Final visit to the water board. However, sadly we have missed 2 persons. So once again, a trip into Galle to pay and more paperwork. Paperwork in hand we phone and it is promised that the water meters and pipes into the individual homes will be laid that afternoon.
A few more jobs to sort and then back up the village where there are meters being fitted, people working hard, backfilling and digging! The villagers have to fit their own pipe and tap. However, everyone is helping and soon a shout as the first tap is fitted.
We look up and there is a very happy person standing by his tap. He turns it on and the joy on his face is obvious, which is only matched by ours. A dream come true for so many people - it’s a fantastic moment, and one that will never be forgotten! We leave at about 2.15 as determined to have an hour off!
The villagers have asked us to call back at 4.00 pm for some sort of ceremony. Looking back at the village it is in total chaos with people backfilling madly everywhere. With only one tap fitted and mess everywhere it is obvious it will not be completed by 4.00pm.
4.00 pm and 2 Tuk Tuk's arrive to take us to the village. We are stopped just before the village and greeted by a huge crowd. The children give us garlands to wear and we are stood at a huge entrance banner which is fantastic and must have taken days to make.
Sadly, as usual it is my name on the banner and the others mentioned as visitors. My name is spelt wrong but this makes no difference, it is a work of art and we wish we could take it home. A very emotional moment – glad of the sunglasses!
We are told to wait and then we hear jingling and 6 dancers in traditional costume arrive.
Incredible costumes, dancing and singing, we follow slowly into the village and firecrackers are let off.
As we are walking through the village many of the home-owners are standing proudly by their taps and the joy on their faces is incredible. Some turn on their taps to show us but then turn off asap, as they are on a meter- “Fantastic”! The entire road has been levelled and every single house has a tap fitted. Totally amazing, considering the chaos a few short hours ago!
Three years ago I started to look at sinking a well for this village and hit many setbacks. However, now every house has mains water fitted instead. “How incredible”.
We reach the bottom of the village and the dancers finally finish their act. How fortunate we are to be involved with such a worthwhile project. Stupidly, I take off my glasses and thank everyone, and then ask how they managed to find the dancers and was told that everyone in the village paid. I tried to say something, but it just came out as garbage and I quickly put my glasses back on, as the emotion got the better of me!
Finally, we were ushered to one of the houses, where they had provided some 'traditional' Sri Lankan food (much to the girls dismay as we were leaving that evening for a 24 hour journey home!) They provided coke, as they know we do not drink the water and someone stood waving away the flies for us. Finally we took lots of photos and said an emotional goodbye.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to help thousands of people through the “HAT Foundation” over the last few years. However, nothing comes close to this project.
On reflection, this was a huge undertaking which was completed in just two weeks.
Every person deserves the right to clean fresh running water and everyone involved with the “HAT Foundation” should be proud that on the 25th Feb 2010 we made the dreams of 16 family’s come true.
Oh, by the way, did I say how many houses I promised water to! Well initially, another 65 homes, but expect that figure to grow. This is good as we all need targets to aim for.
I think if we each sent this report to ten friends not already supporting us, we would each soon have at least five donations to fit water into homes.
Cost is just £100 with a marvellous plaque with their name on.
Just another marvellous idea from me!!
Marvellous
Cavan (& Mark, his able, if sometimes annoying helper!)
That’s not entirely true, Mark has been an asset to me.
View the full report here.
No comments:
Post a Comment