John, Carol, Ama and Kavidu, Sri Lanka

John and Carol travelled to Sri Lanka to meet their sponsored children. This is their story …

My wife and I recently visited our two sponsor children, Kavidu (age ten) and Ama (age nine) in Sri Lanka. ChildFund arranged the visits and, after arriving at Colombo airport, we were met by our driver/guide who was with us for the entire visit.

While driving south from Colombo, we were able to see the after-effects of the tsunami. Reconstruction work is taking place, however, there are still many damaged houses. We were based in the town of Hikkaduwa as both children live in the south of Sri Lanka.

Kavidu is with the Waturawila children’s project and Ama is with the Kirida Community project. ChildFund provided an interpreter to accompany us when we visited both the children.

Our first visit was with Kavidu, who lives with his family in a modest three-room home with little furniture. Meals are prepared on an open fire in the kitchen. His father and grandfather are cinnamon peelers and only have seasonal employment. Kavidu is in Year 7 and is a very happy boy who loves to draw. Unfortunately, he has health problems which require regular visits to Colombo.

We were made most welcome and a wonderful lunch was prepared, which was attended by the family’s relatives and friends. Ama also lives with her family in a modest three-room home. Her father is unemployed and makes mud bricks for an extension to his house. Ama is in Year 6 and is very bright. She recently gained a scholarship to attend boarding school. Again a wonderful lunch was prepared for our enjoyment.

Meeting both the children was a very moving experience for my wife and I, and it was most satisfying to see first hand the results of child sponsorship with ChildFund Australia.