This morning was the opening ceremony of our school in Aththudawa. This was very exciting day for the whole team…

The day began with a short journey to the village. Once we arrived at the village it felt as though we were celebrities. Some of the villagers came to meet us when we got off the bus. They each gave us a small bunch of flowers; these were handmade and very beautiful.

The villagers then accompanied us to the school, led by two dancers dancing to the beat of a drum again played by another villager. It felt as though I was a celebrity. When we reached the school the children were all dressed very smartly in their uniforms – they looked adorable. The dancers carried on performing until it was time to cut the ribbon. This was a very memorable moment as once the ribbon was cut I took my first step into the school. The building was small but decorated beautifully with children’s work.

It was then time for the speeches by the villagers and other members of the team. The speeches lasted a while, and it was very clear that each and every villager was so grateful and proud of our hard work. The speeches were followed by performances by the children of the village, singing, dancing and acting all of which were brilliant.

Once these performances were finished the team presented the children with the resources that we had collected from home. The children of the school received these gifts; each and every one of them had the most amazing smile when receiving these gifts. The formal ceremony was now over the villagers then invited us into their homes for food. This was my first experience of eating with my hands; let’s say I need more practice at this skill!

The whole day was fantastic: a true memory for life. All the hard work had paid off and knowing that this facility would bring so much joy for years to come for everyone in the village.