Foundation Stone Ceremony

On Monday 8th August, the Talalla Support Group were guests at the foundation stone ceremony for the building of the Community Hall. The day was full of colour and happiness as the whole Talalla community came together for the commencement of this wonderful project.
Our charity, headed by Lawrie Rose, a Jewish man, is funding the Hall, to be built by a Muslim man, Mr Uwaiz, on a Buddhist site for the benefit of local Talalla people of many varying religions and backgrounds. This is brought so much joy and optimism to everyone taking part in the project, as an area of such a diversity is brought together in such unity, proving we can all work and play together with a little respect and understanding. In my opinion, it is the way the world should be.
The day started mid morning, as we followed the students of the Sunday Dharma class, elaborately dressed in traditional Sinhalese costumes, singing, playing instruments and dancing up the driveway to the site. On arrival we were presented with Betel leaves by some of the Montessori preschool children, and then sacred white flowers, which we took up to the temple and presented to Buddha.
Next on the agenda, the Talalla Support Group, the builders, some local council members and respected gentlemen were all presented with a brick each. We lined up along a trench, which was dug in the area where the Community Hall is being built, and one by one we placed our bricks in the ground and covered them with cement provided.
A lot of credit goes to Mr Pinsiri, a local teacher who was also a victim of the Tsunami, he has selflessly given much of his time to organising this event as well as the planning for the construction of the Community Hall.
By Jess Brown.

Beginning the Community Hall

With livelihoods restored and life in Talalla returned to some normality, the Talalla Support Group are in the process of using the remaining donations to build a new Community Hall next to the local Buddhist Temple. This is a great project, involving the whole community and providing a wonderful place for all locals to meet for various differing purposes.
The Montessori pre-school will use the hall five days a week. With twenty students, five years of age and down, they will make great use of the new facilities. On Sundays, the Buddhist classes take place for local children from four years old to eighteen. When rain prevents them from being able to take their classes outside, the hall will be a necessity. It will also provide a great area to organise local dance and Poya, full moon, celebrations. In addition, any money not used on the construction will go towards setting up the school with more books, chairs and tables.
The Buddhist Hall is also a place for community meetings. From fishing to farming to banking, many different groups and organisations will benefit and make good use of the hall.
Over the last six months, I have realised that there is definitely an importance in community projects, bringing the people together and encouraging them to work as one. The Buddhist Hall will be a useful and beautiful sanctuary for the people of Talalla Central and Talalla South to learn, meet, and celebrate their religion.
By Jess Brown

Returning Other Livelihoods Lost

Livelihoods lost in the tsunami go beyond the fisher folk. From tailors to coir makers, tree fellers to fish sellers and technicians to electricians, these are just a few of the industries affected which we have since endeavoured to restore.
As well as giving back what was lost and destroyed, returning tools and equipment helps the locals take their minds away from the living conditions they are now forced into as they busily work, starting their businesses from scratch.
Some women of Talalla, displaced and living in refugee camps, are nursing new born babies. They can hopefully feel assured and see some positive light ahead as we try and do what we can to get their family life back on track, offering whatever security there may be left.
Jess Brown

Fishing Livelihoods

Restoring those livelihoods lost in the tsunami has been by far one of the most rewarding jobs as well as the most promising for the future. Being primarily a fishing village, replacing what the local fishermen lost has been a huge hurdle. The majority lost there boats, engines and nets and ropes in the tradgedy leaving them with little hope for an income and the futures' of their families. With no prior experience in fishing i learnt in the deep end about net sizes, boat types amongst much else and have since been named the fishing madame of Talalla, i now have great new found knowledge of an industry previously a complete mystery to me.
With the arrival of the first boats we saw the whole community on the beach for the first time, giving buddha's blessing to the new boats and setting them out to the ocean which months ago stole so much. I feel the bravery of the men setting back out on the water is truelly amazing and heart felt and with the arrival of their new nets and ropes coming next, it is wonderful seeing them busily getting back to there old lifestyles and survival skills. Sadly this is still in the confines of their temporary, but possibly more permanent, living conditions. With new laws inplied, building in a hundred metres of the shoreline has been stopped and is of course causing some real concern and desperation for the majority of the fishermen whose lives revolve around and are based on the coast line.
Another problem which has arised for the men is the huge amount of debris they have found, mainly coconut trees, in the ocean making it extremely hard for them to use their new nets and thus fish. We have started trying to remove the trees which can now be seen on the water's edge but much hard work still lies ahead.
The bravery and positivity in the village is so inspiring and constantly leaves me speechless. Few words can describe how the people here make me feel and i am completely blown away by their abilities to look to the future however foggy and unsure.
Talalla and the people will always be so special to me and i wouldnt be anywhere else in the world right now.
Jess Brown

Devastation Still Surrounds

In the absence of our writer, Hayley Maynard, I have posted some images showing the huge devastation which sadly, still remains almost four months later in many of the areas of Sri Lanka which were hit by the tsunami.
Most people I have met along the way have put on such brave faces, hanging on to anything and anybody they may have left after the tradgedy. They're strength and will to survive is unbelievable and has moved me and changed my outlook on life forever more.
Jess Brown