Reaching the Unreached of India

Tsunami affected

I am from Kootapuli a coastal village of Tirunelveli District. My father is Dass and Mother is Catherine. I am the 4th child of my parents. Our house was stained very closed to the sea. (20meter). The sea was a means of livelihood for us My father was going foe fishing everyday. We used to take bath in the sea and play in the shore everyday in the morning and evening. On the morning of 26th December 2004. I was playing with other children on the seashore. Suddenly we heard people shouting , "run-run". Unaware of what is happening It also started running. When I turned back saw very high sea waves coming to us. It was as high as 10 meter, we all run full speed and reached the balcony of our church. After some times the wave reached. But soon after, the water again came in and it was repeated five or six times. For fear of killer tide we remained there the whole day and night. On the next morning we knew that it was tsunami and the wave destroyed our house and killed several of us. We were shifted to a relief camp and sometime late into a temporary shelter. We were thus reduced to being refugees in our own land. A relief team from RTU was visiting us in the shelter with relief assistance. My parents asked them to send me and my brother to a safe place to continue our schooling, They led us to RTU. We were placed in the Sirumalar Children's Village one of the four Children's Villages of RTU. As soon as we reached, we were greeted by more than 100 children's Villages family with an embrace. Brother told us that she will be our mother. Now we are under her loving protection and care. She gives us food, drink, clothes, and affection of a mother. We are given quality education in St. Petter's school children . I am studying in 7th and my brother in 6th standard. We went to our village for annual vacation. Even now our family is in a small temporary relief shed. We heard RTU is constructing good numbers of houses, and swings other play materials in the neighbouring villages. Hope our family will also get one. Recently, "thatha" (grandfather) asked us whether we wish to go to some other institution close to our native but we denied. We are living a happy and content life here. We are sure that we will get all helps here in RTU to make our life fruitful.
I am Sudha from a coastal village "Kottilpadu". On 26th December 2004 when most of our villagers were engaged in routine activities 10 meter high sea waves hit our village. I and my elder brother were standing in front of our house when people rushed in shouting that a lake had broken and that it was flooding the area. As we waited anxiously for more news, huge waves came crashing through the streets. Every one rushed towards the balcony of
our church as the water level started to rise. Since our house was very near to the church I, my brother and our parents were the first to reach the balcony. Some other people too managed to reach the balcony. From there we saw the ocean striking. The water was broken in colour and carried debris, catamarans and bodies. We helplessly watched our homes and relatives being washed away. A country boat smashed our house and it was completely destroyed in front of our own eyes. We have also lost all our livelihoo articles. Some volunteers came and shifted us to a relief camp. After completing the rescue and relief operations the RTU team took me to RTU on the request of my parents to continue education. Since then I am living happily in Sirumalar Children's Village and attending Arul Malar School. I was shocked and depressed after the tsunami
disaster. So they gave me counseling for a month till I become normal. Now I am studying well scoring 300+ marks in the exams. I wish to become a Doctor to serve the poor and helpless people.