Hikka Beach Party

August 25th, 2010 by Abby (Project Advisor)

Riding Doughnut

Kavinda, our programme manager in Sri Lanka got in contact saying that the students there had just had a fantastic party weekend!

“Hikka as in “Hikkaduwa” is in the south of Sri Lanka. Every year there is a huge beach party happening in Hikka which normally attracts all the people all over Sri Lanka. This time our elective students were able to be a part of the beach party and have a good time. The beach party goes for two days and you meet lot of people there as well.

Party...Whoop Whoop!

Our students left for Hikka on the weekend and on the way to Hikka stopped in Bentota to do some water sports; Doughnuts, Banana boats, Jet Ski and many more. And of course to get bit of a tan! The first day party was really good and some of the students even met their friends from back home at the party.

The students were able to enjoy the party for two days and experience different type of food and have a relaxing time in Hikka. Not to mention a good

“tan” as well (some got bit of sun burnt) But in the end it was Good fun After two days of relaxing and time spent in the beach they all came back to Kandy ready for work the next day.”

How to impress your Elective Supervisor

August 24th, 2010 by Abby (Project Advisor)

Before you head overseas we really try and stress how important it is to build a really good relationship with your supervisor – this week we asked the students if they had any tips on impressing the people who matter.

Ward Round

Joe, our programme manager in Ghana told us; “Building a good relationship or rapport with not just your supervisor but all the staff in there is the key to having a good placement. This almost everyone in the house knows and agrees to, but when it comes to the issue of how, students gave variety of tips on how to impress the people who matter.”

Ada who has her name all over the obs and gynae department said that although she finds it easy around new people, what seems to be working the miracle is “to smile at everyone and also learn my fante (local language) very well… imagine going to the department the first day and saying “me ma mo akye”(good morning to you). Then they go like hey! Obroni(White person) speaks Fante. Then they all want to ask you stuff in fante only to realise that you only know a little bit. Then they find you interesting to talk to and that is the beginning of building a good rapport with them.” But Ada does not underestimate the element of hard working and showing all the signs of seriousness as one of the most important keys to impress your supervisors and the entire team. This can be shown by ones attitude to work, punctuality and how keen one is to learn. May be as Ada has been doing; taking some night and afternoon shifts to compliment the mornings.

Jennifer, a medical student has up her sleeve one tip to impress the whole team. “You know Joe, I go there early to read the folders of new patients so that during ward rounds I can ask pre-meditated question which they consider brilliant”. Asking and answering questions makes it easier to facilitate communication upon which relationships are built. Samantha chipped in with the fact that open mindedness is needed to have a good relationship. Though some of the practices here are different and would not be embraced in the UK health system, students need to not express too much shock on their faces at the slightest difference and think they can’t associate themselves with this practice. “Just get involved and do it the way they do it and they are happy with you.”

Learning the language really helps

In Argentina, Lucy suggests being “friendly and smile. It is very important to look interested and enthusiastic when they are teaching you something. Always try to communicate in Spanish and laugh with them when you get it wrong!”

Louise just finished her placement, and both shifts’ supervisors were very impressed about her performance. “Being proactive and volunteering to work whenever you can as well as to do extra hours is a good way to impress supervisors. Making an effort to communicate in Spanish shows that you really care.  Also, bring pastries or a cake on your last day of work and they will absolutely love you!” says Louise.

The same advice was given in Nepal. Sunhil told us that “Impressing a supervisor or important person is always very important so a SMILE is a must!!!”  Our dentistry students in Manipal will smile throughout, crack a joke and make the supervisor crack a joke too. Besides, being punctual, responsible and pro-active is very important as well.  There might be times when you could be feeling left out but you just have to walk in make your presence felt. Also, not lagging behind during ward rounds (have to be seen right in front), respecting the way work is done here are and being friendly are few tips to get one going.

Over in Dar Es Salaam, Rebecca simply tells us to “Smile! Be friendly; if you are unsure of anything just ask! Ask loads of questions and be interested in what advice they have to give you.  Alice agreed “Always put yourself forward for things, if you sit and wait on the sidelines – you’ll be waiting for a long time. So be proactive, get involved and ask questions.” Danielle had some similar feedback; “Always put yourself forward and don’t criticize the way they perform their duties (there can be a huge cultural difference). Be hard working and everybody will love you. Stick to the department for at least 2 weeks as this is the only way you can feel settled in.

Via Via!

In Arusha it was much the same. “Be proactive and try to get involved and ask questions about anything you are interested in or unsure of. Try to use as much Swahili as possible, as it will help with patients and staff” said Mari. “Turn up on time (especially for paeds!) Try to speaking Kiswahili – a little goes a long way and try and pick up as much as you can when enjoy is speaking. Alexander and Campbell emphasisd the importance of learning some of the local language. Work the World provide free language lessons so you have no excuse not to greet patients in Kiswahili. They also had this tip “Invite people to via via and buy them a drink (Dr Lee loves via via!!) Know your stuff without being too arrogant / Mzungu / etc”

On a final note, Hayley told us that “the supervisors are really nice and easy going, but if you really want to impress them, a BNF or Oxford handbook would do it!”

Onam Festival 2010

August 20th, 2010 by Abby (Project Advisor)

Filling the flower designThis week the students in India have been celebrating Onam, the harvest festival in Kerala. It falls during the first month of the Malayalam calendar and marks the homecoming of King Mahabali. Lasting for 10 days, the festival embraces the culture and traditions of Kerala.

Our team in Trivandrum tell us that “All the students have participated in the Onam Celebrations at Kannammoola house. They have actively involved in filling flowers in the design drawn by Revathy, our housekeeper. Later, Rashmi wearing the traditional costume of Kerala inaugurated the celebrations by lighting the lamps. Manjusha the yoga teacher and her family was also part of the celebrations.

The feast!

The feast!

Our cooks, Vinod and Vijesh prepared their traditional Kerala feast “Sadhya” and we enjoyed all 10 dishes with Payasam. We have served to all the students first and they did the same to us.

We also celebrated Gillian’s birthday. She cut a big “White Forest cake” made by Ambrossia, really delicious.”

Intricate flower carpets, elaborate banquet lunches, snake boat races and the kaikottukali dance all play a part in the festival.  Onam is extremely important to all Malayalees and is celebrated enthusiastically across the state. It sounds like one amazing party!

My summer at Work the World – by Medical Student Rob

August 20th, 2010 by admin

Medical Student RobThis summer I have been mostly working at Work the World’s head office in the lively British south coastal city of Brighton.  The rest of the year I am just another medical student, but here, for 8 weeks only, I have been “Medical Student Rob”.  I have been the man that will give anyone in the office who cares to ask me about any matter pertaining to medicine, a hurried, mumbled answer; the man who they will then find furiously consulting Wikipedia only moments later, before finally furnishing them with a further unsatisfactory, incomplete, and wholly irrelevant response.

Apart from my consultancy sideline, I came in with a job to do – to write a new website for prospective elective students from North America.  However I feel like I am now leaving with so much more…

To begin with I have developed a real appreciation of exactly why it is important for people to wash up their cups, plates and cutlery properly.  I have Abby to thank for this.  Under her watchful – some might unfairly say “beady-eyed” – gaze I have successfully learnt that a hygienic cup is a happy cup, and that cold water simply does not get the job done.  Plus I’ve now cultivated a handy twitch across the left side of my face, which informs me every time I leave something in a less-than-Bree-Van-De-Kamp-immaculate state of cleanliness.

From resident Aussie, Nicole, I have learnt any number of important phrases and facts, which will “see me right cobber” should I ever decide to venture “Down Under” (which is what I understand her people call Australia).  I now know how to ask for sweetener, say if I was ordering a cup of coffee in Alice Springs (it’s called a “sugarine”).  Conversely if I was in a sweetshop in Perth then I could ensure my chocolate disks were covered with hundreds-and-thousands by asking for “freckles with that”.  I have learnt that a dag is more a term of endearment than one of abuse, whilst nobody actually calls anybody else a “flaming galah” outside of Summer Bay, and also that Rolf Harris is not the Australian national hero I had always assumed he must be.

Unfortunately Lewis has spent much of the summer away with work in Africa, and the only thing I have really been able to take from our relationship is an unshakeable certainty that I will never see him and the actor Hugh Laurie in a room together at the same time.  But from his colleague in the overseas team, Alison, I will always value the lessons she was able to teach me about telephone contact with remote countries – did you know for example that you have to talk much louder to an Indian member of staff than do to a Tanzanian one, being that they are over a thousand miles further away?  Ah Ali…I will think of you every time I feel fresh blood flowing from my eardrums.

Ruth – you left me too soon.  Simon – you arrived too late.  But when I think about Omar, my upper lip begins to quiver – exactly what IS that odd smell that follows him around?  A tireless human dynamo, a wise sage, and an inspirational leader of men, are just three of the phrases that have never been used to describe Omar Mohamed.  And yet I feel like he has given so much…

Apart from a charity-case summer job, based purely on the fact that the my girlfriend happens to work for him, and borderline diabetes from the sheer quantity of sugar that he seems to have to surround himself with, he has shown me that it is more than possible to make a success out of a business which is built on strong principles, which actually DOES put its customers first, and which actually does a hell of a lot of good work behind the scenes, without feeling any real compulsion to shout about it from the roof tops.  And for that I am truly grateful.

Now how about that free elective placement?

What has been the clinical highlight of your placement so far?

August 16th, 2010 by Abby (Project Advisor)
The Labour Ward

The Labour Ward

When overseas, Work the World students often find themselves faced with diseases and treatments that they normally wouldn’t get to see. This week we asked for their clinical highlights so far…

In Nepal, Katie, a physio student mentioned she was lucky to see Bells Palsy which she had only read of.  Also, going to the private clinic gave her an insight into what the health care in Nepal is like as she got to see both sides. Aalla mentioned about a case when a baby was being delivered. “The baby was already dead and the body was out but the head was stuck inside. After numerous tries the consultant finally decided to do a craniotomy where the cranium was burst and the insides were taken out so that the head could be released. It was shocking but was definitely something that stood out.”

For Louise, another physio student in Argentina, so far the highlight of her placement has been getting presents from patients happy with the results of her massages. “I got a scarf from this lady I gave a massage to. She came the next day with the present and thanked me because she could sleep so well the night after my massage!” Carrie is a Nursing student and her highlight at ICU has been “being able to see continuity on patients, back home in America we are not able to spend enough time to see the progress in admitted patients. Being able to see a patient getting better is a great highlight for me”.

Outside the Physio dept in Arusha

Outside the Physio dept in Arusha

The students in Dar Es Salaam have also seen some interesting cases. Lauren even got to see Kaposi’s sarcoma. Student medic Steven witnessed Johnson’s syndromes and also got to practice his clinical procedures e.g placing a catheter (for the first time!) and placing cannulas. For Zara the most interesting thing has been seeing the different stages of HIV from pustular purpunc emption to HIV encephalopathy. For Ursula it was seeing Red-Man-Syndrome. “The patient’s urine looked like Lucozade!” The students have managed to get a huge amount of hands on experience this week with Thomas assisting in the removal of a back tumour, “it was great despite the fact that it took 6 hours.”

In Lake Victoria the clinical highlight so far for Kristy has been working with the children who attend the Physiotherapy department as patients. “The parents have been quite receptive and grateful for the ideas provided to help their children and the children have been fun to play with.” John saw a cholera case in the emergency department. “I did not deal with them directly, but it was interesting to see how the staff reacted to a difficult situation. They have a limited ability to deal with such a case – no side rooms, limited equipment, no fixed infection control protocol for cholera. Cholera is not something you see in the UK, and getting to grips with the management has been interesting as well. Although books may say one thing, the reality is that not all precautions can be taken in a hospital like Bugando.”

Studying an X-ray

Studying an X-ray

Amy, another physio told us that “So far in the placement the highlight has been seeing how appreciative and enthusiastic the patients are. They are motivated to try new exercises and work hard. Its also fun practicing my Swahili with the patients and learning new vocabulary everyday”.

In Sri Lanka, our students who are in the Cardiology department say that the highlight has been “teaching with the supervisor  on E.C.G’s. It was very concise and a good recap and extension on what we have already learnt”

Our midwives say that the highlight has been “how they do the deliveries in Sri Lanka…how they have perfect deliveries even with limited equipment and resources…”

Ghana Dental Outreach Project 2010

August 13th, 2010 by Lewis (Operations Manager Africa)
Some of the kids

Some of the kids

This year’s Dental Outreach Programme in Ghana took place in Jacobu within the Ashanti region of Ghana. It was about an hour’s drive south of Kumasi, which is the second largest city in Ghana and famous for its markets. The project spanned 3 weeks and consisted of seven 4th year dental students as well as (and for the first time ever for us) 5 dental hygienists. All the participants were studying or had finished studying at Cork and were therefore full of Irish vigour and energy!

The project was designed to provide free screenings and treatments to the school children of the local area. We had a bus and each day it would take us to the schools where the screenings were carried out and then bring those children that had been referred to the local St Peters Hospital for treatment. The screening process was immense! Just short of 4,500 children were screened during the project. We were privileged to have the dental hygienists during the screening process, they worked to provide education (of course with translators!) to all of those children that were screened by the dental students. This will enable the good work that took place to carry on after we left so that the children understand the importance of effective oral cleaning.

Screenings

Screenings

Just short of 1,000 children were treated during the 3 weeks, the participants on the programme worked extremely well together to ensure that this work ran as smoothly as possible. Each day someone would volunteer to play the role of Matron and be responsible for providing assistance when needed to those carrying out the treatment work and to grab supplies and tools. The dental hygienists were predominantly responsible for carrying the scaling work whilst the dental students took care of the extractions and fillings. We were fortunate to be working with Dr Amoateng, who is the head dental consultant at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi as well as his two dental assistants Hanna and Felicia as they provided excellent clinical supervision and assistance.

Outside of the clinical work we all got to do some exploring of Ghana in our spare time. The dental students managed to get to Mole National Park, which is no mean feat due to the distance involved, although they weren’t impressed that their driver took a wrong turn and an 8 hour journey turned into 11 hours! The dental hygienists managed to make it to the coast and also to stay at a hotel with a swimming pool in Kumasi. I myself visited Lake Bosumtwi and had an afternoon on a hammock gazing out over the still waters. Kumasi was definitely the place to buy any present for people back at home.

Oral health workshop

Oral health workshop

The food was prepared by a caterer “Aunty Dokas”, who we recruited specifically for the project and who has worked with us before with our permanent programme in Takoradi. She provided continental food like spaghetti bolognese, chicken curries and a even some BBQ’s. We also requested to try some local dishes, some of which were more popular than others! “Red Red”, which is fried plantain, spices and a bean and tomato sauce was lovely.

It was an intense and thoroughly rewarding experience. Some other highlights that come to mind from the project were a local TV station coming over and interviewing us about the project, we later found out it was on TV 6 days later! The dental hygienists met Mr P.V Obeng, one of the most senior ranking government officials in Ghana and spending sometime having drinks with him! Also, going to mass in a local church was amazing- the Ghanaians love to sing and dance and we were welcomed with open arms. Finally, some of the girls managed to get invited to be in a Nigerian music video and were filmed for it, although I’ll need to wait to see it out live before I truly believe it as I wasn’t there at that point and the girls might be pulling my leg!

News from the Wild East

August 10th, 2010 by Alison (Operations Manager Asia)
The students in India

The students in India

As we have approached our peak season, 10th & 11th July marked our busiest weekend in Kerala with 11 new Work the World housemates flying into Trivandrum Airport, plus 7 additional arrivals to join the dental outreach project in Amboori.

I flew in a few days before the big arrivals to work with Jay & John, our Programme Managers in India. Jay was busy confirming and reconfirming the final arrangements for the dental outreach, including checking up on the portable equipments, meetings with Dr Smitha the supervisor for the project, briefing the volunteers and making sure the house is ready in the village. Jay’s meticulous organisation ensured that the project got off to a good start. Back in the city, John and I spent a good couple of days visiting our five key partner hospitals in Trivandrum, both government and privately owned to reconfirm hospital introduction time with supervisors. This is essential as busy doctors sometimes forget!

There are some brilliant supervisors in Kerala, my particular favourites are Dr. Tiny Nair (Cardiologist), Dr. Bobby Moses (General Medicine) and  Dr Shylaja (Neurologist) who have always made me feel welcome whenever I visit their clinic. I also met new supervisors such as Dr. Shiju (A&E) and Dr Shreedevi (Paediatrician) who have quickly bonded with students and have been praised highly for their teaching. During this trip, I also found the time to sit down for dinner with students at the Vanchiyoor house, who were kind enough to teach me a few cheeky drinking games, which I will have to try out on my friends! We also went shopping together to ‘Fabindia’, which is indeed fabulous and a great place to pick up local crafts. Once I made sure all the students were picked up, introduced to other students, given a good orientation of Trivandrum and introduced to their hospital placement, it was time for me to nip across the Laccadive Sea to Sri Lanka, where the pilot programme launched at the end of June.

My visit to Kandy General

My visit to Kandy General

I flew into Colombo and got a local bus to Kandy. The journey was very scenic, starting from a bus station in bustling Pettah, one of the oldest districts in Colombo to weaving through the hill country for 4 hours! I went to stay in a little guest house by the lake as our Work the World house was full. Kavinda, our Programme Manager met me at the one and only ‘Pub’ in Kandy for a drink and a catch up. In the evening we went to meet our pioneers who have shaped our Sri Lanka programme so far. These included four incredibly friendly Irish students from Queens, a couple of dentistry students from Newcastle and some more medical students from Leeds. They were really enthusiastic and told me all about the weird and wonderful diseases they have seen that week, which convinced me that I should join the students on placement.

The following day I asked permission from Dr Wickramasinghe at Kandy General who agreed for me to join the medical ward with Christine, Fionnuala, Ciara and Colin. The five of us went on a ward round led by the Consultant Dr. Gunawardena, which was really interesting. He didn’t ask me any questions (thank goodness!) but he was really interactive and our students were equally proactive. The ward round went on for about 3 hours and I felt faint two or three times so I had to excuse myself to get some fresh air.

In the evening, Kavinda and I organised a belated house warming BBQ party at the house, which ended at the Queens Hotel in Kandy for cocktails and sharing of party tricks. I didn’t want to leave Kandy but soon it was time to go home. I got the train from Kandy to Colombo, and since I had an afternoon in Colombo I left my bags at the left luggage at Colombo Fort Station (for 35p!) and went for lunch at the famous Gallery Café and a last minute shopping trip to Barefoot to buy some small presents for my friends back at the Work the World towers, UK!

Have you noticed any cultural do’s and don’ts since you arrived?

August 4th, 2010 by Abby (Project Advisor)
Drinking Mate

Drinking Mate

It is always far more useful to hear information from those who have experienced these countries and placements for themselves. This week we decided to ask the students overseas what you should be prepared for culturally when you arrive overseas.

In Argentina, a kiss on the cheek is definitely a “do” when greeting someone! About the “don’ts”, it’s easy for Jo: “don’t try to go shopping during siesta time, because everything is closed until 4:30pm!” Louise agrees with Jo on this and adds: “the same for vegetarian restaurants. Forget to try a vegetarian take away for dinner, as they are open only from 11am to 3pm”.

Nat, our Programme Manager in Argentina added: “do try the mate, a local beverage, but don’t use the straw as a spoon to stir the ‘yerba’, as many students are tempted to. It’s just forbidden! And don’t say “gracias” (thanks) when you pass it back. It means you don’t want more. And when going out and about, don’t expect cars to stop and let you cross at pedestrian crossings, just not going to happen!”

In Lake Victoria Kim Humby advised students to “think about what you’re wearing when out and about. Although quite relaxed, short shorts for girls are not really appropriate and may bring unwanted attention. If a stranger greats you in the street with “Jambo” say something back. They will love you for it.”

Kyle Hunt agreed “Always welcome and thank others and reply them when greeted. Pay respect to elders or those in higher positions than yourself, and accept respect given to you by others.

The Massai Market

The Massai Market

Arusha was similar…“Do try to use Swahili if you can – supervisors appreciate it and nurses particularly, and it helps lower prices at Maasai market! On the subject if the market, don’t take pictures of market stalls without asking – people might think it’s of them!” said Colette Robbins

Ryan Edgar in Dar Es Salaam has a few tips…

DO; Learn to sample the local food and greet people in Kiswahili – they love it! Oh and always make sure you haggle!

Don’t; Get into a taxi with a driver claiming s/he knows the way if he clearly doesn’t , they will bring you to the wrong place just to get some money!

Jenny O’Brien recommends learning the African dance of Rehema + Akiba and use it when dancing in Q-Bar.

Stephanie Dawker advises “Don’t be offended when locals call you mzungu! They say it all the time as well as honking and whistling.”

Cooking in the village

Cooking in the village

Alex Henson had some comments for students doing the Village experience. “People are informed before the village experience that the facilities will be basic. I think they should also be informed about the cultural difference they will experience. This may be obvious – but there are  some things we would find offensive that are the norms in that culture.

The main example of this is the treatment of women. Women are assumed to not be able to walk long distances and are considered less intelligent than men. My guide often would only look at the boy I was on placement with rather than me. Despite this I had a Brilliant time I accepted the different culture as something to observe but not something I will ever be integrated into.

However, some people I spoke to became so offended by this that it marred their experience. If warned beforehand they may have been more prepared.

Saying this, I cannot fault my guide in any way he was a kind hearted person without whom my experience would not have been the same.

A Child Dies Everyday in Mendoza

July 28th, 2010 by Natalia (Programme Manager - Argentina)

Nat in Argentina very kindly translated an article that appeared in the Diario Los Andes on Sunday 25th July. It is about infant mortality in Mendoza, particularly those children under1 year old.

A mother and her new born

A mother and her new born

The infant mortality rate fell slightly from 10.6 per thousand live births in 2008 to 9.97 in 2009. However, neonatal mortality increased: during the same period, the indicator was 6.5 in 2008 and 6.8 in 2009. Among other things, this increase is attributed to “lack of human resources.”

The preliminary results from research carried out by the Mother and Childhood Department in Mendoza, shows a slight increase in neonatal mortality (children with less than 28 days of life) and a moderate decrease in infant mortality for 2009, compared to 2008.

It is considered that the increase may be due to a “lack of trained human resources” and “transfer problems”, while the drop in infant mortality is a result of working on pregnancy control, monitoring critical cases and incorporating technology. In 2008, there were 371 deaths of children under one year, and in 2009, the number was of 343 (6.5 deaths per week).

The head of the Mother and Childhood Department, Maria Susana Bresca, believes that the slight increase in neonatal mortality is due to the fact that “there are some difficulties in the smaller maternity units because they do not get the appropriate human resources, and then sometimes the referrals are not done in time and manner.” She also stated that “there are pregnancy pathologies that may not have been recorded or detected, which means that these children will then be born with problems.”

Sergio Saracco, former Health Minister, said “the increase in pregnancy control means women get to delivery in better conditions, but still there are children born weighing just 500g. The death cases are few because there is more technology available to keep them alive. “

Infant mortality

Beyond the numbers, Bresca understands that a key factor was the “heavy investment in technology, the ‘Nacer’ (Born) Plan in Mendoza reached 5 million pesos for the purchase of equipment,  being the Lagomaggiore Hospital the most favoured. The monitoring done by social workers in the homes of low-weight newborns following their discharge from the hospital, also helps.”

NICU

NICU

Even though different governments have made efforts to lower infant mortality and they have succeeded, the pace of its decline has slowed. Between 1997 and 2002, it dropped almost 4 points (from 16.5 to 12.6 per thousand), but between 2003 and 2008, only 0.4.

Bresca believes that “the technological advances helped to strongly reduce the rate, some time before it was unthinkable for a child who weighed 500 grams at birth to live, but also social causes influence. Sometimes a baby leaves the hospital to go back to a house where they don’t have all the conditions they need.”

On the other hand, Saracco thinks that the factors which operate as obstacles to accelerating the reduction of infant mortality are “the increase in teenage pregnancy, the short time between one pregnancy and the next and mothers who are over 40 years. “

Mendoza is three points below the national average. But if we compare it with other countries, things are not very positive. “In Chile, is 7 per thousand”, say Conin Foundation.

We work with a maternity hospital in Mendoza which covers all women’s health – neo natal, ICU, Obs and Gynea… Get in touch to see what kind of opportunities are available for you.

“Splash in Kandy” – White Water Rafting

July 27th, 2010 by Kavinda (Programme Manager - Sri Lanka)

There is plenty to see and do in Kandy – Kavinda, our Programme Manager in Sri Lanka filled us in on what his students had been up to at the weekend.

All ready to get stuck in

All ready to get stuck in

The Beginning of Month July had an unpredictable mixed weather situation. Both sunny and rainy. But the students didn’t hesitate to go out and explore. Mostly it’s on weekends they go out on different places.

Row! Row!

Row! Row!

Under the recommendation of my self and  I might have put the idea of white water rafting since I have personally had done white water rafting 4 times! The students were psyched about white water rafting  and decided on try it since none of them have ever done it.  All together there were ten students.

We reached “Kithulgala” at midday (two hours away from Kandy, famous for white water rafting in Sri Lanka). Every one was all strapped up with life jackets and helmets. The whole journey took 2 hours. Two hours of Adrenaline rush!

The water was so strong and it was more fun even though it was a bit Scary. The whole journey concludes Eight Rapids. One of the boats got toppled over which made the whole experience worth while. Even though it sounds scary. But in the End everyone enjoyed rafting. It was Good fun. And for most of the students it was one of the Highlights in their placement in Kandy.