Tsunami20 — Generous souls
Habitat for Humanity’s response to the Indian Ocean tsunami was made possible because of the contributions of volunteers. They traveled thousands of miles to commit time, labor and resources. Twenty years later, families and volunteers shared memorable moments.
Sandhiya, who lives in Villupuram district in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu, recalled how the volunteers provided support and comfort. “The quality of the construction was very good. Many international volunteers came and worked alongside us. They asked about our story while we worked together. We were very happy about such interaction that gave us mental relief at the time.”
Jean Smith and her daughter Jennifer Combs were among U.S. volunteers who helped rebuild homes in Killai village in Tamil Nadu. Jean said, “By the end of the project, we had formed wonderful friendships and mutual respect for these people who had lost everything.”
For Jennifer “my favorite part of the trip was meeting and engaging with the villagers. We played games with the kids, danced with the villagers, tried our hand at cricket, and shared meals.”
Olivia Wong, a long-term volunteer and present member of Habitat’s international board of directors, also remembered the family that her team worked with in post-tsunami Sri Lanka.
Olivia Wong was among volunteers helping Sri Lankan families rebuild their homes after the December 2004 tsunami. Photo courtesy of Olivia Wong. Main photo courtesy of Jean Smith.
“My most memorable moment was the family we partnered with. It was a young family with parents and 3 kids. Their home was destroyed, and they were living in a makeshift shelter right next to their ‘new’ home. The father was earnest and worked hard to put in sweat equity to build a home for his family. He was meticulous and demanding of himself and this really made us want to work that much harder to make sure he and his family have a decent home to live in.
“The experience has shaped my view of the world and my life. On a personal level, I truly appreciate what ‘blessing’ really means. We only need to do our part to help one person to move forward one step at a time. As we combine each individual’s willingness to help, there will be a ‘tsunami’ of change.”
As Jean Smith thinks of the families who built alongside the volunteers, she said, “The project provided them with a home which enabled them to continue with their way of life. Yet, I know that they are changed forever. I hope the memories they live with have made them stronger.”