We studied the effects of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and their direct effect on the villagers’ recovery processes. We questioned if NGOs created dependency, or empowered the villagers to take their lives back into their hands. By adapting the advocacy planning approach, much light was shed on the planning of these villages or lack thereof. Also, by immersing ourselves in the villagers’ experiences in the years leading up to our visit following the Tsunami, we begin to develop a sense of duty to empower and enable these people through themselves and their own resources. This approach manifested in five different case studies

in each distinct village with both tangible and intangible final project results.

The Kiranda village group saw it fit to find an NGO to help them realize a goal for the village, which was to rebuild a bridge that was unsafe to pass, however, many have to because it is the only way to and from the village. The group finally got in contact with an NGO that was willing to fund the construction of this bridge.

The Ambalantota village group felt it was necessary for children to re-cover from the tsunami, so the children painted and colored pictures that described them and posted them in a hall that had never been used. Also a villager created a way to tap water without having to have sleepless nights; he then showed the rest of the village how to use this technology.

The Tsu-Chi village group proposed a bus stand for those to wait under especially during the monsoon season. It served also as shade from the blaring sun on the hot days of commuting. The bus is the most used type of transit in the area, with villagers commuting into town and back to the village.

“This trip has changed the way I look at how disaster preparedness and re-sponse should be done; there can never be an all in one tool kit to use, as every place is different.”

The Hambantota village group believed finance is an important way to be self sustainable, therefore, offered a class in money saving tech-niques. They also felt the village needed to have a complete census and village profile to better understand their village. They also created an inter-village tour taking villagers from the 5 villages to visit all the others and learn from their difference and similarities.

Map of Sri Lanka and the Southernmost part of the country were the five villages were located called Yayawatte, Tsu-Chi, Hamban-tota, Ambalantota, and Kirinda Village.

The Yayawatte village group decided that in order for the villagers to stop depending on the NGOs they were to take some matters into their own hands. Many villagers new some sort of craft in which to provide through a bar-ter system. An expo was organized, along with a talent show and tournament, called the Peacock Festival, but prior to that the grounds were cleaned in a community clean up day. Many people were excited to see new life in what was once a field where cows grazed converted into a social ground along with a hall that was rarely used, as a place to showcase talents and hold events.

What did we do?S361: Planning to Learn through CapAsia