It is one month since the devastating tsunami hit the shores of Sri Lanka. Yesterday's full moon (POYA - a sacred day in Buddhist culture) holiday, one lunar cycle since the full moon of 26th December, was a sombre occasion. The sense of shock and bewilderment is still acute for many, particularly the young and old. There remains a huge weight of grief over the island. Tales of personal and familial loss, terrible destruction, lives and livelihoods washed away in seconds are countless. It will take many months before all the physical damage can be rectified. The emotional healing will take far longer and for many may never come.
But hope exists. Within hours of the disaster Sri Lankans were mobilizing their efforts to help as the full scale of the disaster became apparent. Both here and abroad new groups sprang up to help, shouldering much of the burden of keeping people alive, providing essentials and of course raising funds to help for long-term projects. The fact that the worst-case scenario of widespread epidemics and/or mass hunger has been avoided is, in a very large part, thanks to these groups.
Around the world the outpouring of humanity, generosity and willingness to help has set new landmarks in how we, as a race, respond to those in need. To witness this from within Sri Lanka has been very uplifting. From our hearts, we at Friends of the South would like to thank all of you who have offered your support to us, whether through financial donations, organizing fundraising events, volunteering your services or in many other ways.
For those who do not know us we were legally established in Sri Lanka in mid-2004 with the remit to improve the livelihood of local people living in the south of the island.
We are a volunteer group managed by a board of 7 friends (4 expatriate and 3 Sri Lankan) living in and around Galle. We started work towards our mission straight away and since the tsunami have been very busy.
We initially focused on the areas of most need and provided urgent financial assistance to a group in Galle set up by expatriates and tourists. This group, Project Galle, responded immediately and within a short time became a central point for aid (food, medicine) distribution and 'well-cleaning' in the area. We are proud of what they have, and continue to, achieve.
As it became apparent that many new organizations like Project Galle had sprung up all the way along the coast, we realized we needed to revise our remit of trying to cover the whole southern province. We have now re-focused closer to home in the Galle area, where our network of contacts and local knowledge is strongest. Over time we may revise this depending on the situation on the ground.
Whilst there still exist pockets of 'first stage' need in the Galle area, this initial phase is largely passing and moving into the second stage - that of getting peoples' lives back to normal. We are now focused on this vital part of the recovery process.
Details can be found on www.friendsofthesouth.org but to outline, you (via your kind support to FoS) are involved in a variety of school/educational projects: provision of books/pens/uniforms, reconstruction of school premises; projects to help small businesses: electricians, carpenters, tailors, tuk tuk (taxi) drivers, restaurants. All of these people had lost their means of supporting themselves but by being able to re-supply their tools of trade you have given them back their dignity and set them up once again. We are currently studying projects to help the fishing industry and get the local fleet back out to sea and once a piece of land is released by the Gov't we will be funding a boat builder enabling him to re-start his business. When new / repaired boats are ready we intend to help fishermen with the costs and get them fishing again.
Everything we do, we try to do via Sri Lankans, encouraging them to strive for themselves. We are not here to change anything - that would be arrogant - but we are here to help lift spirits so that the local population can help themselves. All of this we are achieving thanks to your support.
The work is far from over - in fact it's hardly begun - and reconstruction efforts will take years. Once the Gov't has announced its areas of focus we will make it our job to seek out those left behind and as such, continue to plug holes in the larger aid movement.
We will do this by continuing to work through local organizations, contacts and friends with local knowledge and local cultural awareness to channel donations as efficiently as possible to people who need it. We are a volunteer group of friends with a mission to give something back.
Friends of the South was here before the tsunami and will still be here long after but we would not achieve anything without your support. Thank you for everything you have given thus far and please continue to give it. All details can be found at www.friendsofthesouth.org and you can email us at friendsofthesouth@yahoo.co.uk
Where possible UK taxpayers should contribute on line through a close associate www.thewebofhope.com allowing FoS to benefit from gift aid that enhances your donation by 28%. Please continue to help us help local people out here. Thank you.
With best wishes,
The Board of Friends of the South
Robert Drummond
Jack Eden
Nasar Hussain
Para Dias Jayasundera
Ulla Maschberger
Olivia Richli
Bindu Wickramasekara
