Sri Lanka

Overview

Trip report

From Rachel Vella
Creative & Brand Manager Platinum Electricians
June 2018

In October 2017, I had the amazing privilege of travelling to Sri Lanka with some members of the Platinum team and World Vision team. Going on a field trip like this was something I had been wanting to do for a long time, so having it come to life was quite a surreal experience, one which I will never forget.

We visited a village North of Sri Lanka called Karrachchi, where many of our Platinum sponsor children are from – one of them being my sponsor child – Kanivannan. Yes, I got to meet one of my sponsor children and I cannot even put into words how it felt to be there. It was an overwhelming feeling meeting this gorgeous little boy in the real, in his home and seeing first-hand how he and his family live.

Upon arriving, we pulled up out the front of his home and I saw him waiting at the end of the driveway for me with family and friends surrounding him. My emotions ran wild in that moment and with everything inside me I tried to fight back the water works before stepping out of the van, so I wouldn’t be a blubbering mess meeting them for the first time, but I failed and just wore those tears proudly.

The team and I were all extremely welcomed – it was so amazing! Despite the huge lack and poverty at hand, there was definitely no lack in generosity on their part. We were treated like royalty. They abundantly gave us food and they performed songs and dances for us, and then to top it off Kanivannan’s mother – whom I was so honoured to meet also – gave me a personal blessing over my life and future. WOW, welcome back water works!

This trip has changed many things in my life and the way I look at different parts of life in general. It’s made me appreciate how truly blessed I am to live in Australia and be able to have easy access to something so simple as a tap to get clean water. I have always felt the need to give of my own money to help the less fortunate and do what I can in that way, however actually stepping onto their ground and being in the true presence of poverty like that, was something I never could have fully understood before going on a trip like this.

Believe me when I say that sponsoring children absolutely DOES change lives, not only for the children but also their entire family. I now have three children whom I love and will continue to sponsor. I strongly encourage anyone who is even sightly considering visiting their sponsor children, to just do it. You really can’t put a price on such an incredible experience that will change your life forever, as much as it does theirs.

Rachel