The document summarizes the author's visit to schools supported by the Lasallian Foundation in Sri Lanka and India. It describes seeing happy and loving students from poor families united across religious differences. The teachers and Brothers are rebuilding lives and communities through education. While the trip was long, it was a meaningful gesture of support that reminded the author their small sacrifices make a big difference in children's lives.

1. SRI LANKAN SMILES THROUGH
LASALLIAN EYES
Sri Lanka & India Visit
Alfred Ablaza
1-10 Oct 2016

2. My 7-day trip to Sri Lanka (and India) has been an enriching experience.
It taught me the virtues of thankfulness, sacrifice, appreciation and love.
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3. Together with our CEO and
another board member, we
visited the preschools,
vocational schools, English
medium school, and various
colleges run by the De La
Salle Brothers in Colombo and
Mannar (8 hours North).
The Lasallian Foundation has
been helping build
infrastructure and supporting
programs in these schools in
the last many years.
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4. Our visit's main purpose was
to learn what our
development projects are
about and better understand
their needs. However, I've
realised that our presence
alone is also a meaningful
gesture to each of the local
school and Brother's
communities especially
coming from a long distance
(it took about 26 hours each
way from Melbourne). It is a
gesture of encouragement,
support, recognition and
appreciation of their good
efforts and results.
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5. Students come from different faiths (Hindu, Buddhism, Islam, and
Catholicism) and may come from different cultural backgrounds
(mainly Sinhalese and Tamil, among others). Regardless, they
continue to unite and respect each other's beliefs or background (it's
been 7 years since the war ended). The young kids I met come from
poor families (some from very unfortunate situations) and I was in
awe to see them happy, sociable, and full of love.
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6. The teachers, staff and the
De La Salle Brothers are
obviously doing a great job in
rebuilding, reaffirming,
inspiring and motivating the
children, young adults, and
their parents. So, (literally)
carrying my broken luggage
throughout this trip was
somewhat symbolic - I
always reminded myself that
this sacrifice was very
insignificant!
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7. I am ever thankful for your support in
making a difference in children’s lives.
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8. LCES preschool kids aged 2 ½ to 5 in Colombo (free schooling)
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9. Boystown technical school at
Colombo. 4-year in-house
program (free) for boys from poor
families
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10. Orphans billeted by the
De La Salle Brothers at
the Diagala Boystown
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11. The Lasallian Educational Campus Mannar, built by the Lasallian
Foundation opened in 2015.
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12. Graduating Year 13 students
and student leaders from St
Anne's College Vankalai.
Br Christy Croos (first on left)
is the Provincial of the De La
Salle Brothers Sri Lanka and
also an old boy of St Anne's
College.
Also in photo - John Harry,
Lasallian Foundation board
member (right).
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13. Students with learning difficulties from
St Xavier’s National School (Mannar).
Dedicated and passionate teachers at
La Salle English School (Mannar)
where English is used as a medium of
language.
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14. Inquisitive and proud Grade 5 students at the La Salle English school.
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15. Students from Kurankandal School in their classroom rebuilt after the war. Most
of the buildings in this village were destroyed during the war and the entire
community was forced to relocate.
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16. Graduating students of LCES
Beauty school
(the graduation was also a bridal
competition show)
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17. Grade 4 & 5 students performing a cultural dance of the 4 different cultures
(Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher)
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18. HIV hospice (India) – The
patient’s daughter has stopped
her tertiary studies so she could
look after her mother (her father
has died of HIV). There are also
a number of kids with HIV in this
hospice.
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We also spent 2 days in
Tamil Nadu, India.

19. HIV hospice (India) – run by Sister Anastacia (centre) – such a saint!
Also in photo - Miranda Chow (left) – Lasallian Foundation CEO and John Harry
(right) – Lasallian Foundation board member
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20. HIV patient (no home to go to)…. We ‘caught’ her enjoying a lollipop (she
refuses to put it back in her mouth for the photo, and just kept smiling!)
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21. “Reaching The Unreached” (RTU in Tamil Nadu, India) – school built by the
foundation
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22. RTU led by Fr Antony (4th from left) – a Capuchin priest and formerly a
student of the campus in the 70s.
Also in photo - Miranda Chow, Lasallian Foundation CEO (left) and John Harry,
Lasallian Foundation board member (third from the left)
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23. “Reaching the Unreached” school (India).
Having a fun dialogue with the students.
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24. “Reaching the Unreached” school (India).
Teaching back what they have learnt in Year 10 maths.
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25. SriLankanSmilesthroughLasallianEyes
END
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