On Thursday April 6th our US Peace Corps service group travelled to Ingiriya to partake in a cultural exchange with the students there. The entire day consisted of a range of different activities that brought us and the children together, including some national games (smashing pots, eating buns, playing the drums, etc). Additionally, as a cultural exchange program the students along with the teachers displayed and demonstrated some of the customs and traditions of Tamil and Sinhalese cultures during the period of the New Year. Groups of students demonstrated the prayers during the period as well as the traditional foods that are cooked.

Repeating the drum rhythm challenge

Overall this was an exciting that both OSC students and students of Ingiriya were looking forward to after several months of discussions on Zoom. We were finally able to meet in person and fully participate in an exchange program while also donating hundreds of books to the school and school supplies.