Rain, Rain, Rain! - Well, well, well! Water was what we asked for, and water we finally got! Monsoon rains arrived in a vengeance! Day and night it emptied from the heavens above. There has been a constant battle to prevent water from flooding property. Lagoons were full and breaking through to the ocean, causing a brown stain to spread across the once untainted crystal blue sea. A month where laundry failed to dry, had been re-washed and re-washed to rid it of that damp and musty smell that materializes when it fails to dry. New doors and windows were swollen from the moisture and refused to slot back into their previously once perfect apertures. There is a coolness in the air, still warmer than our summer, but a coolness that requires a t-shirt at four in the morning. An abundance of green has arisen from the once hard and dusty ground. Farmers are hurriedly catching up with their tasks of ploughing and sewing seed. Mosquitoes have woken to torment those that have the sweet blood they love to feast on. I feel fortunate that my once desired blood has become sour and less attractive to them. Them that sing in ones ear so torturing a once peaceful sleep. Perhaps the arrival of a British visitor was the cause of all that rain. As now, having left these shores, the rain has abated and the sun once again taken its rightful place within the expanse of a rich blue sky!
December 5th, 2009
Former Abay Surf Club Chairman Dies – 49 year old Former Arugam Bay Surf Club Chairman, Ranjan, died of a massive heart attack whilst surfing at Baby Point, Arugam Bay, on the East Coast of Sri Lanka. Attempts of CPR by both local people and western tourists alike, to revive him, proved fruitless as numerous locals stood helpless around him. Ranjan leaves behind a wife and three sons. Alan, the eldest, is a regular surfer, who uses UK surfboards donated by Paddle4Relief. He has been a force within the charity by using his skills to repair our computer. Ranjan’s death again shows the need for both Beach Life Guard and a Medical Centre in the village. With the Civil War over, internal travel within Sri Lanka, particularly the East and North is more relaxed, so seeing increasing numbers of both Western and Sri Lankan Tourists crowding the beach and sea. It is now more apparent that there is a desperate need of qualified life savers. Regularly local surfers are rescuing individuals from the unpredictable tropical coastline. The young surfers of the village are demanding action to prevent further loss of life. They are willing to undergo training and man the local surf breaks in an attempt to save life and prevent injury. These young men are turning to the International Humanitarian, Medical, Surfing, Surf Life Saving and Water Sports Communities to assist them in their quest! Out of respect to Ranjan the community of Arugam Bay are focused on achieving this quest and hope that all that read this article can be generous in offering either practical or financial help. Please either contact Fawas, present Chairman of ArugamBay Surf Club - abay_surfers@yahoo.com or Tim Tanton, Paddle4Relief - tim@paddle4relief.co.uk
October 21st, 2009
Water, water, water! - The drought continues on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The rains were due weeks ago, not heavy as the later monsoon rains, but enough to allow the farmers to start work on their paddi fields. Alas the ground is bone dry, rock hard and useless to work with. All the rivers, lagoons and tanks are dry. Wildlife continues to die. Many Elephants and Deer have already perished. Elephants now becoming more dangerous than ever as they search desperately for fresh water. Some areas are using water bowsers to transport water to watering holes so as to prevent all of the areas wildlife from dieing! Yet it is not only mother nature who has caused this drought. Huge pumps have drained massive amounts of water from the rivers. Pumps that feed water to a water filtration plant. Don’t get me wrong, the unit is extremely beneficial to many. It is invaluable but at a cost it seems. It is probably unfortunate that the two have coincided and hence why so many locals are critical of the huge pumps and feel powerless to do anything. They feel that they could have achieved something towards working on their lands and trying to grow some crops! Although there is no proof of this. It is painful to see everything dieing around us. So dry and dusty. Surfers are happy because the swells continue to come with the lack of rain, whereas the fishermen are crying out for the rains to come as well, hoping for better fishing! Egrets are coming into the garden looking for food. Normally in the Paddy fields, in huge numbers, eating frogs and small fish etc. The lagoons dry, the fish dead! I don’t know where the crocodiles are!
October 10th, 2009
Bike Mechanic – Bohoma Stuthi (Thank you very much) to Chris Martin for repairing Paddle4Reliefs two mountain bikes during his stay in Arugam Bay. Chris came out here for a much needed holiday but made himself invaluable to the P4R team by his tenacity in getting the bikes functional. Guess he managed to improve his tan at the same time though!! Chris also caught many kilos of small fish for the family even though he is unable to eat fish due to his allergy!! Shame! All the more for the rest of us though! They are soo good fried! Thanks for coming out Chris. It was a real pleasure to have you come visit. Hopefully more will follow from the UK now it is so safe to travel to the East Coast.
October 10th, 2009
Rat Attack! - Most people would not expect to see a rat attempting to jump and climb out of the toilet as they are busy going about their business! But not once but twice this happened this morning. A nasty shock for sure and a difficult situation to deal with. For what does one do first? Finish what one has started or stop mid flow and kill the rat before returning to ones business! Yes, funny for sure but not so funny if the little long snouted black rat had managed to clamp it’s sharp set of teeth into my soft delicate English skin!
October 10th, 2009
has been up the ladder painting and in the kitchen doing carpentry! Did manage a surf first though! ABay Main Point Pumping!
October 10th, 2009
Paddle4relief continues to focus its energy in Arugam Bay primarily due to the safety issues in going further north to engage in projects. The village remains a safety bubble in this turbulent country. Major projects are being carried out by the Government and large NGO’s. However, there are still numerous smaller projects required. Whilst a huge water treatment plant has been built, and completed in July 2008, the local people are still without mains water. Even when it arrives, it arrives at a cost! Individual households have to apply for water supply from the mains pipes laid along the roads. The charge for connection is expected to be between RS3000 (£18) and RS15000 (£90.91). The lower fee for those that were severely affected by the tsunami, with the charge being greater for those being less affected and with the highest charge for those not affected at all. They will have to pay a monthly charge plus what level of usage in litres. The majority of the villagers I spoke to say they cannot afford to pay the connection fee, and will continue to use the supply from the wells on their land.
Paddle4relief are therefore committed in helping those with wells that require cleaning, repairing and improving so as to ensure as many individuals within the community have access to clean drinking water.
Myself, and fellow Paddle4relief committee member Chantal Denham went back out to Sri Lanka in September 2008, returning in December 2008. Miss Denham focused her energies in teaching at the Montesoori School that Paddle4relief completed in 2006. She has also had the vision to make improvements in the facilities and teaching methods and increased the number of activity sessions with the local young children so improving social interaction and development.
Paddle4relief are still working closely with the surfers of Arugam Bay. They have a club in place with a selection of surfboards, supplied by Paddle4relief, for all to use. We are still working towards finding an adequate base for the club. The surfers are paying a membership subscription to help towards funding their future.
We are also working towards regular beach cleans with the local surfers. Through them engaging in community projects it is hoped that other organisations will help support their club, and see it develop as an important resource for the youth of the village.
The local surfers continue to support Paddle4relief in helping us with the swimming club for the younger children of the community. Safety in the water has become more of a priority again for the local community in the first week of January. A 17yr old youth from the village drowned in the sea only a short distance from the main beach. The surfers and other community members are again realising the need for both lifeguards and a warning system to help prevent this type of tragedy happening again.
What else do we do? We purchase and provide food and medicines. Carry out first aid on an almost daily basis - it helps being a qualified nurse! We purchase materials and provide labour for a variety of projects whether it be a roof repair, a pipeline, water pump or water tower. Maybe it’s a boat repair, or engine service or replacement fishing equipment. We work at base level, with the community, listening to their needs.
And of course the Pre-School. We continue to maintain and improve this little haven for the young children of the community.
Tim
February 10th, 2009
Paddle4Relief’s 2008 initiative, to provide safe drinking water to the community in Arugam bay, saw the completion of ten Well projects.
We have helped more than forty families, more than 150 individuals of which one third of them are children.
We are presently working on a further four well projects.
And. for the rest of 2009, are planning to complete a further ten well projects.
This has only been achievable through the hard work of p4r’s team of committee and volunteers along with the ever growing band of supporters. Yes, you guys have made it achievable. All those families in Sri lanka now have safe drinking water. Thank you.
But we cannot end it there. The well projects being carried out now and later in the year need financing!
Each one averaging around £150.00. So we need more than £2000.00 to achieve this years Well Project goals.
One load of sand is approx. £10.00, a bag of cement £5.00, one brick 10p, a load £40.00. Small money when you see how many people benefit.
Can you help us? Can you organise a fundraising event or make a donation? Or come along to one of P4R’s organised events. Please contact us. (see our contact page).
Tim
February 10th, 2009
