Arudpany Girls' Home - Batticaloa

Our first destination was a 10 hour busride across the country to the Arudpany Girls' Home. Due to damage from the tsunami, the girls in the home have had to move into the director's home, virtually overflowing the rooms, bathroom, kitchen and yard.

The girls were scheduled to move back in the home once the kitchen was completed and once the water system was finished- estimated at summer of 2005. After our installation, we agreed to finish the complete construction of the kitchen to accomodate a faster return to the home for the children.

The installation went in the following morning after draining the well several times. The orphanage director promised that anyone in the community who needed clean water would have access to it at their home.

Kalavachakudi Children's Home - Kalavachakudi

Like the previous installation, the home was so severely damaged that the children were taking refuge in a church 30 minutes from the orphanage- where we stopped off first to assess the children and play. The majority of the children in this home were orphaned by the ongoing war in Sri Lanka. Due to the tsunami, the home will be taking in dozens more children.

We will be working directly with the orphanage director to construct dorms for the children coming under his care.

The well at this home was severely polluted after the tsunami. We purged the water with enough chlorine to kill any bacteria and then drained the well three times before pulling into the purification system. The installation drug out for several hours and it was not until late into the night that we had tested the water and could leave satisfied with the install.

Doctors Without Borders Refugee Camp

On our way to the next installation, we came across dozens of refugee camps. One of them we were able to spend time in to play with the children. Below are some of the photos.

 

Ampara Girls' Home - Kalmunai

The girls' home in Kalmunai housed 130 girls of all ages. Although structurally this was the best home we worked in, there was an abundance of children stuck with horrible water.

The medical staff spent many hours with the girls assessing and providing care. Afterwards, we gave out school and art supplies for the children.

After the install, the staff at the home began immediately filling 5 gallon jugs to store in the kitchen in case of an emergency.

Ampara Boys' Home - Ampara

Ampara was the hardist hit province in all of Sri Lanka- over 10,000 people lost their lives on December 26th in that small province alone. The orphanage was situated 3/4 of a mile from the ocean; yet even that far away, the day of the tsunami they had 25 bodies wash up in the front yard of the home after the water receded. Thus, the damage between the home and the ocean was extensive and dramatic.

Agape Children's Home - Tissamaharama

The director of the orphanage and his wife had a great impact upon us. They currently have 30 children living in the home, ten of whom were orphaned by the tsunami. They have also agreed to take on another 70 orphaned children in the coming year due to the tsunami.

The water installation was rather smooth at this home, which provided us ample opportunity to spend alot of time with the children- playing cricket, singing, drawing, playing hide and seek, leap frog and tossing the frisbee.

This home in particular has very few outsiders visit and we felt especially drawn to stay extra time there as the children were very excited about our presence and work there.

Although the children are exceptionally loved and cared for, the home itself is severely lacking in adequate space. Thus, we have agreed to provide at least 5 new dorms for the children to live in- similar to the dorm shown above. We will also assist in the completion of an adequate kitchen facility and other basic necessities.

The children orphaned by the tsunami had just arrived at the home three days prior to our arrival. They were amazing children who embodied the definition of resiliency and tenacity.

Janet Jensen, the reporter on board with us, highlighted this orphanage on the front page of the Tacoma News Tribune. To see the story, please see here.

Still Waters Children's Home - Tangalle

The children at the home were very well cared for. They were quick to smile and after the medical team finished their work, and while the water staff finished theirs, they danced the night away with our staff.

Our last orphanage to assist, Still Waters was another long installation. The water was easily the worst on the trip- much like a chocolate milkshake. By the time we left, the water had a slight salt taste that will recede in the coming weeks, but nothing else to speak of. We filled our water jugs to brimming and left happy at our work.

The home will be taking on many new children due to the tsunami.