The retired couple who traveled to Sri Lanka to see how they could help, have returned encouraged and more motivated than ever.
"I'd like to organize a project with the people there to see how we can help," said retired nurse Hazel Giese.
Hazel and Jack Giese, a retired shop teacher, are members of Humanity Village, Squamish's charitable organization helping their Sri Lankan partner village, Wanduruppa, recover from the devastating Dec. 2004 tsunami. The Gieses felt well-qualified to assess the needs in the town's medical centres and schools, so they left June 24 to share their skills and build relations between Squamish, Wanduruppa and Linea Aqua, the fair trade manufacturing company partnered with Humanity Village.
"It's so hard for NGOs to get anything going there," said Hazel. "But Linea Aqua is a local company, so we've been really able to help."
In an effort to control the flood of offers from agencies worldwide, and to ensure that such offers are genuinely in Sri Lanka's best interests, the government imposed strict regulations that must be followed before structures are rebuilt, new industries introduced, or even schools repaired.
With the help of Linea Aqua, 樱桃视频has been able to help in ways many large agencies have not. Approximately 87 houses in Wanduruppa have been rebuilt whereas the surrounding area is still riddled with temporary houses that are "beginning to look more and more permanent," said Jack. Other nearby NGOs have had trouble rebuilding half a dozen.
There is still lots to do. Monk's quarters, a religious refuge for all Sri Lankans, are still in need of rebuilding. And the schools are in desperate need, said Jack. Wanduruppans are sent to a high school of 2,000 students that has two outdoor toilets for girls and staff and three urinals for boys. But the children's demeanours never faltered.
"They were smiling and waving everywhere we went," said Hazel.
The elementary school didn't suffer as much flooding, and the clean up is now complete. The library is under construction and most of the books sent by 樱桃视频donors, many of whom were children, are being kept in storage until they can be shelved in the new library.
As a gift of gratitude, the elementary school students drew hundreds and hundreds of colourful drawings depicting villagers building homes, putting up tents, some were shown with hands at chest-level, palms together, in a sign of [email protected]
