Project Phase

I can honestly say that none of the team was ready for our project phase.
After an early exit from the Victoria Inn, we set off through idyllic tea plantations heading for the school that we were going to be helping at for a week. Upon our arrival we were already blown away, the entire school was clapping and cheering, blessing us individually and then performing dances and songs which were amazing and more than we could ever have imagined.
Despite a slight bout of sickness that hit almost half the group (a disaster considering we had 3 bathrooms between 18 pupils lol ) we set off early the next morning, ready to tackle the school which was in dire need of help. Split into three groups the team started stripping the toilet block, which was full of spiders and other horrendous things, building a wall to prevent from flooding in the kids playground and resurrecting a storeroom that the school needed desperately to conserve room for the teaching of 147 pupils. We were also asked to produce a mural on the wall of their school which involved both the Sri Lankan Map and a World Map, which was completed by both pupils and the team. The work was extremely tiring and strenuous, and with the added heat the entire team was always exhausted coming home at the end of each day, but a cup of hot Milo never failed to fill us with energy and give us the drive to keep going.
A part of project that many of the team had been extremely excited for was meeting the children and experiencing an entire new way of living. The kids never ending love and happiness shown towards us was more than some could take, and when it came time to go many tears were shed for the friendships made and bonds formed. Our thanks towards the school was shown on the Friday of the week where we wore our saree's and jazzy elephant trousers, actually sang our national anthem, showcased both traditional Highland dancing and ceilidh dancing and then gave gifts to the school such as science equipment and an assortment of different stationary (which we knew they'd love after the constant drawing lessons that a few of the girls had partaken in).
The entire experience was truly life altering and definitely helped us appreciate just how lucky we are with the many opportunities and resources given to us each day. For many the experience will be one we hold close for the rest of our lives. Evie x