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The first phase of this project is to complete the block of three new classrooms. The need for this additional teaching space was recognised over ten years ago and the foundation stone for the building was laid in 1995. Since then the parents and villagers have saved what they can and constructed the building little by little and have managed to complete the walls and roof. Life is incredibly hard in this poor rural community and when a drought exacerbated the situation it seemed unlikely the villagers would be able to work on the building for a long time. With the funding from Sibford Aid Sri Lanka is supplying the materials to enable them to finally complete this task.

With the new term just starting, the parents had heard nothing of the plans but with only 24 hours notice almost all of them appeared at the PTA meeting, ready to work. They organised themselves in to teams and worked out a schedule which enabled them to complete the work as quickly as possible while allowing them to tend to their farmland as necessary.

The children watched eagerly as the lorry delivered the bags of cement. The older boys sprang in to action, helping unload the goods and pile them in the store room. There was a real buzz in the air.

All the children got involved in emptying the classrooms, carefully taking the posters off the wall and removing the desks and chairs. While the classrooms are being plastered the lessons will take place outside, under the shade of the trees.

Before the work could begin in ernest, one of the village elders performed the ritual offering the to local God- Beetle leaves, silver coins and specially prepared milk rice. The entire school enjoyed a snack of this special milk rice, eating from banana leaf plates.

Then it was full steam ahead and everyone was involved. The women formed a production line, passing heavy pans of sand from the store pile to the cement mixing site, it was hard work in the heat.

The masons supervised the men to mix the cement and apply it to the walls, fashioning scaffolding out of wood from the surrounding land. There was no time wasted and all the workers were focussed and thorough, at this rate the work will be done in record time.

It was a really fantastic day. There was a wonderful atmosphere and everyone was excited about the work they were able to do.