Homeless once again

22 March 2010

Several years ago, when families across the world were enjoying their Christmas or end of year holiday, tragedy struck. An enormous tidal wave swept across the ocean and totally destroyed thousands of homes. Countless lives were lost and even more people were made homeless. This tidal wave became known as a Tsunami - a word most of us had never heard of before, though within hours we all knew what a devastating natural disaster this had been. Chris Roles, the Chief Executive of Y Care International, which I helped found some 25 years ago, rushed to his office and began drafting an appeal and contacting our partners in Sri Lanka and India to see what could be done to help.

Y Care supporters and the British public responded magnificently and soon work started to rebuild what had been destroyed. Care for children orphaned by the disaster, houses to replace those that had been destroyed, and that could better withstand the elements, health care, skills training, employment opportunities – the scale and breadth of the response was greater than many of us had seen before.

In December last year, I visited one of the areas that had suffered so badly – the north of Sri Lanka. Chris and I travelled along the coast and met many of the fishermen and women who had been re-housed thanks to the generosity of our supporters. It was all very moving. At each house we were greeted with flowers and smiles but there was still a hint of sadness in the air. One lady had a tear in her eye as she told us of her son who had been swept away when the wave struck. Often, we give money to one charity or another and wonder what has happened to our donation. Well, I can say with certainty that Y Care used these generous gifts wisely.

As if the Tsunami wasn't enough, Sri Lanka has suffered years of conflict, which came to a head in 2009. The conflict led to thousands of people being displaced, some of them from the housing Y Care had provided, just as the construction was completed. I met families who were just returning to these homes, three years after leaving them, refugees in their own country as a result of conflict. They were happy to be back and able to fish again in a familiar place, but for some there was sadness too – they had become separated from family members when they were fleeing the fighting and had to live with the terrible uncertainty of not knowing whether their loved ones were alive or dead.

Sri Lanka YMCA, through which Y Care International works, has been active throughout the country, not just in the north, bringing relief to those in need, helping young people to develop despite the difficult circumstances, and seeking to build peace and reconciliation. This is the most important need of the moment, and Y Care is working closely with the YMCA in Sri Lanka to devise a new programme that will address these needs throughout the country.

In developing countries all around the world, the YMCA is at work meeting people’s basic needs for food, shelter and security and in helping young people to develop in body, mind and spirit. I am proud to be associated with this work - for what could be more worthwhile?

By Terry Waite CBE, President of Y Care International
This article is based on an article published in Northern Life Magazine, Feb/March 2010. It was also published in our Insight Magazine, March 2010.