In October 2004, the Green-hope website is launched, a few days before the departure of Pierre and Quentin for Sri Lanka. The objective was simple: to keep friends informed and to collect funds in order to support the creation of a school for poor children, aged 7 or younger, in the canton of Hikkaduwa.

In November, the project began to take shape, entirely financed by Pierre and Quentin, who, not waiting for the first funds to get going, recruited a teacher, rented a room etc. The website tells this story up to December 26th.

Then the Tsunami struck. Pierre and Quentin were lucky not be hit and their house was untouched. However, they lost friends and their house became immediately a focal-point for assistance. On the morning of the 27th they sent a moving email which began what on this site we have called since, "The Tsunami Diary".

The existence of Green Hope is highlighted by the media. As they were almost the only two French nationals remaining on the spot having an active role in the immediate recovery effort, Pierre and Quentin attracted the interest of the French media, and were featured on the news on France 2 Television Station on January 4, 2005, at 8 p.m. Their presence was revealed but also their complete isolation. Other programmes followed: On France 3 ( see photograph), on the Thalassa Programme, Europe 1, RTL, Radio France, and VSD where they denounced the apathy of the large institutions, the lack of aid, the lack of medical assistance... leading to a surge of interest in the Green-Hope.org site and an influx of donations.

What Green Hope represented. For many people, Green Hope - namely two limited French persons travelling by bike from place to place, first-aid kit in hand, distributing food parcels door to door - represented, rightly or wrongly, a model of a small-scale, efficient structure, on a human dimension, as opposed to the large Non-Governmental Agencies.

This can be seen in their website entry for January 29: "We get scared when you honour us in such glowing terms! We are not stars, only two small French people lost in a devastated country. It is you whom we honour, along with the dignity, decency, and courage of the people of Sri Lanka."

In just two months, the website became a community of faithful visitors, some of whom were fans of the Tsunami Diary, a kind of inspirational link with life over there. Others demonstrated their commitment through a mobilization of resources - as can be seen in the Livre d'or - where schools, companies, local authorities, clubs and associations, as well as private individuals, got involved. As time passed, Green Hope spread in France, in Belgium, in the USA, in Switzerland, in Italy...: the "Tribe" goes on growing.

The Follow Up. Pierre and Quentin decided to take a step back and plan the ongoing development of their work. A contact in Colombo has been established and Sri Lankan staff put in place. The immediate recovery needs are fewer; a long-term involvement is now the focus. The rebuilding of schools and a teaching exchange programme with France, the setting up of a fishing co-operative ( see photo), putting in place workshops for the women, and the development of an Arts Centre…..these are the projects in hand which this website allows you to follow directly. .

You are very welcome to the website
Jean-Christophe, Webmaster and Karl, translator.

Ce site est hébergé avec le soutien amical de Claranet