Gerard, the tsunami and the school

 

Gerard presents gifts

The tsunami story below was the efforts made by local French and Sri Lankan (with some input from British and other Tarn and Garonne foreign residents). Here are some the results of those efforts in pictures. To read the story and see more pictures follow the links
English version
Version francais

The school buildings and retaining walls

Children admire the decor

Bright and attractive classrooms

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10 years since the tsunami - Version anglais

Gerard Narjoux sent the report below detailing activities undertaken in Sri Lanka to rebuild schools following action in and around St Antonin Noble Val to alleviate the effects of the tsunami 10 years ago today. Here is a rough translation of the salient points.
"When the tsunami devastated south east Asia 10 years ago  we all remember where we were. I was in Espinas and wondered what we could do to help at our humble level.
So an association was was formed called "one school, one village" because we thought a school is a place where one can share, meet and especially a place of hope.

Soon our neighbours came on board; friends joined in and friends of friends. They competed to come up with fund raising ideas. Parents at the college at St Antonin organised a meal at which a painting by Tom King was auctioned; a dance evening was held at Cazals; a meal followed by an auction sale was organised by our English friends; pharmacies donated first aid products; local mairies sent contributions; presentations in primary schools in St Antonin made children aware of the drama and the children of St Joseph's school in Varen organised a collection.



Making bricks with a press

In short everyone mobilised; we were in touch with friends in Sri Lanka who chose two sites to build schools, enough money having been collected to fund these projects; the site chosen as on the south east coast where several schools near the beach had been swept away. Thanks to local contacts these were amongst the first schools built in Sri Lanka. Teachers dealt with the red tape; an architect friend drew the plans; we opted for the simplest model on local lines and tried to recycle materials; we made bricks and coconut trees blown down provided the timbers
The schools are equipped with basic teaching materials; a swing and slide were erected in the playground, all thanks to a local association. A great celebration was organised for the opening on an auspicious day and it was an emotional return to school for the children.

Children in their classroom

Teachers salaries were covered by gifts and the children are sponsored to this day by French people paying 20 euros per month (the original pupils are now at college, but the links are maintained). This amount provides a school uniform, shoes and classroom materials.
The proper use of funds is regularly checked by Yasmin Rajapakse, president of the association. 

Personally I stay regularly in the schools working with the teachers and teaching English to the children. Other people help from time to time with  different subjects: arts, sewing, sport, advice to the amateurs!
In all over 500 pupils have benefitted from the education in these two schools over the last 10 years.
Unfortunately in these humid climates maintenance costs are continuous,  With tropical storms, termites... often it is the ingenuity of the parents which allows things to be overcome with a minimum of funds.

Gerarrd presents gifts to children

On this anniversary the Association would like in the name of the children to express its recognition of all those who, in one way or another have become involved  in order to fulfill its objectives and continuing goals thanks to the dynamism of the franco-sri lankan team on the ground."
Gerard Narjoux
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More on the Tsunami

Hi Val
We were in Kerala, southern India on the day of the Tsunami, having decided to go there instead of Sri Lanka where we'd been the previous two years! Luckily we were travelling inland, but realised something dreadful had happened when we saw crowds of people gathered round TVs in shop windows on the journey, then we started getting texts from people in the UK asking if we were OK. It was only the next day that we were able to get hold of an English paper and realised the enormity of what had happened and tragically people we knew in Sri Lanka had died. 
Doreen
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Ten years on from that terrible disaster

This deadliest tsunami 2004 caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, killing more than 250,000   people in a single day is the most devastating tsunami in modern times, traveled 375 miles (600 km) in a mere 75 min. That’s 300 miles (480 km) per hour, leaving more than 1.7 million homeless affecting 18 countries. 
I am sure you all remember when we heard this story unfold how shocked we were. All around the world people raised money for the aid and then the rebuilding programme. 
We remember here in France being motivated by Gerard Narjoux of Espinas who had a partner from Sri Lanka, so was even more affected by it and campaigned to raise money to build a school. All these efforts went on  in around St. Antonin area. So many readers who were here at the time will remember this. We have contacted Gerard to find out ten years on how things have improved and we hope to give that update soon.
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