SIX WEEKS now until I’m back in Sri Lanka.

There will be trekking, heat, humidity, aching legs and hips, blisters and, of course, wildlife.

Anyone who has read my earlier blogs, or visited Sri Lanka, will know that this relatively small island has an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. As I’ll be trekking through the highlands, I’m again expecting to encounter plenty of it.

At a recent talk, Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, a leading Sri Lanka wildlife expert, explained how Sri Lanka is one of the few places on Earth that offers such an incredible variety of wildlife: from ocean giants like blue whales to elusive jungle leopards and all within a few hours’ travel of each other.

On the trails I’ll be walking, there’ll be plenty of snake-life, definitely leeches, especially if it rains, exotic birds, beautiful flora and fauna, and perhaps even a leopard sighting as well as the difficult to locate rusty-spotted cat.

The snakes are probably what concern me the most, although my trekking guide, Sarath, is a reptile expert, which is quite reassuring.

Green Pit Viper

Colonies of wasps are also fairly high on my list of things I’d rather avoid.

So far, I’ve managed to avoid being bitten by a snake or stung by wasps, despite encountering both in rather dramatic ways – the story though could have been very different. The leeches, however, seem to regard me as a delicious mobile café. The feeling is definitely not mutual.

Mosquitoes are more of an irritation than anything else, but a good insect repellent applied at dawn and dusk usually keeps them at bay.

Then there are the elephants. I love seeing elephants in the wild. They are magnificent animals and one of the many reasons why Sri Lanka is such an extraordinary country to visit. I’m unlikely to see them on the highland trails during my upcoming walk though, but when you’re trekking in Sri Lanka, you never quite know what might appear around the next corner.

Sri Lanka is also a paradise for birdlife, and I’m hoping to see plenty during this trek; this time with a little more awareness and my new camera at the ready.

Unfortunately, my bird identification skills remain fairly limited, but between Sarath and my Merlin app I’ll soon know exactly what species I’m looking at, where it nests and probably what it had for breakfast. I’ll nod wisely and do my best to remember its name.

All of this is part of the adventure, along with the occasional feeling that I may have made a terrible mistake.

But the adventure isn’t the main reason I keep coming back.

Remembering Why I’m Doing This

In my last blog, I said I’d explain more about why I continue to return to Sri Lanka to trek, fundraise and raise awareness.

I love Sri Lanka – its people, landscapes, wildlife and the sheer variety of experiences it offers. But I also care deeply about the challenges faced by many girls and women there. Many have little control over their own futures simply because they are female. They often have fewer opportunities to develop vocational skills, access good work or achieve financial independence.

Only 31% of women compared to 73% of men participate in paid work in Sri Lanka. The reasons behind this disparity are complex and often disturbing. From a purely economic perspective, increasing female participation in the workforce is critical to supporting the country’s long-term growth. 

That matters to me.

I believe women and men should have equal opportunities, not because one is more important than the other, but because everyone deserves the chance to shape their own future. 

That’s why supporting basic human rights, education, training and employment opportunities for girls and women is so important. When a woman gains skills, confidence and the ability to earn an income, the benefits often extend far beyond her own life. She is better able to support her family, create opportunities for her children and contribute to her wider community.

One woman’s opportunity can create opportunities for many others when used well.

That was the message behind one of my earlier blogs, The Magic Multiplier: The magic multiplier – educate a woman, educate a  community and a generation – from an almost forgotten village in the tea plantation hills  where I share a real life example of how supporting village women can create benefits that reach far beyond their own lives.

One Step at a Time

This is why I continue to support projects that help vulnerable women and children in Sri Lanka, including the work of the Women’s Development Centre.

I know I’m not going to change the world simply by walking across Sri Lanka. But trekking allows me to see these places and communities for myself, to better understand the challenges they face, and to do something, whether that’s fundraising, writing about my experiences or supporting organisations already making a difference at grassroots level.

Sometimes the scale of the world’s problems can feel quite overwhelming. It’s easy to wonder: what difference can one person, or even a small group of people, possibly make?

But I don’t believe that’s a good enough reason to do nothing.

If everyone who cared about an issue did one small thing, those small actions could become something much bigger.

Yes, I’m looking forward to the challenge, being immersed in nature, the scenery and the adventure.

But a few weeks from now, I also hope to return with more stories, more photographs, more memories, and perhaps a little more evidence that choosing another trekking expedition instead of a relaxing holiday wasn’t such a ridiculous idea after all.

If female empowerment is a cause that interests you and you feel inspired to help, please visit my JustGiving page and help make a positive difference.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/marcia-summerstrekssrilanka