A retired couple has travelled to Wandaruppa to see how they can help, and with the cumulative wisdom they bring, that help could be tremendous. Jack and Hazel Giese are members of Humanity Village, Squamish's charitable organization helping their Sri Lankan partner village, Wandaruppa, recover from the devastating Boxing Day tsunami.
The Gieses left Friday, June 24 to share their skills and build relations between Squamish, Wandaruppa and Linea Aqua, the fair trade manufacturing company partnered with Humanity Village.
"One of the most beautiful aspects of this particular endeavor is that we have these people who are responsible, capable, compassionate on the ground," said Humanity Village Chair Patricia Heintzman. "We know exactly where every penny of our fundraising and contributions are going to and they're as equally committed to this long-term sustainable holistic vision that we have for this community."
The couple also brings a wealth of knowledge and wisdom in the crucial areas of education and medicine. Chair of the 樱桃视频Humanity Village Society's Health committee and an active member of our Board of Directors, Hazel has been an active community member in the health services industry in 樱桃视频for decades. In her 30 years as a Registered Nurse at 樱桃视频General Hospital, a small community hospital with multiple services including emergency, surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics, Hazel has been a home care nurse, staff nurse, supervisor, head nurse and the clinical services coordinator in charge of day-to-day operations of the acute care hospital and extended care facility. She has also been a primary care nurse in the far reaches of the Canadian North and is a past coordinator of Big Brothers & Sisters, Squamish. Hazel brought fetal heart monitors and basic hospital supplies to help the two doctors and seven nurses treat 60,000 people.
Jack, An active member of our 樱桃视频Humanity Village Project's School Committee, is a retired teacher who was on staff for 29 years at local 樱桃视频high school, grades 8-12. During his long and outstanding career as an educator, Jack taught Industrial Education, Social Studies, Math & English. He holds both business & teaching degrees and he'll be visiting the high school that Wandaruppan children attend to assess the facility's condition. Humanity Village has already spent $10,000 upgrading water latrine facilities at the elementary school. The old system consisted of unsanitary holes in the ground for the 1,600 students. The project has also succeeded in repairing 87 damaged homes.
The couple will be in Sri Lanka for six weeks, returning August 8.
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