For Petronella and Tony, a week spent in Colombo preparing a new project proposal for potential donors. We currently have funding to start the program in 2 of the 10 tsunami affected districts - still a long way to go for Phase One!
Confidence-with-Water courses continue in the Hambantota District.
Julian still in the USA so Petronella headed down South, this time with Tess from England who was herself caught up in the tsunami when it happened. She has returned to see how funding she was organising might be put to best use.
We finally have 4 pools in situ and it was great to see them in action.
Monday 9 May
The Galle District team of coaches started their weeks training at Rainbow Academy under the supervision of David Bolling, Julian’s brother.
Hambantota District Confidence-With-Water courses continue.
Thursday 12 May
Tony gave the coaches under instruction an early call - to see how they were getting on.
Petronella attended a meeting with members of the Sri Lankan College of Psychiatrists at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital.
Jonathan delivered 2 pools to WCI Kids for safe keeping prior to the move down to Galle with all 4 of them.
Margaret Read, on a fact finding mission from her UK based charity Rebuilding Sri Lanka, and Priyantha, her Sri Lankan based project manager, came to see us to find out more about SwimLanka. Margaret and her family were caught up in the Tsunami in the Bentota area. After returning to England, they with some other friends, who also had been in Sri Lanka at the time, decided to set up their own charity.
Friday 13 May
Last day of the Colombo training for the new Galle coaches. The afternoon was finished by a trip to Colombo South Teaching Hospital where the coaches attended a workshop on the effects of traumatic stress conducted by Dr Dulshika
Tuesday 17 May
Another pool arrived, in transit. All work stopped at the factory and the girls in the factory lend an able hand.
In the late afternoon, Julian returned from the USA and heads straight from the airport to the Rainbow Swimming Academy for another interview.
Thursday 19 May
Work stopped again at the factory to off load another pool. At this point we now had the 4 pools for Galle and the coaches trained.
Saturday 21 May
A visit South was made by Julian and Petronella. First stop was Tangalle, arriving in the afternoon after the mornings pool sessions had finished. A marathon meeting was held with the Tangalle coaches which went on till very late.
Sunday 22 May
Left at 8 for Galle to meet the Galle coaches and visit the proposed pool locations there.
A meeting was held with the chief Buddhist priest in Unawatuna, which had been devastated by the Tsunami. He was most supportive of what we were trying to do for the children. He will be assisting SwimLanka when a pool gets to Unawatuna.
Wednesday 25 May
A meeting with Geoffrey Dobbs of Adopt Sri Lanka in the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo. Adopt Sri Lanka agreed to fund SwimLanka for another six months in the Hambantota District and the start-up and six months running costs for the Trincomalee District. For more details about Adopt Sri Lanka see http://www.adoptsrilanka.com
Thursday 26 May
The day starts early for Julian - coaching at 5 am. Sometimes this is the only time to be sure of catching him
Had meetings in Colombo with two major NGOs - fingers are being kept crossed! Hetty Bluck (aka Teruni Corea) joined us at the meetings.
Sunday 29 May
Julian flies off to India for yet another swimming commitment.
