Orphanage with Nathalie

Arranged to go to an orphanage with Natalie, a Dutch girl. The orphanage is a good twenty minutes outside Ampara by motorbike and she cycles every day both ways. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but she told me some pretty awful stories. Also seems that kids can just end up there, it’s meant for handicapped but can be just used as a place to send people. Also supposed to be for kids but some of the people are over twenty. The place has a beautiful location and is quite big, a walled garden and two long single storey buildings at right angles. There has been some aid work done. A whole new toilet and shower block stands empty as there isn’t enough water to work it, they continue to use a really dirty old toilet with no door and shower at the bottom of the garden. The children and adults are a mixture of mentally and physically handicapped with some non handicapped girls there too. We sat in the garden and played with the kids, drawing in the sand and playing games. Some just like to hold your hand, one who is in her twenties is dressed like a five year old. It’s very sad, there is one old lady looking after them who only gets five days off a year! I will go there again it’s crying out for some wall art and bright colours.