GECKO INC LOCAL SCHOOL VISITS

The Gecko Inc. thought that it would be good to build up a relationship with a nearby local school. One not even 2 minutes away from colombo. As a group we travelled there two times in the hopes of being able to communicate and teach local students. To our surprise we were greeted by the cricket team training at that time. This was an unfamiliar situation and both our group and the cricket team felt a bit uneasy. We decided that this session we would have the cricket team try and teach us some basic throwing, catching, and batting skills of the game of cricket. This was definitely a risk to take for most of us as communicating with local boys older than us didn't particularly fall under our comfort zones. An amazing job was done by Jack, who went off on his own to talk privately with two of the cricket players the entire session and learn more about the sport without being shy or holding himself back. This was definitely a good example for everyone to follow. This session was simply to introduce ourselves and get familiar with the school. The second time we went we were again, only given time with the cricket team. But this time we decided to split up into mixed teams and play games of football and frisbee. We really felt as if we had the potential to build up a relationship with this school and wanted to invite them to the OSC campus for the next session. 

Here are some pictures of the second session taken by myself

Although, the next session, our hopes of being able to build a relationship with this school were put down when we did not get a visit from the group we'd been working with, but from the principle and athletic director. 

They came bearing a list of equipment and decorations that they wanted us to buy for them for an event they had coming up, prices on the list added up to over 200,000rs. 

Of course we did not agree to this request and decided to cut off communication with this school and try and move on to a new one. This was a disappointing yet great lesson for everyone in the group. To teach us how certain actions we may see as helpful, can be perceived very differently from the other side. Which is why now we are working on finding a new local school with which we can do educational and fun physical activities with for the remainder of the semester.