News Update 15 – 17th April 2005

www.friendsofunawatuna.org.uk

Update From Unawatuna

Nick Keeganhas gone out to Unawatuna to help with the projects on the ground. Kate Posner and Laura Dunham, who were also caught up in the Tsunami have arrived and the 3 of them are providing invaluable help and assistance for FoU. Jennifer Gadney, one of the volunteers to contact us through our website arrived yesterday, and Megan, an American girl who was working at Ruhuna Orphanage, is now dedicating her time to us. So, we now have some real presence on the ground fully committed to the Friends’ projects. It is worth noting that all this help is purely voluntary and each person was self funded to get out to Unawatuna.

The heat and humidity are having an effect on everybody out there, with the onset of the monsoon season, but they are making fantastic progress. Below is an update of the current projects.

Unawatuna MV School.

The English lab is now finished with Jake Zarins officially opening it on behalf of the Friends of Unawatuna.

There are various other projects that we are now involved in at the School:

A new wall – the school is concerned about the lack of security on site. Animals and people roam freely on the property and, without clear demarcation of the school boundary squatters are entitled to live on their property. What’s more, a railway line runs behind the school and there is nothing stopping primary school students simply wandering onto the track.

The children currently have to take their own water to school in the morning so we are looking to link the local mains water supply to the school. This will mean three or four taps in the grounds.

We are also looking to build a new toilet block. Take a look at the existing toilet blockhere to see what they contend with at present.

Furbishing the computer room is also on the list for the pupils – computers, windows and fans to keep the room cooler and drier, and so keep the computers from overheating, and possible internet access.

Nick and Laura have also paid for some new Rugby and Netball kits out of their own funds which will be embossed with “Sponsored by Friends of Unawatuna”

The school is also desperate for long-term (i.e. around 6 months) volunteer English teachers. The last lady died on the Colombo-Matara train crash on 26th December and the brilliant new lady is only there until the end of May. The person does not have to have a TEFL or similar but merely be able to develop basic conversational skills. The school would help find cheap accommodation for someone willing to commit for the long term. We are contacting some volunteers who have already written to FoU, offering similar services, but if you would like to be considered please contact us at support@friendsofunawatuna.org.uk

Water Supply to Unawatuna

The project that everyone in Unawatuna is passionate about is a water supply. The wells they used were flooded with salt water after the Tsunami – we are looking at providing a connection from the main road to the town.

Friends of Unawatuna are meeting with the water board and government ministers about this. The village is currently preparing a petition requesting the supply, and then the water board will provide a price. This is also dependent on the opening of a new reservoir on the top of the hill, which is due to be opened at the end of the month.


Town temple walls
The temple wall in the centre of town was destroyed in the Tsunami. We are starting the process to get this wall rebuilt.

UnawatunaHospital

We have agreed to fund this hospital with various things needed ranging from artery forceps to art materials for patients. This amounts to about £1000.


Counselling for Unawatuna Residents

We have been making enquiries into the provision of psychological support for residents of Unawatuna, and are forging links with professionals at Galle Hospital and the local University of Ruhuna.  They will let us know what they need as soon as possible.

Sian Hughes and her hospital contacts in Australia have plans in progress for supporting the Galle Hospital, and plan a visit this April to check out what is needed. Sian is one of the doctors who was on holiday with her family when the tsunami struck. She was instrumental in setting up a temporary hospital at the Rock House and worked constantly from the moment she got to safety until she left Unawatuna 4 days later. She has been working for the Australian arm of Friends of Unawatuna.

Peter Roffey, who was badly hurt in the Tsunami went over to spend the money he had raised in Guernsey and is also supporting the Galle Hospital by supplying equipment for a new High Dependency Unit, and training facilities for the Department of Psychiatry.  It is his way of saying thank you for operating on his arm under exceptional circumstances.

Getting help

We all have our own ways of processing the awesome and terrible experience of the Tsunami.

However, a number of people have found seeing a therapist useful, especially if lingering signs of trauma remain, such as nightmares, intrusive thoughts and depression.


Sites of interest, to do with identifying PTSD, include http://www.uktrauma.org.ukand http://www.traumaclinic.org.uk(which details the NICE guidelines for PTSD).

If you want to see a therapist but don't know where to look, a useful starting point is the UKCP register of psychotherapists on Www.psychotherapy.org.uk Also the British Association of Counselling has a list of counsellors on Www.bacp.co.uk Both organisations will send you a list of therapist and counsellors in your area.  

Alternatively, your GP will be able to refer you to an NHS therapist, but often the waiting list is 3 - 9 months.  Sometimes it is worth getting on the list, even though you may feel fine by the time you get to see someone.


Fundraising

Thank you to the other donations we have received, including the following:

Dene Zarins wrote to us enclosing a cheque for £370 from The White Woman Middle School.

He also mentioned Muriel who has a large shed in her garden which she allows people to use. She is sending us £120 from a donation box contained within the shed. Thank you, Muriel – we are all left wondering what actually goes on in your shed!

Hearts & Voices Choir are having a bash on 30th April which will include a silent auction, proceeds coming to us.

Thanks to the White House pub for collections made and a cheque for £137

Kim Huntley & Susan Forsythe held an event to raise money in our local area of Chiswick in West London. Kim writes, “ 'ArtAid' was largely organised by Susan Forsythe with myself in a supporting role.  Over 400 people came to Chiswick town hall to paint a canvas & £3000 was raised which we donated to the DEC. Susan used her charms persuade Peter Blake to come & open the event & he was kind enough to donate some sketches he made on the day. These have since been auctioned, netting a further £1,050, which was donated to FoU. You can see a picture of Peter Blake at Art Aid here

Chicks Netball club had raised £70 for new bibs but decided to keep the old ones and give the money to us instead.

St Helena school, Colchester sent a cheque for £1,988.37

Natasha Horley writes that Staff at Hallmark cards held collections at a dress down day, the company then matching the total and sending us a cheque for £3,244.14.

Two 11 year old friends, Natasha Bates and Laura Clarke, after hearing about the tsunami and the work being done by Friends of Unawatuna, took it upon themselves to raise some funds.  They organised a talent show at their school, Boughton Primary School, where students sang, danced, acted read poems and played instruments.  A raffle was also held. The night was a great success and they raised a total of £349.  Well done to all at Boughton School but especially to Natasha and Laura.

Thank you to all at HASSRA Hasting Social Club who held various fundraising events for the Tsunami appeal and have donated £604.83 to the Friends of Unawatuna.

Thank you to Alternative Networks who, with Jennifer Gadney’s help raised £600 for us.


Kindest Regards

Friends of Unawatuna

Jake Zarins
Jamie & Claire Wilkinson
Jon Walter and Tanya Smart
Matt Rose
Tarquin and Tine Desoutter
Nick Keegan