Unawatuna did smile!

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.

More info take a look at www.unawatunasmiles.blogspot.com

The road is completed and the 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.

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.

SORRY! Date postponed To March. (Date to be determined)

Dear beautiful people,

SORRY! Date postponed To March. (Date to be determined)

The road leading down to the beach in which the wall we were going to paint the Underwater mural stands, is been repaired. And we were told that it was going to be finished by the week end, and that was last 2 weeks ago. You all know the way this country works!

Because children are involved and the road itself is right next to the wall, we are unable to carry out the project, taking the children's health and the safety to the art work we hope to create, the project has to postponed till the road or at least the relent part of it is completed.

I thank you all for your calls and interest, Please re-send this mails to all the people you forwarded the information.

Will keep you all posted! I will do this project no matter what it takes!

So sorry about doing this again!

Timothy

For more information call Tim: 0777 484898

www.unawatunasmiles.blogspot.com

tim.sri@gmail.com

Smiles at Unawatuna has to be postponed

SORRY! Date postponed

to 23^rd Feb. Saturday.

Dear beautiful people,

I am so sorry to tell you this but Smiles at Unawatuna has to be postponed due to unavoidable circumstances.

The road leading down to the beach in which the wall we were going to paint the Underwater mural stands, is been repaired over the week and will only be one by the 22^nd Feb, So the date for the project is moved from 16^th Feb. to 23^rd Feb. Saturday.

I thank you all for your calls and interest, Ple re-send this mail to all the people you forwarded the information. Hope to see you all on the 23^rd of Feb.! Really sorry about this!

Timothy

0777-484898

tim.sri@gmail.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

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.unawatunasmiles.blogspot.com