ANDY GUARD - HELPING LOCALS IN SRI LANKA

I am coming to the end of my six week trip to Sri Lanka where I have been part of 'Project Sri Lanka 2009' with Durham University, from where I have just graduated. I am part of a group of 8 sport science students from the university whose job it is to raise the profile and standard of sporting pursuits in Sri Lanka.

Since arriving in Colombo on 4th July, I transferred to the hill country in Sabaragamuwa Province, staying in a guest house with the rest of the team in Sabaragamuwa University.
 
Having raised 2000 pounds each, which for me included both a monetary and kit donation from St Albans City Youth (for whom i played for 10 years), the ultimate aim of the project was to introduce Sri Lankans of all ages to new sports and activities that they do not have the opportunity to engage in with the help of sports equipment brought with us from the UK to then be left in the communities.
 
As well as working with students of the new sport science degree at the university, helping to improve their knowledge and understanding of the benefits of physical activity as well as their skills and techniques in specific sports, we have regularly visited the local village and school community of Ighalagalagama further up the mountain.

With children aged 4 to 16, we introduced them to fun new games as well as more structured sporting sessions, primarily in football, volleyball, rounders and cricket, again with the aid of equipment that was also to be left there in a place where they have little or largely no sporting resources at all!
 
When we have been free at weekends, we have also been lucky enough to visit various places around the island such as the Kandy Pera Hera Festival, Pinnewella elephant orphanage, World's End National Park and the beach at Hikkaduwa.
 
All in all it has been a thoroughly rewarding experience, working with children who are always enthusiastic and smiling and so grateful for their new equipment. i have really felt part of the different communities here, both at the university and the village and if, as a team, we have made even a small difference to the attitude to sport in a country now in a state of peace following a long period of civil war then the project has been massively worthwhile!
 
Andy Guard