Our last week in Pelena was incredibly busy. We visited the Dharmarama school in Ahangama for a final music lesson, and also went to help Giulia and Jason in the other school where they teach. As well as continuing with all our usual programmes – preschool, English lessons, mother’s groups, after-school club and visiting – […]

It feels like we have had a relatively short week due to it being Esala Poya day on Thursday when we were taken on a trip to some of the most impressive temples in the area, including a fifty metre high Buddha in the sitting posture –the largest in Sri Lanka.This week we have also […]

This week more children have been attending the after-school club, including some of Muslim children whom we have encouraging to come along for some time. Highlights of the week included performances of plays that the children had written and a hilarious session of English party games including musical statues, pass the parcel and cutting up […]

This week the preschool teacher left us in charge for two days while she was away on training. We were pleasantly surprised by the unchaotic nature of these sessions. The children made beautiful sock puppets and palm tree collages and danced enthusiastically to a variety of English songs.We met for a couple of English lessons […]

Our second week in Pelena has flown by so quickly. We have continued to visit homes in the village to get to know more people, to find out their needs and concerns, and to try to involve them in the project. We began with the Muslim community, and the parents of the children recognise our […]

After a week of being back in the village it feels, in many respects, like we have never been away. We have been greeted affectionately by old friends and new and have of course been made to feel very welcome. The familiar surroundings make it easy to adjust to the Sri Lankan way of life […]