Tsunami: One Year On

It's almost a year on since the tsunami and for many the 26th December is going to be a very tough day. The village I worked in has some lovely plans for the day to remember all those that were lost. For them it will be a day of mourning but also a day to start looking ahead.


There is still a huge amount to be done there, and they still need donations to help them rebuild their lives. FINALLY they have a very simple online payment system up and running. If you'd like to give a little to help them move on just press the 'Donate Now' button on the home page of the website, it only takes a couple of minutes.

www.unconditionalcompassion.com.

I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to those of you that have donated this year, whatever the amount - a little goes a long way there. Keep looking at the website to see how your money is being spent. Recent donations have continued to help the villagers in Seenigama, and on top of this the charity has started to spread its aid to those in the neighbouring villages. Currently the website cover story is all about the sports project I set up, and Steve Waugh / Kapil Dev's visit to launch it last week.

Below is a recent update that's been sent to the press about the damage caused last year and how the Foundation of Goodness is helping the villagers to move on. This is where your money has gone and will continue to go, contributing to the amazing work that Kushil and his charity have accomplished this year.

I guess it's the season to take stock, appreciate what you have and help those who have nothing.

I hope you all have a good Christmas.

Press update

The village of Seenigama is near Hikkaduwa, 96km south of Colombo and just north of Galle. Seenigama sits in one of the worst tsunami affected areas in Sri Lanka, and is 500m along the train tracks from the tsunami train in neighbouring village Pereliya. With coverage of the tsunami anniversary being current we wanted to make you aware of an incredible Sri Lankan run charity set up by Kushil Gunasekera who was born in Seenigama. Kushil has a successful sugar business in Colombo and is the manager of famous Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, but has dedicated this last year to Seenigama and has donated his house there to the village.

The charity is called the Foundation of Goodness and is unique in the area as it has rebuilt in ways villages in other areas of Sri Lanka are still unable to. This is due to the drive of Kushil and also to the lack of dependence on aid from the government or NGOs. The Foundation of Goodness works through individual and group donations so they are able to move quickly without the frustrating bureaucracy of the NGOs. The Foundation was set up 6 years ago to help the poorer people of Seenigama, but since the tsunami it has increased its work to help the village and surrounding areas (such as Pereliya) to recover from the terrible devastations last year. The Foundation is staffed by local villagers.

The tsunami damage was immense:-

§ the waves came inland an astonishing 2km

§ 10% of the villagers were killed, sadly a lot of children and elderly people who could not swim or fight against the forces of the wave

§ the houses in the 100m zone were destroyed and hundreds of others were badly damaged

§ 1500+ people were killed on the tsunami train, many from Seenigama as after the first wave they ran to the train for safety but tragically the second wave tossed the train into the jungle and many perished

The rebuilding work has been incredible, particularly as so many other Sri Lankans still live in camps or temporary houses. There has also been a lot of work to provide new livelihoods and employment opportunities. Previously 90% of the villagers practiced illegal coral mining (this has been going on for 100 years), which was one of the reasons the wave had such an impact as there was no reef protection:-

· 226 houses have been completely rebuilt with electricity, 200 partly damaged houses have been rebuilt, 65 houses are under construction, and 209 more houses are in the planning (all in Seenigama and surrounding villages)

· over 400 people have been provided with new livelihoods (i.e. new 3-wheelers, new fishing equipment, new sewing machines, coir yarn spinning equipment, shops rebuilt, and many more)

· new industries have been set up - a cement block factory, a brush block factory, and coir yarn business, and handicrafts centre, with more ideas on the way such as a garment factory.

On a less immediate level other projects are underway to try to help the lives of the villagers particularly the young people. The Foundation runs computer, English, and handicrafts classes plus has a children's library, a paediatric clinic, a maternity clinic, and a medical clinic. They run play sessions for kids with drama and art therapy to help them move on from the tsunami as many of them lost siblings and best friends as well as parents, grandparents and other family members. They also run bigger projects to encourage participation in village life such as Seenigama Sports:-

§ a project run by the Foundation with funding from Laureus Sport for Good Foundation

§ 8 sports are played within this project which involves over 1500 young people locally, offering them hope and rebuilding their confidence

§ each month 3 sports competitions are organised for 7 of the local villages and schools in the Seeenigama area

§ last week cricketers Steve Waugh and Kapil Dev visited Seenigama to officially launch Seenigama Sports

§ the project was pioneered by Ian Botham who will be visiting again in the new year

These are just some of the highlights of the Foundation of Goodness's work. For further information please check out the website:

www.unconditionalcompassion.com.