We boarded and were off to visit our sponsored World Vision kid. The 'we' included the driver, Jay's dad, both sisters, brother-in-law, auntie, Jay and I. We thought we could make a day out of it and our sponsored kid would feel happier with lots of Singhalese speakers around. He lives in a dry-zone area which is day-and-night different from here.
The road up to Chillaw is quite good where it not for all, not in any particular order, people, dogs, 3-wheelers, trucks, busses, bicycles, vans, and motorcycles. It's clearly size which determines who has the right of way. Luckily, being in a 10-12 passenger van meant there was a lot of pecking order under us. Distances are deceiving here. On the map it doesn't look very far. When you see the sign says it's only 80 kilometers, I doesn't appear very far. Yet during the heat of battle, the truth comes out.
We had no trouble getting to the Anamaduwa World Vision Office. We had made the appointment for 11:00 but arrived at 10:45. The office doesn't receive that may sponsor visits. In fact, they said perhaps only ten per year stop. So, it was quite an occasion for celebration. First we were brought to an a/c room where three staff attended a PowerPoint overview of the project. I am now even more impressed with the World Vision organization. Implementation of the particular project started in 1996 and has an exact end-date. They coordinate with government and outside organizations. The project people were truly helping individuals interested in the lives of the people from the area.
Then, we went to see Isuru. Although it was only 20 kilometers from the project office the journey seemed like much more. We exited the tar roads onto the red, dusty dirt of the area. Many parts of the project area are not only dry but the water is saline making it impossible to raise much in the way of crops. The landscape seemed so different from what we left in the morning. That is something I feel with reoccurring amazement each time I come back to visit; namely, how much geographical differences there can be in this island country. We pulled into the yard. Clearly Isuru has on his best clothes. He was as cute as a little seven-year old boy can be. He was respectful but quiet. He spoke softly. People prompted some response by asking about school and his mom.
It seems his dad had drinking problems and abandoned the family. His mother had a job in the Middle East. Although back now, she was in training to go back to the Gulf for a housemaid job. The Sri Lankan government has instituted training schemes for women such as this. They need to know how to operate a dishwasher or vacuum cleaner.
He lived with his aunt and there was an uncle around the area too. The coordination by the World Vision people was superb. They organized a simple, but huge meal of rice, local vegetables, and fresh-water fish
Trying to irrigate the area is another scheme in the World Vision project. As well as providing ample water for irrigation in dry years, the water reservoirs can act as habitat for fish farming. I guess it has been a particularly important project. When leaving, it was nice to run past the man-made lake to see several kids swimming in an otherwise nearly desert environment. Unfortunately the night before, villagers from a neighbouring area came to steal the fish and a fight broke out and a policeman was injured.
It was a very pleasant time. Our main guide (and occasional translator) was Ruvani. To me, she embodied the helping professions. She was keenly interested in all the people involved although surely it can be trying work at times. We left Isuru's by a patchwork of back roads. This is how we saw the above-mentioned reservoir. In addition we stopped at a cashew factory. Another World Vision project, it assured farmers fair prices for the cashews. It also provided casual labour for dozens of local women who'd have no other employment possibilities. Cargill's a local but global company is involved extensively in food products and has agreements to purchase. This in another example of the 'strings' that World Vision 'can pull' because of its clout. A final example of that would be the individual accounts for the sponsored children. The Bank of Ceylon in the closest large city has set up accounts of the 3000 sponsored children of that project. There are all sorts of matching schemes to get parents involved in saving for their children. But in the end, at the end of their schooling, they have a fund. It's enough for the talents to be able to count on continuing education further afield. Or it might be used as means to secure a loan to buy a tractor of other means of support.
Huge grand schemes garner the attention but the real benefits can come from continued small actions.
We didn't get back til after six o'clock. I was happy to be back. I admit feeling a bit guilty taking a ten minute shower, after seeing old men on bicycles hauling the pots of water they needed.