rd October. This was very much appreciated and I installed the software on their computer so hopefully they will be able to e mail pictures back and forth.

Additionally the Principal had a list of items that they needed for various departments including ironing board, pressure cooker, electric kettle, fans, blender for home economics, guitar, amplifier, speakers, We managed to get all the items except two and arranged delivery which turned up at the school the next morning to their surprise and delight.

The sports department also wanted some equipment including a mattress for the high jump pit this has to come from Colombo. A number of phone calls from the school to the supplier and finally one from the ‘boyo from the valleys’ resulted in me having to make a deposit into the suppliers bank account before they would commence manufacture. Hopefully will be delivered before we leave for home.

We have met up with Jake from ‘Friends of Unawatuna’ he has been here since December (lucky chap) and talked to him about Sam. FoU employed Sam for a number of months to help them but now they do not.

Sam and Wasanthi have done so much good and helped so many people spending all their time since the tsunami helping others so we have decided to help them re build ‘The Pink Elephant’ their restaurant on the beach.

We are the only organisation who can do this without it causing ‘bad feeling’ A number of people in the village think that Sam has been having huge pay outs from FoU, other organisations and from the contractors employed to carry out work but this is definitely not the case. A very small minority of people are not quite as honest and nice as they might be and use the tsunami to exploit unsuspecting do gooders. A number sit amongst the rubble of their former homes and make serious money by saying , ‘tsunami victim please help we have lost everything’ when at the end of the day they go to their new home a little further in land. Nice work if you can get it.

We can drip feed money to Sam relatively unnoticed so hopefully the Pink Elephant will be open in time for Christmas when it seems Unawatuna will be very busy. On one of our little missions in Galle we came upon a factory sale of crockery all really good quality so much to Sally, Sam and Wasanthi’s amazement I told Sam to stop. It was raining rain like we have never seen before but one hour later we left with 48 cups, large plates small plates saucers , bowls, 15 sugar basins, tea pots, serving dishes etc etc etc. They now have crockery!!!

We have also been to a temple on the mountain at the back of the village. Sam had given some of the money that we left with him to the Buddhist Monk. The temple is the centre of the community and does so much help. Anybody and time can go there for shelter comfort food and emotional support. We were well received by the monk and the tranquillity of the place was only disturbed by a huge crashing noise, and trembling of the building where we being treated to rice pudding made with the addition of various concoctions including aniseed and cinnamon, cakes and tea. I must admit that thank I think my senses and continually on the look out for danger, I jumped over the table and Sam and I ran outside a huge cashew tree had fallen over narrowly missing a house and brushing up against the side of the temple building in which we were sitting. Another near miss!! For all those of my work colleagues (ABB ExxonMobil and the good boys at the T2 meetings) I do not intend doing a formal investigation root cause analysis etc etc.

It is now really hot and so we are off to chill out for a while before I go on more missions.

That’s all for now folks

Kelvin & Sally