Where things stand
Even before picking up a single tool on site, the team first got to know its local partner, and then the village that would host them for several weeks.
What happened
It all began with a full day at the headquarters of Sarvodaya, our local partner in Sri Lanka. Welcomed by several directors as well as Bandula, the project lead on Sarvodaya’s side, the team received a long briefing on the association’s philosophy: economic Buddhism, village self-sufficiency, ecotourism, the development of eco-friendly villages, as well as democratic principles and the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals — including access to clean water and women’s empowerment. After sharing a meal with the Sarvodaya team, the group toured the entire headquarters as well as the meditation center, before ending the day with a visit to the temple, where time was set aside to discuss Buddhist philosophy.
A moment of exchange with the Sarvodaya team, and the monk’s blessing
The next day, it was off to Pihimbuwa. A van rented by Sarvodaya picked up the team at 10am, accompanied by a cameraman, Bandula, and two other members of the association. After about three and a half hours on the road, with a lunch stop along the way, the team finally arrived in the village — the real starting point of the whole project.
The Sarvodaya van that took the team to Pihimbuwa
The welcome from the residents was especially moving: traditional flower garlands, smiles, the presence of village members and the monk, and a collective blessing given by the monk to the whole team. After this welcome, the team settled in and took the time to get to know their hosts.
Arrival in the village, with traditional flower garlands
Highlight
The village’s welcome as a whole — a moment that was both warm and solemn, marking the true start of the adventure on the ground, a world away from the theory heard the day before at Sarvodaya’s headquarters.
Before reaching the village, the team also had a chance to unwind a little: a trip to a shopping mall, including a short archery session along the way — a lighter moment between two major steps of the journey.
