I’ve had the amazing opportunity to pass through Galle, Sri Lanka. A massive Tsunami struck in 2004 leveling communities and making thousands homeless. My colleagues and I are envisioning building a simple structure from Ecobricks in Nepal– and thus the repercussions of the Aid and the construction attempts of a decade ago are a profound lesson for us.
I had the chance to talk to a young woman, working as an English teacher now. I was able to scribble down her words over a family dinner. There’s some deep wisdom here…
„My family lost everything in the tsunami of 2004 except for the cloths we were wearing and some jewlery. After a disaster people have lost their former livelihood and have no jobs. Nmore work. The saddest thing is after a national disaster, peoples lifestyle has fully come down without their jobs. The way they made their living before is no more.
NGOs helped but, its the kind of thing, that is only for a while. Afterwards they need a life. In two or three months the supplies be finished and they need a life. Otherwise they thinks that supplies are forever.“
„Food items will be consumed in a few days and then people will expect more to be given. If you give them food or money then they will expect, that next day you will give also. Better to give self employment, skills, or sewing machine so that they can provide for themselves. Better to give them new ideas and new ways to make their life.“
–Dilshani Rasangika Gunathilaka
