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Family Photos
Thousands of families in the Southern Province lost personal belongings when the tsunami swept through their homes. 
The most priceless and the one with the most sentiment were family portraits.
In Sri Lanka’s family-centered culture, the loss of family pictures is especially damaging. From a psychological perspective, a new family portrait would support the grieving process if any family members were lost.
This is especially true for children in Sri Lanka where social programs are lacking; their emotional support network is almost entirely family-based. It is important for children to be able to identify themselves as a member of a group, even if that group has been significantly altered due to the loss of family members. A photographic reminder of loved ones gives a sense of comfort and security.
In light of this Project Galle 2005 approached Sainsbury’s Family (in July to fund the pilot project) and IsraAid (in August to fully fund the project), both of whom eagerly agreed to fund this. Portraits of the families were shot and mounted in a wooden frame and delivered to camps by volunteers. 
Between August and November Project Galle provide 4500 families with full-colour, 8” x 10” portraits. A team of volunteers were sent out to over 36 IDP camps, with a digital camera, tripods, home-made bench and a backdrop. The camp members thoroughly enjoyed the shoot days and were thrilled with the final result. The project has shown that while taking family photos, the entire camp uses the event as a chance to get together, dress up, and socialize. Children dance, sing songs, and marvel at each other’s attire. It is also a rare opportunity for camp members to participate in one activity and is, therefore, a bonding experience for the camp. As nearly six months had passed since the tsunami when this project began it has encouraged families to process their losses, and foster an added sense of security.
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