The cultural show epitomised what the whole project was about; an exchange between two cultures that had much to offer one another. Preparations began early, with the dance te4acher from Rassendeniya offering to teach the team a Sri Lankan dance. This was so much fun to learn, and the song chosen to dance to was one we had heard many times in Sri Lanka!After practicing the songs we intended to sing, the team felt prepared for the show. It was an early start on the 31^st, with the girls having to leave plenty of time to be put into sarees by numerous willing volunteers, this was a good job really, I think we would have struggled without their help! It was lovely to see the school, children and members of the community we had worked with for 2 months for one final time, if also a little sad. The Kirelawela community had clearly made a considerable effort, with both school children and children who had attended the afterschool sessions all performing different genres of dances and many songs. Once again, the team were overwhelmed by the hospitality of the community, which has been consistent throughout our trip. Although it was sad to say goodbye to the school and the numerous friends we have made, it is comforting to know that we will keep in touch, and that next years’ team will continue the hard work.
It is extremely difficult to summarise an experience such as this, however, it has undoubtedly been one of the best of my life. I feel I have made a real difference to the lives of many people; the school will continue to educate pre-school children, with the added bonus of the upper level bank being accessible for the whole community. It is rewarding to look at the building and know that each member of the team worked very hard to raise the necessary funds, and then continued to work hard in Sri Lanka to make lasting friendships. It would be lovely to travel back one day to see how the school has progressed, and hopefully that will happen in the near future. In the meantime, I intend to stay in contact with the friends I made and follow the progress of the project on the website.