A Frankfurt businessman gives orphans new hope for the future - a boat for the fisherman
Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH (dpa)
Original Text by: Can Merey, dpa
Originally Published: 16. January 2005
Translation by: LORENZ Life Sciences Ltd., United Kingdom
Galle (dpa) - It's been a while since Medduwage Nandasena has smiled - he didn't have a reason to. The flood waves robbed him of his daughter and grandson. His other two grandchildren are now orphans. Lakshita and Lassita will now be raised by their grandparents.
Their family home near Galle in Sri Lanka was devastated and the boat, in which the fisherman Nandasena went to sea, was destroyed. The Frankfurt Entrepreneur Heinz-Juergen Lorenz heard of this familyís fate, and decided to buy the fisherman a new boat. This not only gives the children a future, but has also given Nandasena his smile back.
The 67-year old Mr. Lorenz read about the misery of this family in a report published by the dpa on the devastation of the region after the Tsunami flood waves. Together with his partners within the LORENZ Group he launched a campaign, simply entitled "Fishing Boat". "I told my colleagues that I will personally contribute any funds still lacking to buy the boat," says Mr. Lorenz. He now feels responsible for the family - much in the spirit of the campaign launched by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, encouraging citizens to become godparents to those who were severely affected by the disaster. The orphans were of particular importance to Mr. Lorenz - "The children should receive a proper education".
When Nandasena heard of the news, the fisherman could hardly believe his luck. Hearing of the stranger from faraway Germany, who wanted to help his family, he remains skeptical as his weather-beaten face gazes around the reception camp. Slowly he begins to understand. "I am totally speechless," was his initial reaction. Suddenly his excitement knows no bounds and he begins to make plans. "I can employ another three fishermen on the boat, then four families including my own will be helped in our village," he says. His smile becomes even wider. Meanwhile grandmother H.K. Kulawati does not stop thanking everyone.
Unlike many of the other fishermen in Sri Lanka, Nandasena does not fear the sea, even after the catastrophe. "As soon as I have work, I will take the boat out again tomorrow," he says. He does not have a choice, really: the family savings were plundered and Nandasena could only retrieve a few coins from the mud in front of his home. The family owns 102 rupees, the equivalent of 73 Euro-Cents.
The boat will carry the name Lakshita, named after the eight-year old grandchild, whose father died a long time ago, and who now had to witness how his mother and brother were washed away by the flood waves. The Grandmother says the young boy wakes up two to three times a night, crying. But at least for a small moment Lakshita and his ten-year old sister Lassita were infected by their grandfatherís enthusiasm and both started grinning from ear to ear.
In the autumn Mr. Lorenz and his wife want to visit Sri Lanka and get to know the family, whom he and his partners have given a perspective on life. Nandasena is already planning what to serve to his visitors for lunch. Fish, naturally. Perhaps he will even be able to catch some tuna. "Now we no longer fear the future," says Manjula Sanjeevani, aunt of the children and Nandasena's daughter. "We can hope again."