Singapore Photo Exhibition Raises Over S$20,000 In Aid Of Tsunami-Affected Families In Sri Lanka

12 Photographers And Videographers Also Worked With Habitat For Humanity Sri Lanka To Distribute 16,000 Kilograms Of Rice To Families

SINGAPORE, 27th March 2009: An exhibition by a group of photographers from Singapore has encouraged renewed interest in Habitat for Humanity’s ongoing work to assist families in Sri Lanka affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka’s national director Tony Senewiratne (left) giving the opening address at The Rice Project exhibition (right) which was held at a Singapore mall.

Thanks to the positive public response, the exhibition raised more than S20,000 that will help tsunami-affected families to rebuild their homes in Sri Lanka.

The Rice Project, which showcased poignant, beautiful photos of Sri Lankan people and their land, raised more than S20,000 (about US13,260). The funds raised will help to rebuild homes for tsunami-affected families in Sri Lanka.

The Rice Project team has plans in the pipeline for revisiting Sri Lanka to build homes with Habitat for Humanity later in 2009.

The 10-day exhibition took place in February 2009 at VivoCity, one of Singapore’s largest malls. As part of the project, a four-minute video was expertly produced to demonstrate the impact of a home on people’s psychological, physical and social well-being.

The Rice Project was the brainchild of veteran photographers Triston Yeo and Alex Soh who run The Red Tree, a fine art photography agency in Singapore. The duo also shares a desire to draw attention to the people in Sri Lanka still recovering from the tsunami.

A photography competition in mid-2008 kick-started the project with participants submitting a photo essay based on the theme of “living”. Instead of the usual cash or camera prizes, selected winners went on a 10-day photo expedition to the east of Sri Lanka, and saw some of the areas worst-hit by the tsunami.

Along with two other videographers and four members of The Red Tree, the six winners raised funds to help distribute 16,000 kilograms of rice to more than 500 families in Trincomalee and Batticaloa in Sri Lanka. They also took the opportunity to document the living conditions of the people there.

Alex Soh said on The Red Tree website: “This is just a small step toward rebuilding their lives. We believe that rice is the catalyst that will trigger off the restoration of houses in the area.”