Meeting Nadeeshani on a special Sri Lanka holiday

In early 2008, Eddie and Phyl Anstey travelled to Sri Lanka where they visited their eight-year-old sponsored child, Nadeeshani. This is their story.

"On February 5th, the day following Sri Lanka's Independence Day, we made an early start from our hotel in Kalutara on Sri Lanka's tropical southwest coast and, with our driver Rohan, motored over mainly good quality roads to Nadeeshani's community.

We never tire of the scenery - coconut and rubber plantations, paddy fields awash with brilliantly coloured birds - while skirting the edge of the fantastically beautiful tea country.

We arrived in the very busy town of Kurunegala just before lunchtime and despite a few false directions from locals, finally tracked down the Plan office. We were welcomed very cordially by the staff, given tea and shown the computer system through which Plan organises their work.

After finishing our tea, we set off for Nadeeshani's house and, as we drove, were shown the kind of things Plan do to help the local communities. Numerous wells have been constructed, including a very large bathing well.

In this arid region, wells sometimes run dry outside of the monsoon season, but because of Plan's work, water is always available locally.

We were very impressed with the new toilet blocks, desks and chairs, and a library at a local school used by many sponsored children. Plan has also provided ten computers, a building to house them in and, since the school has no access to electricity, a solar power supply for the facility.

We feel the area has been significantly improved by Plan in a most sensible manner. We were very impressed with what Plan has done and is doing there, and by their understanding of the real needs of those who live there.

We recognised Nadeeshani instantly from her photograph and meeting her for the first time was a very emotional experience. Her father was away but we met her mum, grandparents, and younger brother and sister, and had a wonderful hour with the family.

Nadeeshani's mother had made us some traditional Sri Lankan 'small eats' - nibbles which generally are very sweet but sometimes spicy, excellent and just to our taste, and a cup of tea. What else in Sri Lanka?

We gave out our small presents. We knew pencils and notebooks would be acceptable as these can be shared with her friends at school. We also brought soft toys for Nadeeshani¿s younger siblings and a large box of books for Plan to use in their school libraries.

Good quality English books are very expensive in Sri Lanka and hence, most remote village schools have very few, if any. Everything was enthusiastically received.

As we were about to depart, Nadeeshani's grandfather produced a small Thambilli coconut tree to plant in honour of my wife. The planting of a tree in honour of a sponsor is a tradition and in future years the family will be able to enjoy the coconuts and remember the sponsor who was able, through Plan, to help change their lives. We look forward to seeing this coconut palm produce its fruit."