Career. Giving. Love. Peter Eastwood’s Sri Lanka Project
- Linda Mackie
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
New Season with New Episodes - Eloquent Entrepreneur Podcast
After a bit of a hiatus, the Eloquent Entrepreneur podcast is back—and this season, we’re bringing you guests who are generous with their time, their talents, and their stories. People who care deeply, work creatively, and keep showing up for what matters most. That's what this show is about. And I can’t think of a better way to start than with Peter Eastwood.
Meet Peter Eastwood, Photographer and Mentor
Peter is a longtime friend, mentor, and creative spirit who’s done just about everything—from running a chain of hair salons in Hong Kong, to working as a commercial production designer, to photographing stories around the world. He’s someone who’s never been afraid to start something new when it called to him.
And now, in what some might call retirement (though he’s definitely not one to sit still), Peter is all in on a rebuilding project in Sri Lanka that’s about love, community, and legacy.
Why This Sri Lanka Project Became Peter Eastwood’s Legacy
It all started with a party. A 50th birthday trip in 2009 took Peter to a boutique hotel on the beach in Sri Lanka, where he met a young staff member named Wagisha. Their connection was instant. By the end of that trip, Peter had met Wagisha’s family and visited his grandfather’s land—lush, overgrown, and filled with the possibility of something more. That “something” turned into an eco lodge built with care and purpose... until Sri Lanka was hit with wave after wave of challenge: the Easter bombings, COVID, civil unrest.
Rebuilding a Life-Changing Eco Lodge
But Peter doesn’t quit. He’s now helping rebuild the lodge—not just as a place for travellers, but as a livelihood for the family he considers his own. His GoFundMe campaign sparked huge support, quickly raising 75% of what they need. The dream now? A sustainable, long-term future. Not just a place, but a home. Not just income, but education—for Wagisha’s three children, who call Peter their grandfather.
“We met Wagisha in 2009, and I’ve grown to love him like a son,” said Peter. “Now, Philip and I are surrogate grandparents to his children.”
This episode captures the heart of the Peter Eastwood Sri Lanka project and why it’s become such a meaningful part of his life.
From Uganda to Sri Lanka—A Life of Giving
In our conversation, we also talk about the other chapters in Peter’s life: the special needs education project in Uganda, his time documenting tsunami survivors along Sri Lanka’s coast, and what it means to keep going, even when it’s hard. Peter shares how watching his mother age with wisdom and grace reminds him that we don’t stop caring just because we get older—we just keep finding new ways to show up.
“My friend asked, ‘When are you going to stop?’ And I said, ‘Until I die,’” said Peter. “Because that’s what parents do. They support their children for as long as they possibly can.”
Why Peter’s Story Opens Our Season
And that’s the heartbeat of this season: showing up. Listening to that small nudge. Saying yes to one thing, then the next. Peter does it with humility, a camera, and a very big heart.
This is a story is about his career, giving and love. More importantly, however, it's about what can happen when you follow your gut to help people in this world.
Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts.
Available now on Spotify and Apple Music. Listen Now!
Learn more and support the eco lodge project at petereastwood.ca. You can learn more about Peter's fundraiser on GoFundMe.
Welcome back to the Eloquent Entrepreneur! Thanks for watching/listening.
Comments