Two excited young girls outside their brand new homes

   
The initial construction stages for the nine Perth City Council homes adjoined to the WNS/Aviva Village

As the first step in this direction, the City of Perth funded the construction of 30 houses. These 30 houses, combined with additional donor support, have helped to relocate families in Seenigama who were affected by the '100 m regulation' which prevented the construction of houses 100 m from the coastline. Thus, these 30 homes were provided to village families who had previously lived in the 100 metre zone and were left destitute after the tsunami.

Of the 30 houses, nine of these were constructed just beyond the 100 metre zone in a property that the Foundation purchased to showcase a complex equipped with modern amenities, (including an Internet Cafe, Childrens Library, Communications Centre, Barber Shop/Salon, Grocery Store and a well-equipped Community Centre), funded by the AVIVA/Norwich Union bank. This modern housing park accommodates 19 homes altogether, including the nine Perth City Council houses, and we propose to build a Green Park adjoining this property within the 100 metre zone. The other 21 houses are located beyond the 100 MT zone on their own lands. All of these homes were complete by early 2006. To the recipients, these homes are their absolute pride and joy and something which they have never witnessed before. Residents have beautified each home according to their own personal tastes and skills as a sign of their utmost appreciation of this gift.

   
Some of the very happy recipients of the so generously donated Perth City Council houses

It is with a sense of deep admiration that we convey our heartfelt appreciation to the Perth City Council for such an amazing gift to alleviate the miseries of those affected by the tsunami, especially at a time of such critical need. We are in many ways indebted to Australia for the immense support our village has received which has enabled us to turn this setback into a blessing, empowering better opportunities to those in desperate circumstances.

Most recently, the Lord Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund (LMDRF) provided the Foundation with an unexpected gift of AUD $11,122.27. This is acknowledged with tremendous gratitude and will no doubt reimburse the many additional costs that our Foundation incurred particularly during construction.

The Perth City Council plans to continue its fundraising efforts towards the Seenigama rebuilding effort and its longer term development. On behalf of the forever grateful recipients and the Foundation of Goodness, we wish to thank the Perth City Council and all those involved in completing this landmark housing project. We look forward to continuing our relations with the our sister City of Perth in times to come.

To view photographs of the nine-house cluster housing complex, please click here.

To view photographs of the 21 individual homes provided, please click here.