 | | Signs put up for the world to see |
The profound effects of the harrowing images of unspeakable human tragedy brought into our own living room whilst we were celebrating the joys of Christmas moved us to do something more than just donate money. Following one of the reports on the television, we saw a Buddhist Monk being interviewed on BBC Midlands Today. He was asking for aid in the form of medicines, clothes, tents, blankets etc. We saw this as our way of making a difference and subsequently contacted him to see how we could help. What a can of worms we opened!  | | Loading the trucks with aid |
Our whole lives were then put on hold for the next five months. We not only worked to send to Sri Lanka what turned out to be ten 40ft containers of aid (around £100,000 of medical aid was flown out) but also helped to raise over £50,000. It is quite overwhelming to think that so many people had a hand in helping us. It wasn't until I started putting all the names down that the realisation of the scale of things really hit me - I got quite emotional. The response was amazing, from walking groups and fitness clubs to four schools in Ross-on-Wye, and many schools and nursery groups in Shropshire... and the people of Bristol and even the Isle of Sky, who sent a huge lorry full of Aid!  | | Jumble sale to raise money |
20 co-ordinators from across Shropshire and Staffordshire tirelessly collected and delivered goods from all over the two counties for months. The young people from Tibberton Netball and Football clubs helped with our 'Grand Charity Sale' at the Telford International Centre, in January, which raised £13,500. At the other end of the age spectrum, the ladies of Green Fields Court, Bridgnorth also lent us their support. Others provided different, but no less important, support. 50 van drivers willingly gave their services whenever we asked, particualrly the' Aloe Vera' van driver Derek for whom nothing was too much trouble and still helps us now at the drop of a hat. There were many individuals, groups and companies who provided aid and support from around Shropshire and across the UK – too many to mention, but thankyou to everyone.  | | Huts put up as temporary accommodation |
It’s difficult to measure their efforts. Even if we can put a figure on the aid raised, the effect of that aid on real people’s lives was (and is) invaluable – as we found out when we visited Sri Lanka. We should also really thank our families, whose lives were turned upside down for months and the incredible group of personal friends who gave so much of their time to support us, endlessly lifting carrying, packing and unpacking, and even renovating furniture.  | | IBRO UK Educational and Cultural Centre |
The overriding sense of satisfaction we got from working with The IBRO (The International Buddhist Relief Organisation) was down to the fact that we knew exactly where the aid and the money were being used - an accountability factor not always available with larger organisations. With The IBRO having a base in the south of Sri Lanka they were immediately able to give food, shelter and medical assistance to nearly 3,000 people over the two weeks following the tsunami. Whilst IBRO UK worked tirelessly to raise money and create the plan of action IBRO Sri Lanka put our plans to work. Numerous projects such as the building of a nursery for displaced children, a day care centre, funding the re establishment of small business for families that had lost everything, funding scholarships for 450 children and providing counselling were all undertaken.  | | Children living on the camp |
Our biggest motivation was the children that we set out to help. As mothers, it broke our hearts to see how many of their little lives had been devastated. So while the Nursery was being built we set about collecting the equipment and educational supplies to send over ready for the opening. We received the most wonderful furniture and toys etc. One boy in Devon sent us his teddy bear, which encouraged others to send us teddies – we received over 5,000 in total. Sending the aid from Shropshire was one thing, but visiting Sri Lanka was a different experience altogether. We decided to fly out there to witness at first hand how the tsunami had affected people, and to see how the aid was making a real difference to their lives. It was so exciting to think that we were not only packing and sending everything off from this end but would also be unpacking it all in Sri Lanka and meeting the teachers and children that would benefit.  | | Arriving at the airport in Sri Lanka |
Our trip was to be more emotional than we could ever have expected and we have been in emotional overdrive ever since. The shock of seeing people still living in makeshift accommodation and in such despair six months on from the disaster soon turned into disappointment then anger. We wondered what was being done with the millions of pounds of international aid. Many times we found ourselves reduced to tears by heartrending stories and situations endured by these people, who despite everything were so welcoming and hospitable to us. | "Our trip was to be more emotional than we could ever have expected and we have been in emotional overdrive ever since. " | | Carmen and Chris |
In contrast it gave us so much pleasure meeting the hundreds of people whose lives we have touched due to the efforts of many well-wishers back in the UK - The little girl with cerebral palsy whose life was spent slumped on the floor of a temporary hut until we gave her one of the 30 wheelchairs that had been donated to us… The boy who had no shoes to play cricket for his home town and the families with small businesses that the IBRO has helped financially to get started again and many others. The highlight of the whole trip was the sheer joy of organising the equipment, toys, and musical instruments for the nursery… months of preparation in a freezing cold industrial unit in Telford came to life in the sweltering relentless heat thousands of miles away.  | | Carmen and Chris setting up the nursery |
Our abiding memory is that of the reaction of the children when they first saw the ball pool. They had never seen anything like it before so were afraid to take the plunge at first but of course after we demonstrated what to do they soon followed and there was no stopping them after that. We left Weligama with a message of hope, encouraging everyone to look forward, to rebuild their lives, with courage and pride. Now we are back in Tibberton we continue to raise funds for the people whose memory is etched into our souls and we pledge to explore every avenue to ensure that they receive the aid, so generously given to their country, that is due to them. | 
