On Thursday 13th July, 15 Durham students sat eating their breakfast, nervously anticipating the day ahead. We had spent 10 days acclimatising to Sri Lankan climate, diet, language and quirky mannerisms and were about to see the initial results of the “Sri Lanka Community Project” … the opening of the Palana West DUCK pre-school.

After travelling down the length of the country, appreciating its wild and rugged beauty, the shocking and sobering effect of driving along the first stretches of devastated coastline was felt by everyone. The realisation of our task was as stark as the gaping holes between the semi-reconstructed houses. But nothing could have prepared us for our first visit to Palana West.

We were met at the entrance to the village by a huge welcome party, introduced to us by Bianca, who has organised the project through the biggest NGO in Sri Lanka, Sarvodaya Sharamanda. Beaming Sri Lankan children stood with their waving parents lining the 200 yards from the village entrance to the complex within which the new school lies. We followed a procession of sari-clad young girls, playing traditional instruments from the entrance gate, across the open railway line and into the temple complex. We were handed bowls of white flowers with which to make an offering to the Buddha in the white temple, an obligatory tradition made by all those invited into the village.

We were then led through the crowd of school children, village elders and Buddhist monks to escort the youngest village members into their new school. Caroline cut the single pink ribbon across the school entrance and the children spilled in crowding round the miniature desks, already equipped with building blocks and wooden toys. We were all invited to light the 20-tiered oil lamp, which is evidently a celebratory tradition. After being enthusiastically supplied with kavun and kiribath, we listened to speeches from a range of important members within the community which continued for over 2 hours. Our limited Sinhala inhibited our understanding of the words spoken yet the sentiment was unmistakable. It was clear that our small school is incredibly important and means a great deal to the local people.

The sense of community so evident here is perhaps what is most overwhelming. They are a people who have managed their shared tragedies through a determination to build a future together. Our bittersweet welcome was illustrated by a young boy who clung to his mother, waving, smiling, laughing at the new white faces and then determinedly dragging her into his new school. We were later told that he had lost his 10 month-old brother in the 30 foot wave that swept through the village.

We have found our first experiences difficult to put into words but hope, with the help of some pictures, we are able to convey an idea of what you have all helped to achieve in this small corner of Sri Lanka. As our work here progresses, in the village and in the University of Ruhuna, we will aim to share the unfolding project with you.