Testimonials

The flight was comfortable if long at eleven hours and Colombo airport spacious and grand in marble,which softened the shock of stepping out of the glass double doors. Smells, sounds and so many colours enveloped us as we were whisked into the reality of urban Sri Lanka. Intense humidity and lack of sleep made everything a blur. Somehow Sarah found Prasard, our driver, among all the identical white minivans. He loaded the extraordinarily large pile of bags we’d managed to accumulate whilst we clambered into the cool peacefulness, providing a haven after the bustle outside. From there during the long drive south to Hikkaduwa I was finally able to sit back and fully appreciate this busy new place that was to become home for the next three weeks.

Just by gazing outside I could sense the determination of these people. The Tsunami, which undeniably set them back had not been able to stop them, nor would the poverty that was evident all around. Even the few buildings built substantially were holding up their lean-to neighbours as if willing them to survive. It was this attitude towards life that is so different to the affluent western world and in particular Guernsey –we do not have the need to survive. I saw so many examples of it over the next few weeks and it has stayed with me; these people have so little but they don’t complain and are happy.

I felt honoured to be there converting the never-ending fundraising done preceding the trip into useful items that make a difference. I have no doubt that without ‘Bridge 2 Sri Lanka’ they would have still got on with their lives but found them harder, as that underlying determination is what sets Sri Lankans apart. So perhaps some of the best work I saw the charity do was enriching the community. Visiting the preschool in its new building with the garden so well cared for and the children respectful of the school belongings showed that. As did spending time with children of the poorest jungle families, providing fun with a rounders game on the beach, taking time to play with them. Time and attention are what ‘Bridge 2 Sri Lanka’ has in abundance for the families around Hikkaduwa and it was wonderful to be a part of it.

It was so difficult to leave, only made easier by taking with us Rasika; the young man spending two months in Guernsey having prosthetic legs fitted.  The culture of Sri Lanka is so diverse and the people so friendly that I feel we only scratched the surface, but there will be a next time!