Waduruppuwa is more than a name on a map to four people from the 樱桃视频Humanity Village Society (SHVS) now.
Peter Gordon, Patricia Heintzman, Coun. Jeff Dawson and John De Souza returned to BC last Friday (Feb. 18) after two weeks in Sri Lanka, and they're ready to take action in aid of Squamish's partner village in the tsunami-stricken island nation.
They first met with groups such as the Tsunami Task Force, a government-appointed organization set up to address the devastating repercussions for the estimated 1,000,000 people affected by the catastrophic event.
They then travelled south along the coast toward Waduruppuwa, passing the nearby town of Hambantota where as many as 10,000 people were killed.
"The city centre, the market and heart of the town's economy looks like a war zone," said Heintzman.
The group brought four large Tupperware containers of books to the city's school, attended by Waduruppuwan and other neighbouring children, and asked the principal for a list of what is most needed.
"The toilet situation is just appalling. It's basically just a pole and a wall so you just pee and defecate anywhere. So one of the things the principal asked for is at least just squat toilets or proper facilities," said Heintzman.
The representatives also met with their partners in the project, world-renowned World Conservation Union (IUCN) and well-established Sri Lankan business Linea Aqua. Heintzman said the group gained confidence in Linea Aqua, which manufactures goods for companies such as Speedo and Victoria's Secret, after touring the facilities that employ roughly 1,700 Sri Lankans.
"It's nothing like the Third World sweatshops you hear about in Indonesia," she said. "Employees are well treated, well paid for their circumstances, so they've got very high ethics."
The project will encompass social sustainability, for example rebuilding houses, schools and hospitals; economic sustainability such as diversifying and rebuilding their main fishing industry; and environmental sustainability such as replacing wiped out mangroves.
Once in Waduruppuwa, the SHVS team spent several days assessing the damage to homes, fishing boats and environment, and talking to the villagers, most of whom do not speak English. Villagers have become more desperate and cynical, according to Heintzman, because numerous groups and individuals arrive vowing they'll help and never deliver on their promise. But villagers were nevertheless "predominately unbelievably welcoming and very heart-warming," said Heintzman.
"We were talking to kids and we were asking them 'You guys are such a happy group, it's hard to believe that a tsunami hit.' And this one little boy just says 'Well, inside we're crying but we smile to make you feel welcome.' And it's like oh, wow. That gets you."
The tsunami damaged or destroyed almost all of the village's 164 homes and fishing boats, they're primary means of subsistence. Homes cost on average $3,000US and fishing boats $11,000US.
Heintzman says SHVS is hoping to fulfill its obligation to donors by cementing their society status by the end of the week, which will allow them to start spending funds. The next step is to provide villagers with a "significant cash and energy infusion" and gain the villagers' confidence.
