Unawatuna did smile! (Project end report.)

Children, artists , trishaw driver, old ladys, tourists, villagers and beautiful people from Colombo made a day of smiles and fun for us all. “Our village came together without anyone organizing them to do so” that’s what Ralahami (a Trishaw diver from the village) told me.

This project had a lot of trouble from the start, but I was determined to make it happen! The final three days where so much work, this county is built in way to make things hard for you.

There were times I thought it will never happen but I was far to stubborn to let anyone one or anything stop me. My words to the village monk where: “I will do it, even if i have to do it by myself”.

After the Tsunami it was very important for me to give something back to Unawatuna, at least to feel like I did. It’s very personal.

I could have never done any of this without the help and kindness of all of you. I like to thank all those who came to help, the ones that helped with materials, cash, and participation and for all those who even thought about helping. I believe even a thought helps as you are sending positive energy.

The wall looks amazing and the villagers have promised me to take care of it.

So next time you get a idea that you think will help others and you like to do, don’t let it go by, keep at it and make it happen, our sprit is stronger then we think it to be.

The 3 friends and the big wave (The book)

The book was is a result of my work with children throw out sri lanka.
www.lankawork.blogspot.ch

A similar project I conducted with A NGO

A project, an art peace, children, sea and what do you get? Well it is project organized by the Sunshine Charity (www.sunshinecharity.org). I had been trying to do an underwater mural with children for some time now as you all know www.unawatunasmiles.blogspot.com but I have run into some road blocks. I think that will happen by the end of April.


Back to this project, it had its ups and down but when you work with children, you know all will be cool in the end.



The Sunshine Charity had seen the project I had been working on and asked me to do it with some of their kids. In the course of three days we would try to get the children to love the ocean the way they did before and also teach them about fish and underwater life while at the same time transforming a daycare center into underwater art peace and making all this as much fun s possible .Thinking back about all this, I think it was a composited even in small leaves but the end result was that the kids had a blast and by the end of it all of them were in the sea with me playing on the sand and splashing about. My last count on the beach was 150 persons, that’s including help.



If some of you are wondering how we ended up in the sea, the reason is that when I asked the children when was the last time they had visted the sea, most of them said last December and some even long before that. I got the permission to take them in two groups, small and big. The pix you see are from the small ones. I did not shoot the big ones, but will get some on soon! That time with the small children in the sea, with our hands in the water was the best moment for me, looking at the way they reacted to the waves and how happy it made them, priceless! Even though some of the small ones were even crying at the start and did not want to go close to the water by the end all of them were full on playing and trying to jump in. We had a time trying to not let them !




The sunshine Charity are going to make some cards of the paintings and sell it all over the world the raises funds for them, if this interests you then visit the web page, NO! Actually make an effort and see what you can do to help.
I do hope all of you will join me in the “Smiles at Unawatuna” www.unawatunasmiles.blogspot.com
Till then keep smiling!
Keep shining !
Tim

Location: Trincomalee District, Eastern Province -SL.

The road is completed. (new date is the 17th of May)

Great news! 

The road at Unawatuna is finally done and we are doing the project on the 17^th. So spread the word around to many people as possible: I want to see you all your beautiful faces on the 17^th, make it a week end out of it! For those who want a cheap place to stay call Bishu on 0777708880 @ Unawatuna Bay hotel, he is one of the key person involved in making this project come to life. You will never meet a host like him.

Also the best place to eat is at Kingfisher, call Duminda on 0773408405 for reservations.

How you can help?

• You can come on the given date and be part a of the project

• You can tell others about it –sending this email around, calling your friends.

• Bring paint brushes, containers to mix the paint, some food and drink for yourself and some other person so you can share.

• Images or drawings of fish, under water scenes –printouts of books
• (So the children who are painting it can use them as examples)

• Bring lots of drinking water for yourself and another person.

Tsunami Experience of Timothy Senaviratne.

I was also In the boxing day tsunami 2004. I was in Unawatuna Sri Lanka.
www.timothybarco.blogspot.com
www.timothybarco.blogspot.com

Poster -for printing

Click on the poster to get full-size image for printing. (Can be printed and put up in your office, public space, hotel, school)

If the poster image is not the size you need then call or mail Timothy

Be part of Smiles at Unawatuna ( invitation)

Help paint an Underwater mural at Unawatuna

Come join us for a day of arts and fun, bring your children, bring your friends, but most of all bring yourself. Join a number of artists from all around Sri Lanka to make a 200 foot underwater mural come to life. If you can’t make it at least help spread the word, we want all the help we can get. This project is not endorsed by any government, Non-governmental or private organization, its ‘by the people for the people’.

How you can help?

• You can come on the given date and be part a of the project

• You can tell others about it –sending this email around, calling your friends.

• Bring paint brushes, containers to mix the paint, some food and drink for yourself and some other person so you can share.

• Images or drawings of fish, under water senesce –printouts of books

              (So the children who are painting it can use them as examples)

• Bring lots of drinking water for yourself and another person.

How the project came about

An artist named Timothy Senaviratne who experienced the boxing day Tsunami first hand in Unawatuna (Look at www.trfstories.blogspot.com to see his story) has done many projects individually and as a part of other organizations in Unawatuna was taking a walk along the Unawatuna road and saw this wall being rebuilt and thought of doing a Underwater mural on it. After he spoke to the villagers and owners of this wall, together with Timothy and his friends came up with this project with the hope that it will put a ‘smile’ on many faces. So come join us and paint this wall!

Also take a look at hiss work with children all over Sri Lanka

www.trfsrilanka.blogspot.com

Hiss book which has gone on to be one of the most published books for children of Sri Lanka and now globally. www.lankawork.blogspot.com

For more information call Timothy on: +94 777 484898

Or take a look at www.timothybarco.com

Proposal for Paining underwater mural in Unawatuna

Back ground

The project will be set in Sri Lanka in a place called ‘Unawatuna’ literally meaning ‘fell down’. Unawatuna is thought to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It was however devastated by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. The village and its tourist industry were destroyed, and along with about 500 lives were taken by the sea. Even though the rebuilding of restaurants, hotels and people’s lives is taking place this once thriving tourist destination and its population is still struggling to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives.

Project plan

Even with all the rebuilding in some parts of Unawatuna, the tsunami continues to haunt the villagers. After much pleading, the main road to the village and the beach including the parts of road close to the sea are being renovated by the marine protection authority. A section of this road has a blank wall of approximately 200 metres built to protect it. What we aim to do is paint this wall, blue to match the sea, and then invite famous artists from Sri Lanka, local school children, villagers and anyone that wants to be a part of this to paint the wall.

The theme for this painting will be “Under the sea”, Thereby making a once grim reminder of the tsunami into a happy and joyful memory for the people and the children involved. Even the visitors to Unawatuna will stop for photo opportunities beside the wall, which will result in a boost to the tourist industry.

Methodology

The main wall will be painted by the sponsors in blue to match the sea. This will make the day with the children easy and faster as the base would already have been done. The artist and the children will paint over (ex: fish plants and corals) this blue wall. All the artists and others involved will have to finance their own stay. NO one will be paid. The media will carry some ads inviting anyone who wants to a part of this. The local school children and the villagers will be organized by village committees and me.

Specifics concerning the wall

The wall stands about 6 feet tall and 200 feet long. It used to exist before the Tsunami, was destroyed by the Tsunami and now rebuilt as a bare and blank wall. If it continues to be blank it will foster now emotion from anyone who looks at, instead it will become used in illicit manners and become a grim unemotional reminder about the Tsunami. Our aim of repainting this wall will literally ‘put a smile’ on everyone’s faces, even people who have no understanding about the repercussions of the Tsunami will look at it and enjoy it, but most of all it will put a smile of the faces of the people in the community. It will become another feature on the coast of Unawatuna which will also attract more tourists.

Who will Benefit

• Villagers who need to find their peace with the sea

• Children from the village and the local school who were directly or indirectly effected

• The local tourist industry

Material requirements for project

• Dark blue paint to match the underwater sea

• Light blue to match the top part of the ocean

• Paint to fill in all the fish, coral and plants

• Small and big brushers for about 200 people (The paint will have to be durable for the artwork to stand the test of time.

• Some snacks and refreshments for the children and the participants.

Target Date

Saturday 16^th February 2008

Rules

• No NGO or organization names will go on the wall. If at all, the providers of paint will be mentioned on the corner of the wall.

• No government dignitaries of any others heads will come to declare this wall open.

• This project will be carried out not by an NGO but by simply a collective of people compromised of friends and villagers

Costs

The main ingredient that is required is paint. We already have one paint distributor from Galle who has promised to give us the paint. But we still need brushes and snacks for the children and the participants. We would be grateful for any contribution to fulfil these needs from any individual or organization. For this:

Contact Project coordinator: Timothy Senaviratne (www.aragonfilms.com)

Tel: 0777 – 484898