Helping Children Play Again in Sri Lanka

Sathi, age 9, has never wanted for anything. She and her family lived a simple life prior to the December 2004 tsunamis that devastated her community in Galle, Sri Lanka. Faced suddenly with the tragic loss of their loved ones, their homes, schools and livelihoods, adults and youngsters alike were shocked. Today, Sathi is among the first children to go whizzing down the slide at the brand new local playground, her penetrating dark eyes are aglow. "Please tell the people in America a big thank you — now we can play!" she beams.

The playground, the most state-of-the-art facility of its kind in Southeast Asia, is the first of 85 such children’s havens to be built by a partnership between JDC and USAID with funding from the Bush-Clinton Tsunami fund and in collaboration with local implementing partner, Sarvodaya.

Replete with a merry-go-round, swings, climbers, spring rockers for younger children and state-of-the-art composite structure, the facility is designed to be a place where local families can come and spend time together and kids might again begin to feel carefree and joyous.

"It’s the first time we have seen a playground like this!" says Mrs. Marikar, a grandmother of three. "This will help our children be happy again after the Tsunami."

This first playground was dedicated on December 26th at a municipal park in the Southern Galle district, commemorating the one year anniversary of the deadly waves. The day began with a spiritual and religious memorial — the official opening took place later in the afternoon and was presided over by US Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead, with USAID Director Dr. Carol Becker, Sarvodaya President Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, Mayor Mohammed Ariff of Galle Municipal Council and Mandie Winston, JDC representative in Sri Lanka.

"Given the monsoon season, it was a valiant effort by all of our partners to work with experts from the Unites States to set up the playground safely in just a matter of weeks," noted Winston. "It was a very emotional experience to see the first of these incredible facilities light up children’s faces on such a symbolic day." The remaining 84 playgrounds for communities in Sri Lanka that were devastated by the tsunami, are scheduled to be constructed in 2006.

February 2006