Amy Yates (UK)

January 2004

"It's 7.30am. I'm tired and if I was at home I'd put my alarm on snooze and go back to sleep for another half an hour. But I'm not; I'm in Sri Lanka! I can't believe it; I'm in Sri Lanka. I made it!!!! The sounds out side are so loud, the birds, the crickets, so many other weird and wonderful creatures, I don't know what they are.

My first day. I roll out of bed, my normal routine would be to shower, put on my make up, blow dry and straighten my hair and then off to work. But who cares, no one out here cares what I look like, and it's quite refreshing to be able to throw on some clothes scrape my hair back and voila, I'm ready.

So off we trek. From our bungalow that has instantly become our home for a month, down a dusty little path and over a bridge to where we met the mahouts (the elephant handlers). Our instructions to work with elephants were simply do not go near them with out a mahout. Which I felt was a fair rule. As although these 7 particular elephants are domesticated they are still wild and may react violently (although whilst I was there nothing of that nature ever happened).

Assigned to a certain elephant and mahout in pairs we went to meet them. I shared Somaliya with Nikki and Senavi was her mahout. Considering the closest I had ever been to an elephant before was at London zoo when I was 5, this truly was the single most amazing thing that I have ever done in my life. She was absolutely beautiful. So graceful, even though they are ridicoulsly heavy. I instantly loved her. Even though she was far more hairy than I had expected. Then quite rapidly I was bought straight back down to earth with a HUGE bang when Senavi pointed at Somaliya's dung and gestured to throw it over the bank of the river. Do you know how much elephant dung smells? And fresh, hot dung isn't that nice either. So with bare hands and trying (and failing) to hold my breath the whole time Nikki and I dove straight in. It was one of the worse things but if we weren't there then Senavi would have had to have done it himself. So the way I see it we were giving him a break and we were really getting into the swing of things, really and truly helping with his job. But after that came the greatest reward of all.

We walked behind Somaliya and Senavi to the river where we got closer to the elephants than you can ever imagine. Using a cut up coconut we washed and washed until she was sparkling clean. It was amazing, an experience I'll never forget, touching an elephant for the first time. She was quite rough from the amount of hair bit her actual skin was smooth and very tough. We were shown how to wash her, Senavi would get straight in there and scrub away but I was worried I'd hurt her. Which to be honest is a silly thing to think as their skin is over 3.5cm thick, it probably felt like a tickle to her. So now she was ready for a day of tourist rides and lazing in the river. If you ask me a very nice relaxed life.

As for us, the rest of the day is used up by attempting to clear leaves and more dung from around the elephants bed. It's a slow job, but something that has to be done so that ultimately concrete can be laid to stop the elephants from standing on wet leaves and getting foot rot. Not only was this a priority but there were other things to do. Pilling the leaves for the elephants tea, making vitamin balls for them, making sure they got their medicines. The work here is endless. However, we always found time to have a bit of fun. Playing volleyball with Chandana (he pretended he wasn't very good but he was the best) and embarrassing myself totally as I was SO bad. Which became obvious when no one would pass to me! When volleyball became too energetic we turned to chequers. We were playing to the rules that we knew but I think the mahouts cheated us as they kept changing their own rules. Cheats! That's what I say.

After a hard day of work and play there's nothing like washing an elephant again to finish off the best days of my life. This has been the most amazing experience. And although I can explain to people and try and make them understand what I went through, you will never gain the experience and friendships unless you do it too."

Tammy Tipper (London, UK)

January 2004

"I wanted a change of scenery and this is certainly what I got when I packed my bags and left the big smoke and my design job for a month in the jungle! I have always had a passion for elephants and have dreamed of working with them and to learn more about them, so after researching into volunteer projects at the independent travellers world exhibition, I saw this project and knew straight away it was for me. After getting together and meeting volunteers on the flight from Heathrow, arriving in Sri Lanka was definately a culture shock. The first trip in a taxi was manic. They overtake in rows over there! The poverty stood out to me immediately, but although it is part of the third world, the country is beautiful. There is so much greenery and stunning scenery.

We all have a farewell photo with Pooja

Arriving at our home for the next month was so exciting, as we drove over the river in the taxi we could see our future friends in the river bathing. I hadn't seen an elephant up this close since I was 8 years old in Busch Gardens in Florida, and certainly not in this kind of environment. ...And I was going to get closer!!

For the rest of the first day we made ourselves at home in our own little bungalow by the rice paddy field, setting up our bedrooms and hanging up our mozzy nets and good luck cards and photos. The immediate location also home also to a mongoose, various geckos and frogs and dogs, a monitor lizard and a snake who lived in the hill next door!

The next morning I awoke to the sounds of the jungle which continued to have me in awe every morning; So far removed from the sound of cars and aeroplanes! We met the mahouts down by the river at 7.30am and were assigned our elephant to work with over the next four weeks. Mine was Menike, the old lady of the bunch, a beautiful creature, sadly now passed away. I'm glad I got the opportunity to spend the time with her.

Over the next four weeks we became familiar with our routine. In the mornings we would get up and meet the mahouts down at the river ready to prepare the elephants sleeping area for the next night's sleep by removing all the old palm leaves and dung - yes we used our bare hands to chuck the dung at first until someone made us aware there were gloves in the museum! We rapidly formed a big list of things to do with dung, mostly involving sports, such as dung baseball, dung shot, dung bowling, ...you get the idea. 'Palm leaf Javelin' was also a good one! We would follow our mahout and elephant to the river ready for bath time where we'd get up close and personal and wash them with coconut husks following visual instructions from our mahout. To see an elephant this close was truly amazing, to see each hair on their head, to see the way they blink and react to things, it was almost as if you could tell what they were thinking. They seemed to enjoy being scrubbed, being pampered is not a bad way to spend an afternoon afterall!

The middle of the day was spent tidying up the sleeping area further and using our initiative to make improvements to the foundation. Our contributions included painting a set of chairs, one for each elephant. We produced fact sheets for each elephant which we got laminated and attached to each chair to educate the tourists on the history and traits of the elephant residents. The whole process I found to be a great challenge as what could take an hour or so at home to do could take 3 days over there as the pace of life is so much slower!

Afternoons were fun! We had elephant treks and elephant showers and really began to got to know the personalities of each elephant! And the longer we'd been there and the closer we began to bond with the mahouts, the more water fights we'd have and the occasional game of volleyball. I also got to eat my dinner by hand with the mahouts in their little hut one day. They pick ingredients like coconuts and jack fruits from the surroundings and cook in a pot over a fire! At first we were so fascinated by their native ways and stood in amazement watching them wash in the river.

The day ended with an outdoor shower, (such a refreshing change!) and our dinner over the road at the Club Concept resturant. 'That table' became so familiar, as did banana fritters which I will really miss! The bananas in Sri Lanka are so tiny and sweet.

We did get the weekends to do some traveling, during which we visited the ancient cities, Unawatuna beach and did the Adams peak climb to see the sunrise! The whole experience and the friendships I made will stay with me for the rest of my life. I could tell you so much more, but I will end by saying go and experience it for yourself, it's such a good feeling!

Nikki Greening (Guernsey)

January 2004

As a break from my 9-5 job i booked to go and work with elephants in Sri Lanka for a month.  In January 2004, i met up with other excited volunteers at Heathrow who had also opted to escape England for sunny Sri Lanka.

On arriving in Sri Lanka it was a complete culture shock.  The roads were crazy - cars, tuk tuks and buses everywhere!  The heat was incredible and the scenery so different with high green mountains, dusty roads and little dirt shacks along the roads.

It took us a good 3 hours(can't remember if it was 3 or more!!!)to arrive at our home for the next 4 weeks, The Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF).  Not knowing what to expect from our accomodation we were pleasantly suprised when we were shown to a bungalow tucked away in the corner overlooking a lush paddy field.    After settling in we set out to have a look at our home for the next month.  Walking across the bridge we looked down into the river and saw our friends we would later come to adore, the elephants.  At this time we did not know their names, their little habits and traits but all the same it was an incredible sight. 

Our first morning, on getting up at 7.00am and arriving down to the river we were introduced to the mahouts.  We were split into pairs and given an elephant to look after.  Luckily, on reading some information sheets on the elephants, myself and Amy were given Somaliya, a very subdued natured, nice elephant compaired to Menike (Jenny & Tammy's elephant) who is prone to bouts of diahorrea.

As we followed our mahout, Senevi, to Somaliya's sleeping area we did not know what to expect.  it sounds silly, but you do not realise how big these mammals are until you come face to face with one.  As part of our morning routine, we learnt we had to clear her bedding which included the palm leaves she had had for the previous evenings meal - and then realisation came that yes the dung had to go too.  It is not like a dogs poop when you get the old pooper scooper out.  The first day we had to do this with our bare hands until they finally decided to mention there were gloves on offer.

After clearing the bedding we follow Somaliya and Senevi down to the river.  After a few Sinhalese commands from Senevi, Somaliya starts to slowly bend her legs and flops to one side, making a mini tidal wave in the river.  Armed with a coconut husk we trapse into the water and start to splash water on Somaliya and scrub away.  I think this is the time that you realise that this is better than any office job you will ever encounter.

Settling into MEF was easy.  We had our meals at Club Concept, the restaurant over the road.  Our mornings and early evenings consisted of bathing the elephants.  Mostly in the evening we had the chance to ride the elephants.  This usually involved an elephant shower before riding on them to collect their food and taking them to their sleeping areas.

After more and more time we started to settle in and realised what else we could do to help.  Chairs on the decking by the river were our next project, stripping and painting them and having information sheets put on them regarding the elephants.  Other little things like making membership packs was a way of helping this little Foundation.

Not only were we becoming friends with the elephant but we were communicating with the mahouts.  They did not speak much English but nevertheless we ate with them, laughed with them and met most of their families.  Gradually we realised that it was going to be very hard to leave this place.

And it was, myself, Harriet and Amy were off to another project in Colombo but it was home time for Tammy and Jenni.  Having had such a great experience in these 4 weeks and made some good friends at MEF, we vowed to come and visit again in a months time.

On the second time round it was still as great as the first although this time i had to say goodbye for good.

I don't think i will ever forget my experience at MEF.  Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to have someone ask "How do you bathe an elephant?" knowing that i am one of the majority that actually has.

I think Sri Lanka is one of the prettiest places i have visited.  It has everything you are looking for, beaches, ancient cities, the hustle and bustle of big towns.  Every town is different to the next so you will never get bored.  Definately a place to add to your places to visit list!!

Harriet Butcher (UK)

January 2004

I will never forget the time I spent at the Millenium Elephant Foundation (MEF). It was an unforgettable experience from the cooking lessons with the Mahouts to the elephant showers.

As a volunteer I got to help the Mahouts (elephant handlers) with the daily care of the elephants. This would include washing them in the river using coconut husks (many a water fight was had!), clearing their sleeping area of dead leaves and dung, collecting and counting palm leaves for their food for the night, making vitamin balls and feeding them to the elephants, asssiting in any medical treatment and helping with any projects.

However it was not all work and no play. Time was also spent riding the elephants and receiving 'elephant showers'. This is where you sit on the elephant in the river and they spray you with water from their trunk.

Many an elephant safari was had, which would involve trekking off on the back of an elephant into the jungle or local village collecting food, eating king coconuts and exotic fruit. Cheering on your Mahout and elephant in an Elephant Race. Each volunteer is assigned an elephant and Mahout.

Getting to know the Mahouts and spending time with them was a wonderful experience, whether it was preparing lunch together in their hut, playing drafts, a game of volley ball, sharing photos or just sitting round chatting and joking.

MEF is a very special, beautiful place. I feel lucky to have been touched by some of its magic. I made some wonderful friends and enjoyed many  happy and funny moments. It was very hard to leave.

Charlotte Eaton (UK)

November 2004

I am currently halfway through a six-month placement at MEF. Work here is varied and very free; we are strongly encouraged to use our initiatives, and supported on projects we start. My elephant is Somaliya, and every morning I spend an hour cleaning her bed and washing her in the river with her mahout Senavi. We were quite shy initially but we have a laugh now and my responsibilities with Somaliya's care have grown. I usually spend a couple of mornings on the eco farm, a couple of mornings conservation-teaching, and teach English classes after-school. Before I came I knew little or nothing about any of these things. The time in between is spent fund-raising, making teaching resources, working on projects, or doing other manual work (at the moment MEF is building an elephant hospital, and MEF's vet is putting together an elephant skeleton). I have been out on one MVU (mobile veterinary unit), to check on the elephants at the Kegalle Perahera- a carnival type event with lots of dancers and elephants in costumes. We rode back to MEF on two of MEF's elephants and arrived at about 6am, having weathered a monsoon by holding a banana leaf over us, and stopping for tea (still on our elephants) at a roadside tea stand. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Everyday I see something new here. It is a beautiful and fascinating country and experiencing it as a volunteer is special. It is possible to get a much more subtle understanding of what goes on and why. The people are as varied as the country.

One of the first things that struck me on my arrival at M.E.F. was the variety of projects that I could get involved in. As well as the daily upkeep of my elephant (e.g.: clearing the soiled bedding, taking the elephant down to the river to be bathed) I had the opportunity to take part in the various fund-raising projects, help out with the Eco-Farm Program, assist the vet in assembling a complete elephant skeleton for display at the museum, provide labour in the construction of the on site elephant hospital or take on some of the responsibilities in the volunteer office. We also had the chance to teach English to some of the local children at nearby schools in the area - it was evident that none of the volunteers would not get bored on the placement.

James Elsmore (UK)

November 2004

Looking back on my three months at M.E.F. I realise that I have had many experiences that will live in my memory for the rest of my life; one incident in particular had a very profound effect on me and that was when my elephant Karuna passed away through old age. It was an extremely moving few days watching such a huge and beautiful animal growing weaker by the day but at the same time it was comforting to know that she was in the best place possible and being cared by a team of staff and experts who worked round the clock to ensure that her last few hours were as comfortable as possible. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have been part of that team. Having lived and worked at M.E.F. for three months I experienced first hand how important such an organisation like this is to the country's indigenous wildlife and also how important a volunteer's role is in the continuation of the foundation.

Vikki Meakin (UK)

November 2004

Volunteering at MEF has allowed me to do so many more things than I ever imagined!

The favourite part of my day is the early morning, when I wash my elephant, A Menike. Despite the piles of smelly poo that always greet us, it is always lovely to see her and I like to think she is getting to know me!

As A Menike is quite elderly I have become involved in some of the other care that she needs. On a daily basis I collect leaves for her to eat, and three times a week I help with her foot rot treatment. MEF is a very hands on place so I get to do a lot more than just watch, and regularly administer the medication that she needs.

The next part of my day never follows an exact pattern and in the two months I've been here I've been involved in building an elephant hospital, clearing elephant beds, planting an eco garden and fund raising for initiatives that MEF is involved with. It's really lovely to be able to say to new volunteers, 'I helped build that drain' or 'I planted those beans'.

My afternoons are taken up with teaching in local temples - a great way to get to know the community and find out even more about Sri Lankan life.

In between the work there is always plenty of time for fun and I have been lucky enough to have numerous elephant rides and showers. There is also an excellent community of volunteers working here, so there is always someone to talk to or sit and play cards with.

I can't wait for my final month at MEF to provide even more unique experiences and know I will find it very hard to leave when the time comes.

Stephanie Oates (UK)

November 2004.

As a volunteer here at the Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF), I feel I have experienced a different side to Sri Lanka than I would have had I been a normal tourist; and for that I am extremely thankful. No being herded about on package tours or being ripped off at every opportunity - although that does still happen occasionally! Instead we have been introduced to the local culture from a local point of view. From eating the indigenous fruits and nuts with the mahouts to traveling on local public transport, having the inside info on where the best market stalls are and visiting the local temple on Poya day and having ringside seats at the perahera. You also feel like you get a bit more respect from the locals, which is nice, although it still doesn't stop them staring at you! The people who live and work at MEF have done everything they can to ease me into life (and hard work) in a new country, and as a result I feel completely at home here. The work is certainly hard but it's varied too and you can get involved with a multitude of different projects - currently including building a hospital for the elephants, planting seeds and looking after crops on the eco-garden, office work, a proposal for bio-gas installation and teaching. And if you have your own ideas about how to make the place better, they are always listened to and any help that you need to carry out these ideas is given where possible. The best thing about being a volunteer is of course, working with the elephants! They are amazing creatures and they all have their own personalities for you to get to know. I have felt privileged to be able to work with them every day. And whilst I have been working all week, it hasn't prevented me from going away at weekends to see all the sites that Sri Lanka has to offer. Finally, volunteering has allowed me to meet a great group of like-minded people to travel, work and relax with. To be honest, I couldn't have asked for a better experience.