Telwatta
Telewatta, is a small community on the South
West coast of Sri Lanka. The destruction
caused by the tsunami of 26 December 2004 in
Telwatta is regarded as being amongst the
worst in the region. Half of the adults lost the
means of earning an income, most lost their
homes and the psychological impact of the
tsunami means life for the village has never
been harder. This is especially true for the
community’s 300 children who are now
desperate to resume school and start reliving
their lives.
In spring 2005, Shining Life Children’s Trust started working with the community to identify how we can work with
them to help build a brighter future. In a series of workshops each member of the community helped to decide what
was needed. The result is a unique mix of direct aid and longer-term development that touches every part of the
community’s lives (see below). All community members left these meetings sure that the plans will mean that, in
three years time, they will be in a stronger position than they ever have been. To ensure that the development
achieved is sustainable, Shining Life Children’s Trust is working in partnership with a local organisation to deliver
the project. In September 2005, the work was officially commenced. There are five interrelated components to the
project:
