Sunshine for Sarah in Sri Lanka: Meeting Shanali for the first time

When Sarah Stewart planned a trip to India, she realised she could visit her sponsored child, Shanali (8) in Sri Lanka.  Having sponsored Shanali with Plan since 2005, Sarah was keen to meet the child who she had learnt so much about through their letters.

Meeting the Family

It was an early but exciting start for Sarah as she left Kandy, Sri Lanka to reach the local Plan office and prepared to meet her sponsored child Shanali, who she has been corresponding with since 2005. After viewing some Plan projects Sarah and the local volunteers set off to the village to visit Shanali and her family. 

"When we got to their home, there was a contingent of villagers waiting to meet me along with their field worker. Shanali greeted me initially with Betel leaves, a traditional welcome, then flowers."

"It was an amazing experience to see this confident, clever little girl who I had learnt so much about through the letters I have received.  Initially she was shy but soon we were chatting and I was sharing photos of my trip with her." 

"She danced and sang for me, as did her little cousin.  Shanali is a real model of success, she's achieving at school, her mother and father are supporting her education, she's studying hard, loves maths and learning.  I feel so proud of her and the community she lives within."

Sarah and Shanali's family then went into Shanali¿s house for a meal. "I felt very honoured and the food was wonderful. I was reminded how much effort they had gone to when I saw the open fire stove that Shanali's mother had prepared the food on."

Warm Community

"Shanali then showed me around, they had a Plan built toilet, and an outdoor shower and bath also provided by Plan.  Bhandra, the community worker, explained that toilets were the first major initiative Plan provided when moving into the area. I was also shown their veggie patch, and learnt what they grow." 

"The community leader explained how their requests for work with Plan were put forward and what they wanted this year - a new playground area for the local school."

"Finally we returned back to the side of the house where a hole had been dug and there I was asked to plant a mango tree in honour of my visit.  I think everyone was secretly impressed with my use of the shovel!  We named the tree 'Sunshine' a word that conjures up brightness and warmth, just as the day there had been filled with both."

"I think the community were pleased that I had come to visit them and to see how they live, and what they do.  I would definitely love to go back again, and also would definitely consider visiting Benin where I sponsor another little girl."

Experiencing Plan's Work

Before meeting Shanali, Sarah met some of the Plan staff and they visited some of the projects that local communities had worked on in partnership with Plan. "I was shown the Water Tanks project and met the Engineering Manager who is working on it. The project is about restoring the tanks and upskilling those living near by, making sure they have access to them to maintain them."

"We then went to visit the project building at the police station.  This is a purpose built building where children can go to report abuses to the police, in confidence and in safety.  The police have often been regarded with suspicion and this was as much about building the relationship of the police with the community as it is about providing support." 

"The success of this initiative was apparent, when talking to the police commander running the office.  She mentioned that it had been so well received that they had people coming to the police from outside the jurisdiction as they knew they would be treated fairly, and listened to and dealt with appropriately."

"I'm so glad I had the opportunity to visit, it widened my understanding of what Plan does not just with communities through sponsorship but the wider communities, through the likes of the Police Children protection unit, the water tank project, providing playgrounds, schools etc. I was made to feel very welcome." 

"It's so important to gain insight of the communities that Plan support and even though it was only a short time there, I felt that I learnt a little bit more about what goes on within the village and how Plan works with them."