KSL Community (Impacting Education, Kiting & Environment)
Sri Lanka and its people are beautiful. The warm smiles of them are something you would rarely experience anywhere else in the world. The kids, the fishermen, the shopkeepers will all talk to you. Be your friend.
The beauty of the island, even a rural village like Kandakuli is teaming with natural beauty. Kalpitiya is home to very unique eco systems. If lucky, you might be kitesurfing with dolphins and the endangered dugongs!
KSL just does not want to be a business venture. While we want you – our friends to have an experience of a lifetime, we also want to see our community benefit. We want to see people’s lives changed for the better.
‘Try to leave this world a bit better than you first found it’ – Baden Powell, Founder of the Scout Movement
Education
Though kids go to school, research reveals that there is lacking in key career skills amongst Sri Lankan – namely Skills in English Language, Information Technology and Career Skills.
KSL will get involved in the following way :
- Activity Based Career Skills Workshop for Youth
- Seek sponsor to fund Computers of Schools/ Individuals
- Guest speakers to talk and encourage Youth on topics such as Careers & Life
We would encourage you to be part of this by :
- Gifting some Educational Books/ Tools to kids (even a notebook and pen is a huge gift!)
- Take time off kiting to be part of a workshop (Morning 8 – 10 AM)
- Help to donate a computer to a School/ Individual
Kiting
With Dilsiri from KSL & Faith team being the first Sri Lankan to take part in International Competition; it’s now KSL passion to see more Sri Lankans participate in a competition in 2013. Already Ajmal has shown not only commitment to the sport, he also is a great example of a balanced youth in Kalpitiya pursing his educational aspirations.
Though we don’t have the financial capability to support him fully, we continue to help him in whatever way we can. We believe in the power of dreams. We are confident that he will take part in 2013 with the support of our friends.
- Sponsorship of a Kite Board
- Funds to get him for KTA competition
- Funds for his education and construction of his home
Environment
Kalpitiya is rich natural beauty. Sadly much of the beaches, lagoons are slowly being polluted. Awareness will be a key tool through which we will change the mindsets of persons.
- Guest speakers to talk on the need to environmental stewardship
- Encouraging the 3 R – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (Applicable for KSL as well)
- Leading through example – one on one with community
Tentative Calendar for Key Programmes for Kite Season 2013
| Month | May | June | July | August | September | October |
| Special Programme | Creative Art Workshop for Kids | Career Skills Workshop | Talk on Environmental Stewardship | Creative Art Workshop for Kids | Career Skills Workshop | Talk on Environmental Stewardship |
Some images from 2012
Our guests visited the pre school often. The children as well as themselves were touched. Its always a special experience to share the joy with others. Since our scheduled transport departs at 10 AM it gives an ideal opportunity for volunteers to visit the school and then go for kiting.
Kitesurfing was represented for the first time at the Sri Lanka Sailing Nationals as an exhibition event during the closing ceremony. Though the event was planned a month in advance, it was postponed due to bad weather. The call to postpone benefited the Kitersurfers as we had some amazing wind last evening in Panadura. It was the first time Kiting was done on the seas of Panadura! Thanks go out to the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka and to the kiters from Kalpitiya – Ajmal and Mawfeel; Bentota – Upul and ‘Baba’ and support by Clywd, Susantha from the KSL team and long time kiter and watersports enthusiast Julian Bolling. Hopefully we would see a annual kiting event taking place at the next national event.
This post is also available in: French