Mr Kirikori’s life fell apart when the sea swept into his home on 26 December 2004 killing his daughter and destroying their small Indian village of Keela Manakudi.

He had previously fed his family by taking the fish caught by fishermen on his bicycle to sell in the local market. 

With all his possessions, including the family bicycle, washed away, Mr Kirikori no longer had the means to buy food for his family, let alone a simple coffin for his dead daughter.

“A bicycle can be the difference between starvation and life for many families in Tsunami devastated regions,” says Dearne Cameron, Director of the Archbishop of Sydney’s Overseas Relief and Aid Fund (ORAF).

“One out of four fishermen sell their daily catch in the markets by transporting the fish on bicycles, and sadly, Mr Kirikori’s story is one of many.”

Fortunately the India Gospel League (IGL) working in partnership with ORAF was able to provide Mr Kirikori with a new bicycle and a new hope for the future.

For the past eight months, IGL, with prayerful, financial and volunteer support from the Sydney Anglican Diocese, has been restoring and transforming lives throughout India and Sri Lanka.

ORAF tsunami donations have gone to the purchase of 11 boats, 21 sewing machines, 4 skill training centres, 59 bicycles, 2100 notebooks and 238 clothes helping more than 2400 people in the region. 

Addressing a key group of supporters in St Andrew’s House this week, IGL president Mr Sam Stevens reiterated the long-term nature of the rehabilitation work.

“Our goal is not to leave these people in the same state they were in before the Tsunami, but to leave them with a thriving sustainable community,” Mr Stevens says.

Mr Stevens says that IGL is doing more than providing a short-term solution.

While they do give immediate relief with clothing and medicine, their focus is a long term one that looks to help people build their future.

Small business co-operatives have been formed and micro credits are being given to people to start up their own businesses.

Education and training programs have begun and people have found employment after going through these programs.

One of the encouraging things Mr Stevens saw was a new confidence in women.

Despite living in a highly patriarchal society, mothers, wives, grandmothers were starting up their own businesses through IGL programs and for the first time, many had the means to financially support their family.

For more information or to financially support the work of the India Gospel League in Tsunami devastated regions of India and Sri Lanka, please contact ORAF on (02) 9895 8080.