From:  Caroline Collins
Date:  Sunday, Aug. 7, 2005
Subject: "Back in Sri Lanka"

Hello all!!!! We're here and well - hope everyone is well back home. I'm going to get straight to it................

In many ways its like I've never been away..... hanging around the bus station .......... refugee camps ............... meeting up with old friends ...........re-visiting our 'dirty food' restaurants etc, etc.

I've met up with my friend Chiani (camp leader) - it was really lovely to go back there; we had spent a lot of time in that camp on our last trip and new lots of people, familiar faces, and of course I met up with my Silhanese Nana!!! I'm delighted to say that her ner 'Yiddishy' name has been adopted by many - even some of her Silhonese friends. I was greeted with warm smiles hugs - amazing feeling. (There was also lots of interest about Martin......)

I have met up with an inspiring Catholic Nun - Sister Alex, who knows the refugee communities really well. (Yes, I hear you laughing from here - a 'nice' Jewish girl hanging out with a Sister - I even had lunch at the convent with her - desperately trying not to show my ignorance and offending in any way.)

I spent the day with her and she took me to three different camps - all with differing needs. She seems very in tune with the mentality of the locals (helped by being Silhanese) and is street-wise too (ironic.. I know). We talked about the safest way to support communities and this is certainly never to hand over money, but rather to arrange, go, buy and do. The Silhanese culture and sub-culture can be very corrupt; 'scams' are going on left right and center.

Most women in the refugee camps are unskilled, spending their time doing very little, living in squalid conditions, families living on top of each other with only their tragic histories and losses of their loved ones to torture their minds. The programme that she has introduced me to aims to teach the ladies embroidery and sewing techniques and lasts for approx six months. The teacher showed me her 'portfolio' which demonstrated the skills being taught in each lesson and the progression that would be made. The end results would enable the ladies to produce rugs, dolls, blouses, children's clothes, tablecloths/napkins, bag holders etc, that could then be sold (either to local shops, market stalls or exhibitions). To me, this is just the sort of project that I am interested in as it will hopefully provide the women with a skill, a trade, hopefully resulting in them becoming more self-sufficient in the future. With the donations I am initially buying the equipment needed for 25-30 women at Chiani's camp to start the programme as well as paying the teachers fees for six months. They will have their first lesson on Tuesday afternoon and I will let you know how this goes. I will also be looking into the costs of buying sewing machines.

Last week, I thought I had a result which would enable me to return to the orphanage (Rahunu) where we worked last time. The situation is very complicated to explain, but in a nutshell, the previous American/UN organizers have had many allegations made against them including fraud and sexual abuse. Now, the Silhanese government has re-asserted their authority on the Home and are branding all Westerners with the same brush and now have a policy not allowing any volunteers in. I thought I would be able to work there following a discussion with a senior employee at the orphanage and a 'known and respected' American guy who 'vouched' for me; it has evolved today that Senerath (who gave me permission to work there) does not have the authority to do so ............ I have spent the morning chasing my tail, returning to the orphanage twice to meet the 'commissioner' and then going to the 'District Secretary Building' to meet the Secretary. The final result is that I will not be able to work there. I am really disappointed and despondent but feel that I have explored every possible avenue and now have to move on to other projects.

It was very distressing visiting the orphanage - standards have dropped significantly. Because they are currently 'under investigation' the store room containing all equipment including nappies, creams and other basic fundamental resources is locked and therefore all inaccessible. I couldn't see any nappies on the changing mats, anti-bacterial equipment etc etc. Very upsetting and frustrating that I can do nothing to help or change this. Even the staff I previously worked with were scared to talk to me, telling me that I needed permission to be there, although most were also pleased to see me at the same time.

I have visited three other Refugee camps and have arranged for 57 bags of vegetables to be delivered to one today. The price of fresh fruit and veg has continued to soar since the tsunami; it has been virtually seven months now.... I am also going to look into buying bikes for families which will enable them to get to and from work without the extra cost of the bus/tuk-tuk.

I have been back to Sambodhi House (home for the mentally and physically handicapped) and intend to spend some time there, perhaps doing some crafty activities with the residents. Sadly, standards have also dropped there a little as this American volunteer - Cliff has left Sri Lanka - but is hopefully returning soon. On my last trip we helped paint a Therapy Room there which was a huge success and loved by the residents; it was always full of music, noise, laughter and positive interaction. Now, all the equipment has gone ............. some paint work has been scratched of. I was told that it is because the

roof needs repairing, but I am skeptical. It is very difficult to explain the cultural issues in Sri Lanka without seeming to be judgmental- however I have seen things with my own eyes and am gradually becoming les naive.

Yesterday we visited the IDH Watta camp where we did a daily programme with the children last time. They were so excited to see us and went and sat down for an impromptu session!! Of course, we couldn't disappoint them and sang a few songs and played a few games.

Beautiful, beautiful children. Most people in that camp now live in temporary wooden houses instead of tents. The advantages are that they are more spacious, don't get as hot and are waterproof - however they are unpopular as they are so noisy- particularly when it rains. They are definitely an improvement to the standards of living (cooking facilities are now shared by three families rather than there being three' kitchens' per camp. Martin is working for 'Project Galle' and is involved with constructing the roofs for these homes amongst other projects- I do love having him here, sharing all these experiences with me. Generally, there are a lot less visible refugee camps when driving along the roadside; a tiny minority now live in permanent homes, some live with relatives, some have been moved to temporary wooden housing and many refugee camps have simply been moved - further back from the sea.

Must go, running late. Love to all - hope you're having a great summer. xxxx