Alaskan First Builders Rebuild For Sri Lanka Tsunami Victims
by Mikel Flamm in Batticaloa

In action: Alaskan bricklayer Forest Griswold works on Vadivelโs house

BATTICALOA, 22^nd March 2005: A US First Builderไ team from Alaska and Oregon began work on three separate build sites in Batticaloa, on the eastern side of Sri Lanka yesterday, one of the first of many scheduled volunteer teams to help build new houses for tsunami victims over the next two years.

The 13-strong team is led by long-time Habitat for Humanity volunteer Bob Bell, a well-traveled builder and trainer. Its members all have extensive experience of working on build sites and with Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanityโs ใFirst Buildersไ concept arose out of the need to tackle reconstruction after Decemberโs tsunami disaster. Each team member is self sufficient and has construction skills, as well as a background of working in extreme conditions.

Said team leader Bell: ใSri Lankan workers are working with us, laying bricks, mixing cement and carrying bricks. We are all working as a team. This is a physical challenge plus I feel a need within myself to do this job. It is important to make this happen, as the needs are so great.ไ

Alaskan energy: Fairbanks affiliate construction supervisor Doug Graham at work

One of the houses the team is working on belongs to K. Vadivel, 55, a fisherman whose wife died when the tsunami waves swept through this community.

Two months ago, his house was rubble. Over the past month, his land has been leveled and readied for building by youth volunteers from the Batticaloa affiliate who are now working with the ใFirst Buildersไ team.

Vadivelโs daughter Manimala said of her father: ใHe is very happy now. He has a hope that was not there. His sadness is very deep as it is for all of us but we know we must continue.ไ

Today Vadivel worked alongside Bill Scarlett, a board member at the Kenai affiliate, Alaska, and Doug Lamkin, a construction supervisor for the Anchorage affiliate. Also on the work gang was Bruce Ladd of Fairbanks, Alaska, and medic Claire Reisselmann from Eugene, Oregon.

Together they leveled the inside of the flooring prior to pouring cement, pounding the crushed rubble into a flat surface using a pole with a thick piece of broken wood embedded with bent, rusty nails.

ใI am amazed at how they work here with so very little,ไ said Scarlett. ใWe are working on this house with very few tools compared to what we are all used to back home. But the job is getting done.

ใThe local people here are great. For all they have been through, they smile so easily. The children from the families come here to watch us, laughing as they try to communicate with us. We feel lost not able to speak with them, but we all seem to know what needs to be done.

New hope arises: Alaskan coastguard Wayne Clarke, medic Kathy Colling, also from Alaska, and Manimala

ใMy heart sinks when I see what they went through here. Many still live in tents. Their losses are not easy to comprehend. When I think of Vadivel who lost his wife of over 30 years, I cannot imagine what he must be going through.ไ

Adds Scarlett: ใBob Bell built a good team for this trip. Teamwork is what Habitat is all about. We do effective building, one brick at a time, one nail at a time. You see the difference what you can do when you are here.ไ