Meet Annapooranam

Annapooranam, 55, is a widow and resident of the coastal village of Valithottam in Sri Lanka's Trincomalee district. She has eight children, six of whom are married. Her two youngest children live with her in Valithottam: a daughter currently taking advanced-level classes and a son who recently graduated.

Like many in her village, Annapooranam makes her living growing and selling rice. Her paddy — two acres of rain-fed land — is her lifeline. Since her husband's untimely death in 1995, her older, married children have helped out financially, but Annapooranam strives to be independent and works hard in the fields to provide for herself and her two younger children. "I want to educate my daughter as much as possible," Annapooranam says, "and give her in marriage to someone who can look after her without any difficulties."

On December 26th, 2004, however, everything unravelled before her eyes as she and her entire village lost everything. Her daughter recounts the harrowing events of that day:  

"It was a Sunday morning around 8:30, and my mother had gone to buy things at a shop near our house. I woke up later than usual and went to wash my face. Standing next to the well, I suddenly heard a loud noise, like thunder, coming from an adjoining village. I looked up and saw the sea water rushing into the lagoon which separates our land from the sea. Alarmed, I saw something strange in the distance — water 20 meters high and moving towards the land. I starting shouting… Because my mother was out shopping, she escaped the disaster. Otherwise, she would have died. All of the families in our village lost their houses and belongings. Eight people died from the tsunami, including several of our relatives." 

After the disaster, Annapooranam and her family moved into a government camp run. They lived in the camp, in plastic tents, for nearly one month before moving into a transitional shelter, where they still live today.

Annapooranam and her family have been identified by CARE as one of the female-headed households in Trincomalee to benefit from the Rebuilding Lives and Livelihoods project. With financial support from the Dave Matthews Band, Annapooranam will be able to continue her livelihood, educate her daughter and provide her family with a brighter future in a new home.