Diary of a little English girl in Sri Lanka: 10/29/2006

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Final adjustments

Its Sunday evening, and I've just got one more full day in the UK now before my flight from London Heathrow to Sri Lanka! I've arranged all the things I might need and want to take with me out on our spare double bed, and just have the big task tomorrow of folding and packing it all into my two bags ... I've realised that there is just no way that I'll be able to fit everything I will need this coming year, into my bags within the 30kg weight limit ... so looks as if a cardbox box will be heading my way from home when I eventually arrive at my future appartment home in Galle.

I've spent the day sorting through all the possible information and resources that may help me during the year ... but have had to try to be realistic about what might be the most helpful ... so I'v packed up a bit of all the topics I have information on, which is mostly from modules I did at university, as well as the more recently acquired resources and paperworks from my last two years rotations. Its hard to try to think about what I will need when I can forsee working with so many different agencies in very different ways ... so will just hope for the best (and leave my bedroom here in an organised mess so that i need be my family can dig out any other items!!)

Tuesday morning before I leave for my flight from Leeds Bradford to London Heathrow, we're having an expedition to dad's work to use their heavy duty weighing scales, just to check I'm not horrendously over my weight limit for the flights ... will be fun and games no doubt!! Then it's off with me,dad,mum and Katy to LeedsBrad for final goodbyes and the beginning of my new adventures ... My flight from Heathrow will take me into Sri Lanka for midday, and from then on I have absolutely no idea when or how my next post will reach you

... so take care one and all, and I'll be in touch as and when I am next able!!!

Love and buzz
Sarah

My 'Global Education' projects

1. Youth project (Focus group - Wirral Family Friends youth group) Goals: - Facilitate a series of interactive and explorative workshops focussing on world awareness, global awareness and education, and an introduction to the volunteer's project - Involvement in starting up or supporting a youth group in Sri Lanka, giving guidance where possible with the development of this group and involving skills and knowledge of youth group leaders in the UK in this - Initiate and develop communication activities and networks, to be shared by children and leaders in both countries - Facilitate management of regular communication opportunities for children and support workers in both countries - Set up longer term communication network between the two groups to enable them to continue sharing information, experiences, and support 2. Student project (Focus groups - University OT students, A-level students, Worldwide OT professionals, Worldwide Health and Social Care workers)

Sri Lanka brief

22% of the population are without access to improved water source
50.7% of people live on less that $2 a day
Galle has a heavy rain period from May - September yearly, due to the South West monsoon
Galle is in a hot, dry and breezy region of Sri Lanka, with temperatures ranging from 25 - 32 degrees celcius
In January 2005 Sri Lanka was $ 9.6 billion in debt (which is 59% of its national income)
Most of the population are Singhalese
Sri Lanka has a GDP per capita of US $ 820
Sri Lanka has an estimated popultion of approxmately 19.9 million
Sri Lanka is 93rd in the HDI
Sri Lanka is a rural based society with an urbanised population of only 22%
Sri Lanka is currently being supported by many development agencies alongside VSO such as: World Bank; Asian Development Bank - Japan; Oxfam; Cafod; Unicef; Care International; Christian Aid; Islamic Relief; Save the Children; Merlin; World Vision; Action Against Hunger; Red Cross
Sri Lanka makes a $ 653 million debt repayment per year
Sri Lanka predominantly produces rice, tea, bananas and coconuts
Sri Lanka was previously called Ceylon but returned to being known as Sri Lanka in 1972
The adult literacy rate is 92.3%
The capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo is in a hot, sticky and humid region where temperatures range from 25 - 30 degrees celcius
The current leading government party is the 'United People's Freedom Alliance' which was elected in November 2005
The labour force is 35.9% female, and 67.9% male
The life expectancy in Sri Lanka is 74 years
The main languages in Sri Lanka are English, Tamil and Sinhala
The Sri Lankan government are spending up to 11% GDP on the war efforts - so there is less for education, health, and social welfare
The unemployment rate is 8%
There are over 1 million inhabitants in Colombo, the captial of Sri Lanka
There has been some economical growth recently due to tsunami relief and peace contributions
There is a 15% Hindu; 70% Buddist; 7% Muslim; and 8% Christian population
VSO has been working in Sri Lanka for 27 years
VSO's development priorities in Sri Lanka are: 'Mental Health' (established); 'Disability' (emerging); and 'Governance and Participation'

Safety Update

While the Cease Fire Agreement (1992) between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) is still officially in place, the overall security situation in Sri Lanka is giving cause for concern. The North and East of the country especially has seen an escalation in the levels of violence over the past 9 months. Probably the worst affected regions of the North and East are Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. More recently there have been incidents in and around the capital Colombo itself, in form of suicide bombing which have contributed to rise in tensions nationally. VSO Sri Lanka monitors the security situation and is frequently in contact with the British High Commission regarding travel advice and safety of volunteers. They are currently evacuating volunteers if necessary from the North and East, while reviewing the situation in Vavuniya and Ampara. I have recently been given my placement despite concerns of the overall security, and have not heard of any threats to Galle or its surrounding region. The UN has declared great concern in the last few days that the Sri Lankan government are responsible for an unexplained attack on Tamil aid workers in the north, which has given rise to concern that the country is not interested in peace. The UN have declared that unless the Sri Lankan government take responsibility for the recent tragedy or for animosity towards NGO's, all aid and aid workers will be removed from Sri Lanka. At present myself and other volunteers due to go to Sri Lanka in November, are liaising with both volunteers currently in country and VSO Sri Lanka program office.

Travel information

Travellers are not able to buy many Sri Lankan Rupees outside of the country.To check exchange rates visit:www.xe.com At the moment you can get RS100 to the US dollar; RS150 to the pound sterling. Banks and hotels will exchange travellers cheques for you, but there are few offical converter shops. Many stores will also accept and easily change US dollars, Euros, Pounds sterling, Australian dollars. Postcards to the UK cost RS18; airmail letters under 10g cost RS29. Parcels up to 2kg can be sent by registered airmail costs about US$20 to UK. SIM cards in Sri Lanka cost around US$25 and the biggest operators are Dialog and Celltel. The telephone systems in Sri Lanka are still poor, and costs of calls in shops, booths and from mobiles are expensive. There are some internet cafe's mostly in the capital Columbo, but systems are not always reliable or widespread. Sri Lanka celebrates 29+ public holidays due to having 4 major religions nationally regognised and celebrated.

Diary of a little English girl in Sri Lanka

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Final adjustments

Blog Archive

About Me

My 'Global Education' projects

Sri Lanka brief

Safety Update

Sri Lanka's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (May 2005)

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Travel advice

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