And so the journey begins… The entire team made it safe into Lima, arriving at different hours of the day. Some folks came in a few days earlier even, to get some sightseeing done in Moraflores and Barranco before the real work begins. We all got together for the first time at noon at the Hotel dining room, where Josh, our DWC team leader gave us a run down of what we can expect in the next few days. We had a great welcome lunch and headed to the City’s centre to check out some of the historic sites, guided by Javier, our official translator/tour guide.

This DWC team is working in Naro Moru, Kenya with our in-country partner ACCESS Kenya to improve the environment as well as water and education resources in the community.

The school is called San Jose Obrero. 400 students attend this primary school to grade 5. Our project is to renovate a storage building to be used for the children’s advocacy group DESNNA who work to prevent violence against children. We are also working on the bakery classroom where each of the children attending school learn to bake. The profits go back to children at the end of each year. The children love us – and we them! We have developed a huge fan base- the children follow us around and hug us all the time!

Such a wonderful start to our last day arriving at Adeesha’s to participate in the blessing ceremony for his home. We were warmly welcome by the family and the traditional celebration began. Jaynatha presented all the volunteers with a wreath of flowers and Lalith followed with a leaf from the Boda tree. After the ribbon cutting ceremony, we were all invited inside to light candles as a blessing for the new home.

Everyone is raring to go. Lots of parging, painting, flooring to do and of course the inevitable sand sifting. Today we will give gifts to the families and tips to the workers to thank them for working through their New Year’s holiday. The volunteers have brought loads of presents and everyone chipped in some rupees. By days end…..

Here in Tangalle the Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils are going about their business and daily lives as usual and in harmony. There is a military presence and nightly curfew which is normal for situations like this in Sri Lanka and very reassuring to all of us.

The volunteers worked hard this week definitely earning their day off. It was time to go to the beach, catch up with old friends (while meeting new arrivals) and visit a tea plantation.

Today we were Bruce’s Angels — Hilary, Penny, Julie, Susan and Beth. Our jobs were easy for good girls like us: cleaning and smoothing a floor, sifting sand, building walls and let’s not forget dancing with Sarath!

The story for today is sand and plaster. Plaster on the walls. Sand pretty much everywhere – on the floor, in the shoes, on the face, bucket brigade to get it to the second floor.

Today the volunteers all moved to a new worksite, new families and new experiences.