Team Reports
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Military protectionChris Pratt — Barrie, ON
My third trip with SCAW was another wonderful mind-altering experience. The Rotary club of Kelanyia had spent many volunteer hours preparing the bedkits and working with the schools organizing the children from the different villages to receive them. The Kelaniya Rotary Club is ten years old and has twenty-two members. This is a huge project for such a small club so all members and their spouses are very involved. Sri Lanka is a small country in the middle of a political conflict so it was necessary for us to be escorted everywhere and guarded at night by the military. The Major was a very likable jolly fellow that put us all at ease with his sense of humor and friendly manner. He told me there were 3,000 men under him at the Puttulam military camp which did not include the volunteers.
The soldiers were young men walking around with what looked like very big guns to me. They were warm and friendly to us, always greeting us with big smiles. At one distribution I witnessed a young soldier gently helping a small boy wrap his sarong on that was falling down. When we asked if we could take pictures they were very willing which is very unusual. In most countries it is not allowed. It was wonderful to witness the working rapport between the military and the Rotary Club. This was the first time the club had used the help of the military and everyone benefited. Our distributions were orderly, organized, and pleasurable. A few years ago, if the military had shown up with us, the parents and children would have been afraid of them. The Major and his soldiers have worked very hard and gain the people’s confidence and respect and it paid off. The people were at ease around the soldiers but at the same time respectful. The children smiled and were very relaxed around them. They all seem to understand that they are there for their protection. |
