A Taste of TEA: A
week in the life.
The week starts brightly
for The TEA Project on Monday at Madduma
Bandara School. Here we run workshops for all year groups. It is both fantastically
exhausting and a rewarding environment. This week the juniors were tasked to
'design their perfect school' whilst the seniors worked on a school partnership project that we coordinate
with a school in the UK. Mandumma is severely
underfunded and it's students come from the very poorest families in Kandy. Our
presence here provides inspirational learning for the children and essential
support to the teaching staff.
Tuesday is
office time to sit down at the TEA
table. As well as the day to day admin and workshop planning there is an urban art regeneration project, a
new school partnership, volunteer programme, new projects, numerous workshops
and a motivational address by local business supporters all around the corner
to plan for.
Like something from a Dickens novel Wednesdays regular visit to the girls orphanage provides a sobering
contrast. The intention of our weekly
visit here is to return some light back into
the lives of these affection starved young women. Sessions are designed to be
relaxed, sociable, safe, fun and inclusive. Focussing on well-being and
participation. It is a chance for the girls to discuss any personal worries and
to mentally escape from their dark, austere confines. A tree of life was
created by the girls on Wednesday to brighten the joyless and empty walls of
the dining room. We'll all be washing glitter out of our hair for weeks!
We run creative workshops on Thursday at a charity centre in Kandy that supplies
after school provision for children who would otherwise be left to fend
for themselves; often this independence turns to begging, crime and frequently leaves
them open to abuse. The purpose of these workshops is to encourage natural,
free expression; a forum where they are encouraged not criticised, stimulated;
where they can release their inhabitations and have fun. We held an election to
vote for a class president. The children designed their election posters, gave an election speech and held a secret ballot
where they voted for their president. Art is a universal communicator and an effective
therapist.
Friday saw the
beginning of our L.I.F.E training programme which will be delivered weekly to
students at the innovative Royal International School in rural Kurenegala which
is a 2.5 hour round trip bus ride from
Kandy. The school provides the highest standards of education but is unique by
welcoming and assisting children from lower income backgrounds. Here 25
children aged 12-14 will receive children's rights education, Leadership, Independence, Futures
and Empowerment training. The two
staff who attended the first session commented that the training had been "inspiring".
We are looking forward to seeing future leaders develop.
Over the coming weekends
our time will be focused on the completion of an urban art regeneration project
at Madduma Bandara School; one we hope will provide a motivational new entrance
for the students, staff and also return a sense of community pride. The budget
is slim and the rain unforgiving but we will give it our best shot.
and on Sunday....we
like to talk to you all.
*We need more overseas children to join our PENship Pal
Programme, please contact racheal.ireton@theteaproject.org.uk for more info if
you are interested.
