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Why
Green Hope The
tsunami diary
Donate | (to
French site) . For news before sept 26th 2005, read more from the French version of the diary |
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February 28th, 2006, Hikkaduwa - Pierre and Quentin A storm announces itself again…..the sky seems
made of tin, the air is white-hot…. It is not too late but
I need to write the Diary before the electricity is cut off by the
lightning and torrential rains. More than ever, we know we are in
the tropics… the seasonal rains approach every day…..cool
nights and heavy days. Christelle is in the Workshop, on the other side
of the small road. Since her return of Colombo, she works on new
orders from morning till evening. Yesterday evening, we saw her
as we passed, still working late, at nightfall, alone in the Workshop George and Renee left in the early hours today. We
shared together a very sweet week. They go back to France with seeds
which they will take to Cazouls to plant them with the schoolchildren.
They will have a lot of surprises when they see equatorial plants
budding!... Just before leaving, we went with George to make a last
small visit to the pre-school in Peraliya. The small peas and beans
begin germinating….As you were reading the Diary a lot of
you offered us seeds from France. On our return we shall
take them, so that every school will have a small garden "
in the French style ". As our friends say, more kitchen
gardens are needed in this country where everything grows terrifically
quickly, to allow everyone feed on vegetables from their own garden…. The work in Kumara Kanda begins this week,
a wall, toilets, the water reservoir, we wait for funds from our
friends in Fayence to start. The tailor passed by to take the measurements
of the children for the uniforms … In Narigama, this morning, at 10 h 23, Julie
laid the first foundation stone. The wall is almost finished. On
the ground, little sticks mark out both classes, the teachers' office,
the toilets. We can imagine the garden, and the games area. We are
constantly reminded of Carole and Dominique who plan this program. The repairs and the painting of the boat " Secouristes
Sans Frontières " will soon be ended. It will take back
to the sea….which is really so poor at the moment…..that
the cooperative bank of the fishermen had to give loans to the fishermen
so that they can nourish their families. Without the bank, for those
who do not depend on Green Hope, this aid is not possible. Kumara
hopes that, from next week, the fishing will get back on course. The small house for Irushi's family gets its roof
today, soon the plastering, painting, finishing, and the handing
over of the home, with a refrigerator and a gas cooker … It is boiling point in Morocola, with the last preparations. All the members of the Dodanduwa Sporting Club participate day and night so that everything is ready for 4 in morning, the beginning of the tournament which will see 32 football teams from all over the island facing one another. The President of the Football League of Sri Lanka announced that perhaps the president of the Republic may come to inaugurate the Stadium. The women of the Workshop sewed and gave two French flags which will be put on the facade of the Stadium. Just a few more days and we shall tell you all … February 24th 2006, Hikkaduwa
- Pierre et Quentin A trawler came back last evening with 3400 kg of fish, we expect
another from tomorrow, with around 4000 kg. The inauguration of the Morocola Stadium will take place on
March the 4 and 5th. The organisation committee of the Dodanduwa
Sporting Club is in great excitement; more than ten mayors have
announced that they will attend, as well as the officials from the
district of Galle. Apart from the shows, brass bands and concerts
announced, no less than thirty Sri Lankan football clubs will take
part in the opening tournament We had a visit from the association " Espoirs Sans Frontières ", which is coming to the end of its msiion regarding the sponsorship of children. It was an exhausting mission for Maritée and Odile, but they had the pleasure of a job well done. They came to visit us at tea-time yesterday. We were delighted to meet them, and remembered Annie, the Chairwoman, who would have liked to share this moment with us. Solange, Jean-Michel and Baudouin came to meet us also. For a long time we have known of their association: " Solidarité Asie en Pays de Fayence ". They proposed to us to become joint partners on a concrete, definite plan, and we went together to the new pre-school at Kumara Kanda. They will take care of the work of fencing for the site to give the children more security, building a toilet block, the work of renovation, painting, electricity, and development of a reserve of water. In the schools, lots is going on: In Kumara Kanda the teacher right away participated actively with the children in the workshop postcards. In Patuwatha, this morning, it was the children's market, a real market in the courtyard of the school, the children in traditional costumes who sold the produce of their garden as market gardeners. The families were there, everything was sold in an hour and the piggy banks were filled with small coins … In Peraliya, having cleared the vegetable garden with the children, George and the teacher taught the children to look after the seeds, how to water them, to watch them germinate, and not to trample on them. In a few days Renee and George go back to France with the Sri Lankan seeds for the School in Cazouls in the Hérault …
" One needs to grow in a gentle and measured
way. " Jacques Dupin. February 20th 2006, Hikkaduwa
- Pierre et Quentin Valée and Domi have finished working in the pharmacy, we know what our real needs are now. A lot of you have offered us help in medicines, and so you want to know exactly what is lacking. Very simply, we are giving you the list of medicaments and medical supplies, allowing that needs can still evolve: bandages, compresses, tape that
is resistant to humidity, betadine, physiological serum in individual
doses, betadine ointment, biafine, fucidine, flammazine, different
types of gauze, ointments, anti-inflammatories, analgesics, eyewashes. Coincidentally we have just made an agreement
with Srilankan Airlines which allows us, as from today, and
for a year with the possibility of renewal, in association with
Green Hope, a free extra cargo of five kilograms per person mandated
by our association. It is for us an important step to make for easier
cargo, and we sincerely thank Isabel who enabled this negotiation,
as well as Srilankan Airlines, a new partner of Green Hope. Hereafter also, the magazine distributed on their
flights, "Serenitude" will also give information on our
work, particularly the program of the next Festival organised by
Jean-Christophe.
Jean-Christophe had to go back to France, we know
he arrived ok; we already miss him and, from the beginning of July,
he will come back for the Festival with his team of French artists…..Christelle
continues preparing the next collection of the Women's Workshop. The houses are getting built, one of them is finished, two others soon, then a fourth. Irushi's house, of which we shared with you the foundation ceremony is waiting for a roof. The work of building the new school of Narigama, which will bring together in two classes the children from Tiranagama and Narigama, started with the cleaning of the ground yesterday and tomorrow its fence will go up.
Our old neighbour, whose bandages Domi was changing since her arrival, left us two days ago; we accompanied her to her final resting place yesterday with all the family. Her family were poor and did not have the means to treat her so we had developed the habit of visiting every evening to bring some relief and consolation….she smiled at us ….from this simple exchange, which would seem miserable to some…was born a real tenderness ….we loved her…
The big heat arrives with every passing say, skies of blue crystal or, heavy and grey, as tight as a drum ready to be torn by the storm … Dominique and Philippe of " Secouristes Sans Frontières " are back in France but not without a hitch, with an enforced two days stop over in Dubaï, their plane grounded for repairs. We often speak about them, and cannot forget their energy, self-giving, in competence and humility, and so generous … Valée and Domi continue arranging the pharmacy, so we shall very exactly be able to know what we are lacking, and draw up a list which we communicate to you. Julie together with Valée are working on postcards with the pre-school in Patuwatha, then the news of Kumara Kanda … Jean Christophe refines the technology and invitations for the next Festival which will take place in the villages at the beginning of August and on August 5th and 6th at the new Stadium of Morocola in Dodanduwa … We are in the final straight of the Stadium. Begun in October, it will be finished as planned on February 25th of this year. Everything works…we begin the painting of the building and some last finishing touches. Once again thank you to the AOS firm which has allowed this splendid achievement to take place. Christelle prepares the next collection of "Araliya Design" in the Workshop, with the embroiderers and those doing crochet. In a serious ambience bathed by the soft light coming through the palm trees in the garden……the contented peace of achievement……over a meal Christelle tells us about this simple and complete happiness of time shared together with the workers …
Yesterday, Dominique and her husband Lionel spent the day here. New delightful friends recommended by François in Colombo, who wished to dedicate some of their love to a Sri Lankan child. With Kumara we visited two families and Niluka was chosen…..You will soon read their story, a nice tale of this encounter at the crossroads of life … This morning its Renee and George who join us for
some days dedicated to Green Hope. We propose to them a plan which
has been close to our heart for a long time, " Kitchen Garden
Twinning " thought up by our friends in Cazouls. Renee
and George, with the children of the pre-school in Peraliya, are
going to sow the seeds given by the Marie Rouanet School in Cazouls.
On their return, they will bring seeds from here that the schoolchildren
there will plant…..a symbolic act, there will be young plants
here in Hikkaduwa, and there in Cazouls which will signify the fragility
of hope and its fertile strength into the future …
February 15th, 2006, Hikkaduwa - Pierre and Quentin
Arrived on Sunday afternoon, immediately crossed to share experiences with the present team, then the following morning early, in the school of Patuwatha, they trained all the teachers and the teachers aides, as well as a representative of the fishermen, in the action which save lives, in First Aid. An interactive training, illustrated by a projected slide show which enthralled the participants. Once the training was ended and the certificates conferred, we immediately left find the rest of the team, in the depths of the jungle, for the religious ceremony of the laying of the foundations of the future home of Irushi and the family. The house will be rebuilt in a month. Yesterday, we visited together the three houses rebuilt on the Galle Road after the Tsunami. The work advances well, all three will be finished before mid-March. Another home which was destroyed, was rebuilt thanks to the bank of the fishermen's' co-operative, and waits for its final coat of paint before being lived in. We also visited it with the re-housed family. Late in the afternoon, a projection of films on the Green Hope Festival of the last summer. When we arrived, the courtyard of the school was full. Jean-Christophe introduced two films shot by him, one of which was put together by Mathieu. First film was a moving one on the Festival, the other one, superb, was on the free Saturday classical dance classes. Then, the audience in the packed schoolroom could view all shows of the Festival. We began with the slide show from the " Plongeurs du Monde ". Yesterday evening, there were even more members of the public there. We are going to follow up with other projections in the future.
Coincidentally, the "Plongeurs du Monde " confirmed to us that they will conduct two new missions in January and November, 2007. And, during all this time, Valée and Domi continue classifying and arranging the chemist's shop, a huge job which begun with Thierry and Maud. Soon we shall know exactly what our needs are and we will not hesitate to inform you! Sophie, of the eyesight testing fame, sent us an e-mail: the French optic firm Charmant and the Mayor of Bassens confirmed to us their assistance on this initiative: A huge thank you from Green Hope to these new donors! We also received very good news from the Belgian delegation which managed to find new partners. News also from the delegation in Normandy which lets us know that the Rotary Club in Deauville has also becomes a partner of Green Hope. We shall be on May 12th with our friends in Normandie. On March 31st we are invited by the Solidarity class of the Collège d'Orange to a big celebration organised to raise funds for Green Hope. Enrica, of the Swiss delegation, succeeded in contacting an important Sri Lankan firm which would like to invest in our work. After some worries of health, Patricia, from the Alsace delegation, also wrote to us and continues on with the same energy to fight and work for our association….. Dominique, from the future Centre delegation returned to France, full of ideas for the weeks to come. We shall give you her contact details as soon as they are ready … " The worth of the person does
not reside in what they achieve, February 10th 2006, Hikkaduwa - Pierre et Quentin We have just come back from doing the tour of the seven Green Hope pre-schools with Valée and Domi. Thanks to a big collection from our friends in Var, the Home Care nurses from the Valley of Gapeau, from the team of the Villa Nova, a hospitalization unit for teenagers, and Kitou and Nini, Valée and Domi could equip every class with educational games, with art supplies, paints, pastels, stickers….for the workshops. Soon, they will finish with the children the postcards which will be sold in France by Julie, to support Green Hope. These funds also allows us to restock our pharmacy and we are soon going to put together new practical First Aid boxes for the boats and schools. The " Secouristes Sans Frontières " arrive on Sunday. On Monday, they will offer a one-day abbreviated First Aid course to all the teachers and teachers' aids as well as to a representative of the fishermen. Manjula, the glass-bottom boat operator, will also be present. Thanks to the " World of Asia ", the money made by this glass boat thoroughly of feeds his family, and this type of boat favours the resumption of tourism. On the public beach of Hikkaduwa, there used to be 70. After the Tsunami, they are no more than 24
Dominique trains her future Green Hope deputation in the Regional Center, checks the equipment, takes photographs and looks after the child she has sponsored, Namal. She lights up our small group by her good humour, her willingness, her exuberance. If you live in the region of Bourges, it will hereafter be much easier for you to have a direct contact with Green Hope. Jean-Christophe runs around continuously by bike, but also by tuk-tuk, looking for the technical equipment necessary for the next Festival, hiring things is expensive…he has become skilled at negotiation. He also meets future Sri Lankan artists, and is getting ready a projection of films accomplished during the previous Festival, for next Tuesday, in the Green Hope School at Patuwatha. Despite being so busy he has found the time to pick up the medication sent by Thierry, from Normandy, for the treatment of the diabetics diagnosed in the screening carried out by Maud and Thierry in October. A since thanks to the tourists from Normandie who agreed to carry this package in their luggage … As for Samarasinna, thanks to the nice spurt
of generosity which we spoke about in the special Diary entry, she
came back to see us with her parents yesterday, Valée and
Domi were able to tell us that she will leave from next Tuesday
with Asanka for an intensive check-up in the Apollo Hospital in
Colombo … February 2006, Hikkaduwa - Pierre and Quentin - special Page You are fantastic! After reading in the Diary the story of Samarasinna and her family you again answered the request of help immediately. Gisèle was first to react: " the words went from my eyes to my heart in a thousandth of second! I send a cheque, it will cover a month of treatment. ". At the same time, Annick and Michel wrote to us: " to answer your call: ' " if more than one of you could help out… ", we send enough this day for three months of treatment, with the very real participation of our daughter Cecil from her pocket money ". Delphine, Mary, Sinclair: " We have designed
a poster which we are going to put in our places of work…..we
will collect all the funds that we can to help her ". Delphine has since phoned us to announce that they had found a sponsorship solution. Thus thanks to Gisèle, our friends are able to get organized to start this sponsorship from next month. Thanks to Annick, Michel, Cecil, Green Hope can pay for the first three months of treatment. A sincere thanks for your faithfulness. And thanks to the website which allows us maintain this big support network.
Yesterday morning, a young family came to visit us. Both of them around twenty five years old , they brought us their 11 month old little daughter, Samarasinna, burnt badly three months ago by the oil lamp which lit their accommodation. In the face of this unbearable situation what could we do…..show them that we were there….. without a word, all gathered, in silence, faced with these parents in tears, worn out, at the end of their resources……in front of this little child, face covered with a balaclava out of which peeked an anxious look, the horribly burned body, a hand, so small…..lost……He unable to hold on to his job, sold his tuk-tuk to pay for the care …We could only take them in our arms, say to them that we were there, that we were going to look after the medical expenses, for as long as was needed, without limits. Thus the baby Samarasinna and her family joined the Green Hope tribe yesterday; we shall look after her and her parents. We have need of you, the treatment is going to cost around 35 euro a month…..more than one of you could help out…. Sophie and Michel left again after the eyesight testing on which they gave their all, as usual, with good will and generosity. You can read their account in the Diary. Jean-Christophe arrived yesterday, he presented us with a very nice documentary film on the Green Hope Festival of last August: Starting this morning, he goes up and down the small roads on the bike with a diary crammed with meetings to prepare the next Festival …
This morning we began the building of a new home for Irushi, by knocking down the ancient shack where they lived. The days of the roof fixed with plastic bags to keep out the big monsoon rain are over for them. This new home will also allow them to welcome their paralysed and feeble mother who until now has lived in a wooden shack in the yard, up to the time that Green Hope helped hospitalize her and got her treatment with some dignity. We had lunch with Odile, Maitée and her husband, the three of them from Espoirs Sans Frontières. We thought much about Annie, the Chairwoman of this association, and then spoke together about sponsorships. We made a firm resolution to see each other again soon … Tomorrow Vale and Domi join us…… one year on…….they will bring with them their girls, we are impatient to see them and look forward to organizing together has a small mobile health Center new for the children and the check-ups. On their arrival we shall take to a very old neighbour who is dying at her sister's and who needs new dressings on her sores …..village life is a very simple, shared one… too often forgotten today in the so-called civilised countries … Finally, we are happy to announce you the opening
of a new pre-school in Kumara Kanda, in the district of Dodanduwa.
It will soon host about 50 children, most of them from fishermen's
families, the small port is not far away……We had wanted
a lot to set up a pre-school in these areas that are in difficulty,
very poor and particularly affected by the Tsunami. We shall visit
them tomorrow as well as all other schools - Patuwatha, Narigama,
Tiranagama, Katukoliya, Peraliya - to set up the First-Aid Training
which we are going to give next week to the teachers - thanks to
" Secouristes Sans Frontières". This same training
will also be organized for the fishermen of the Cooperative….
we shall tell you about that very soon … February 4th, 2006, Hikkaduwa - Pierre and Quentin Today is a National holiday celebrating the Independence of Sri Lanka. On February 4th, 1948, as the Petit Futé recounts: " chastened by the Indian experience, the representatives of Her Most Gracious Majesty grant independence to the island of Ceylon, which becomes a de facto member of the Commonwealth. ". Everything is closed, there is an atmosphere like the 14th of 14th, the weather is heavy, the sky a bit blurry, as was often the case on days of small dances. Here, no dances, the sale of alcohol is forbidden, but flags everywhere, a parade broadcast on national television ….and, of course, plenty of fireworks … This evening, Michel and Sophie leave us. Every departure leaves a small bitter taste of separation…. but leaves us looking forward to future visitors also. Indeed, Jean-Christophe arrives tomorrow … Before leaving, Michel and Sophie gave us these observations:
February 2nd, 2006, Hikkaduwa - Pierre and Quentin A small article to tell you a nice story … Once upon a time, Martine and Roger lived in Belgium, near Liège. If you remember, we went to visit them at the end of summer….. Martine is in charge of a delightful Guesthouse and Roger restores antique pieces of furniture. After the Tsunami, they decided to help the people of Sri Lanka, organized big celebrations of support, made appointments with officials…. until the day when they agreed to be in charge of the Belgian Green Hope delegation. In the course of dinner before our departure, we met their friends, among whom was Gérard, a teacher, and their son Manu, who works in a mobile phone store. Gérard wanted to help us…… why not give mobile phones to the crews of the Green Hope boats, so that they can contact us when out at sea?
Once upon a time, there was a fifth class in the Collège Saint Joseph de Remouchamps in Belgium, where Gérard was a teacher. The day after this dinner, Gérard, with his colleague Dominique, told our plan to the attentive pupils. Gérard speaks to them of Green Hope, of boats, the Tsunami also, the people who are suffering… Without hesitating, the pupils were persuaded…. decided to help us….. they contacted Manu, they made hundreds of pancakes which they sold everywhere ….each pancake for a few cents…. and sent us messages: " we have enough to buy one telephone, …..two, three, four,….and finally five ". They contacted Louis of " Plongeurs du Monde" who came to be with us here, and gave him the mobile phones. They are here now, one in the hands of Asanka who co-ordinates the schools and health projects for Green Hope, two for the trawlers, two for the catamarans Until now the fishermen could not reach us from sea, and the maritime radio is in Galle, and does not work at night. Now, if there is a problem, a storm, or some news they can reach us …
From the other end of the world, responsible, generous children,
gave all their energy for the fishermen of Sri Lanka. It deserved
a small article here and some pictures of this class. It is thanks
to nice stories such as this one, in this support network, that
Green Hope grows every day and keeps going in its work, months after
the Tsunami. Thanks to every one of you, relayed by the magical
site of Jean-Christophe and Alain, the Bearers of words and pictures.
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