When I first began weaving in January 2018, I did not anticipate how much I would
enjoy it nor how much pleasure I would get from others I helped to learn. It was in
that year that my friend Marcia, who has been going out to Sri Lanka 11 years,
“hoodwinked” me into volunteering with her.
We raised enough money to buy 13 looms for the girls in a refuge run by the
(Women’s Development Centre in Kandy (WDC) and booked our flights for April
2020. Little did we know what was around the corner and it has taken until April 2024 for me to take that trip and finally meet the girls.
The story of these girls had touched my heart. As a young girl I was given the same
opportunities as my older brother. I was raised in a loving family, one which I
appreciate more, the older I get. These girls have in many instances been betrayed
and abused by those who should have protected them. My hope was that the
weaving, at least, could be a mindful activity for them to lose themselves in.
At most maybe those with a talent for it, would be able to make things and sell them for a small income.
Not being able to fly out anywhere in 2020 meant that the girls and their teachers
received the looms and pretty much had to teach themselves. They did so well in
that, and I am very impressed that with very little instruction they produced items with amazing consistency.
These are just a few of the items they managed to produce in a very short amount of
time.
When I arrived at the refuge, Sashi (who runs WDC) and I formulated a plan, at least
for the first day. We would play it by ear and see how things went. Looking at their
items and talking with the teachers it looked like some vital early learning had been missed, especially when it came to warping up the looms. Taking them through this process step-by-step helped them to solve some consistent problems they were
having with the weaving, so it was worthwhile to go back to first principles.
Their enthusiasm was infectious, and the days were filled with hard work, enthusiasm and laughter. Their appreciation of the time spent with them was evident, as were the traumas that they had gone through. On my way down to lunch one day, I passed the nursery and caught sight of one of the girls in my class, just 13 years
old, breastfeeding her baby. For all the girls’ hardships, the refuge is a happy place. The teachers, foster mothers and workers are calm and loving, creating a homely atmosphere, where the girls are loved and cared for. What the WDC struggles with, is not how to treat the girls but lack of funding. So, this year I will be doing some more fundraising through coffee mornings, a table top sale and who knows what?
For a few days, the girls lost themselves in the weaving and learning about colour
theory. They learned how to finish off their woven items and how to use other
equipment such as: peg looms, weaving sticks and even a pompom maker!
When it took me 15 minutes to find the tapestry needles, they learned the benefits of keeping things tidy and how useful storage baskets are!
See the pictures below for a very pleasing sight to anyone who may be even slightly OCD!
People ask me if I had a lovely holiday in Sri Lanka and my answer has developed
into: “It was a heart-warming and worthwhile experience”. I came back home with a
newfound appreciation of all I have and a desire to return next year. It was a huge
“reset” for me, putting so many of my problems into perspective.
This picture is with the teachers and my interpreter Mary. If you look closely, you can see how red my face is from the humidity and unbearable heat. I cannot say I loved the tropical environment, but the insects loved me!
I am so grateful for all the donations and items people bought. Grateful for the difference it will make to these lovely girls. I cannot share the one picture I have of them, for the girls’ safety, but if you were to see me, I might show the picture to you on my phone. You might then see what I see; a group of beautiful girls, with huge potential and deserving of a chance in life.
If you would like to know more about volunteering or how you might help then please email me on krystyna.gadd@gmail.com.