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Stories and cuisine from Sri Lanka to stir soul

It’s true it takes a village.
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It’s true it takes a village. Many of you have supported me over the past five years as I split my time between my home on Bowen and the daily grind of earning a living in Vancouver, to my volunteer work in Nepal, Bangladesh and more recently Sri Lanka.

Over the years, you’ve heard my stories of life in Nepal, my work in the immediate aftermath of the 2015 earthquakes there and the resilience of Bangladeshi ladies who thrive on small micro loans to better their children’s future. 

In October 2016, due to complications with my Nepali visa, I ended up in Sri Lanka, a place I would never have chosen given I’m not one for 40 C temperatures, high humidity and (to me) frightening creatures from the animal kingdom that slither, bite, sting … you get the picture.

I was hired to the VEGA/BIZ+ program as a business coach to small, family-run businesses looking to grow and become successful. My remarkable year saw me immerse myself in the lives of many in the Tamil community, a community ravaged by the decades-long civil war. 

The devastating effects of war are easy to see, not only in the remnants of bombed out buildings, but also in the hearts and minds of the ordinary people, the ones always caught in the middle. 

Come join me on Saturday, March 24 at the Annex at Cove Commons for an evening of storytelling, lots of chat, delicious Sri Lankan food (not too spicy, I promise!) and a few Sri Lankan foodie items to buy. The evening will also be a fundraiser to educate Nepali kids with spinal cord injuries – a cause close to my heart. Donations are encouraged.

Tickets are $20 and are on sale now at The Gallery, Cove Commons. If you haven’t checked out the Cove Commons yet, then you are in for a treat. What a stunning venue! Hope to see you all on March 24.