Going back to Sri Lanka in August 2005 was predominantly a personal mission. Putting money into the economy as a tourist and volunteering with Project Galle 2005 (PG2005) for two weeks, I hoped went a little way in saying “thank you” to all the Sri Lankans who looked after me and my four friends when we got caught up in the tsunami, in Unawatuna. I’ll be honest. I wasn’t really sure I wanted to come back. When I flew out of Sri Lanka in the early morning of 29 December 2004, I didn’t plan on coming back in a hurry to the place where my friends and I had been so lucky to survive, when tragically thousands hadn’t. But as soon as I plunged into the heat from Colombo Airport on 11 August I was so glad I had returned.

When I left again, two weeks later, I went back to the UK with powerful messages – both professional and personal. To my colleagues back in the UK Department for International Development (DFID), I reflected how Sri Lanka was the perfect case study for why DFID argues for country led approaches, donor harmonisation and UN Humanitarian Reform. I was shocked by the ‘lottery of assistance’ – both in quality of aid and allocation to need. Vivid illustrations of this included the coastal display of tents of all colours, sizes and quality; and the reports of foreign schools showering ‘tsunami schools’ with materials, while the Department for Education struggled to attract assistance to poorer, inland schools. But I could also appreciate how this had situation had developed. The Government of Sri Lanka’s capacity was clearly overwhelmed by the scale of recovery needs and coordination task, while many humanitarian and development actors were guilty of pushing their own agendas excessively. The logos everywhere in the intense “branding competition” illustrated this starkly.

I also left with powerful personal messages. I had been reluctant to face the Thaproban in Unawatuna again, where I had watched the tsunami waves rush in, or the Thambapanni, which became our refugee camp on Boxing Day night. But I was so glad I returned because it was so encouraging to see the hotels restored. In fact, they looked better than ever. I was humbled by the positive attitude of Preshan and his team. They argued that not only had the tsunami inspired them to repair the hotel better than ever, but that the community had come together to clean up the beach; organise regular litter collections and even raise funds for a community centre. I was continually humbled by the positivity of all the survivors I met during my 2 weeks, particularly those Juliet, Milly and I interviewed for the Livelihoods Programme. In particular, I will always remember Mr and Mrs Priyanthi. They saw over 13 years of investment in their tailors and beauty parlour businesses wiped out by the tsunami. They’d each received a new sewing machine from PG2005 nothing compared to what they owned before, but were positive that everyday “step by step business is improving”. I was humbled - I doubted I would be so positive in their position.

Of course the personal and the professional come together. Meeting Preshan and his team again in August 2005, along with many new individuals confirmed to me that the key to their recovery and Sri Lanka overall, is livelihoods recovery to stimulate employment, incomes and local markets. You all know that. Since I have returned to the UK again, I have been spreading the word to all I know that Sri Lanka is open for business, is a beautiful country and needs tourists, to help them rebuild the country and move forward. When I escaped from Sri Lanka on 29 December last year, I was doubtful that I ever wanted to see it again and I certainly did not remember it as a dream holiday destination. That’s why going back in August was so important because I left this time with a restored love for Sri Lanka. I remembered why I, like thousands of tourists every year, wanted to visit in the first place.

Now, many of you will probably take issue with my conclusions above. You will agree with some, disagree with others and have your own to add. But that’s actually why I writing this piece. Because the other message I went home with, which was not one I had anticipated, was the profound impact the tsunami had had in raising awareness of humanitarian and longer term development issues. As I painted greenhouse tables in Boosa; planted trees in coastal schools; interviewed beneficiaries of the Livelihoods Programme; and devoured those feasts of lunches every day, I was struck by how most of the volunteers I spoke with shared that the tsunami had been the stimulus to get them interested in international development issues for the first time. Some of you were even contemplating further study or full time careers in international development. Of the many messages I took back to colleagues in DFID in London, one I felt really passionate about was sustaining and encouraging this new interest in international development.

Hurricane Katrina and the Pakistan Earthquake have already demonstrated that it doesn’t end with the tsunami. As the months, and now the first year, elapse after the tsunami, it’s inevitable that interest in Sri Lanka specifically and wider international development issues will wane. What I don’t want to see is interest waning because of a lack of ideas about what all of us connected with PG2005 do after PG2005 ends.

So where can we go from here? Below are just a few suggestions.

• Katrina, Pakistan, Niger, Southern African food crisis have demonstrated that your determination to help Sri Lanka recover from the tsunami will always be needed elsewhere. You can always help financially through the Disasters Emergency Committee and in person RedR and International Health Exchange are just two avenues. Such was the demand from the public to help in the tsunami, that now DFID and the DEC have produced a booklet to explain the many ways you can help in disasters and emergencies overseas (PDF booklet attached).
• But it’s not just about emergencies and disasters. Most of the causes of emergencies have long term roots and need long term solutions. There is no shortage of Government (DFID), United Nations (OCHA, UNDP), and NGO (Oxfam, SavetheChildren, ActionAid, Concern) sites which can explain this better than me. An easy way to stay in touch with humanitarian and development thinking is to sign up for DFID’s e-bulletin or read Developments. If you’re looking for further research and intellectual debates, in the UK check out the Institute of Development Studies, the Overseas Development Institute, University of East Anglia for a start. You’ll find lots of research and study options if you want to pursue this even further. Looking for further volunteering or work opportunities? Check out VSO and Relief Web for a start.
• But don’t think it’s all or nothing. Studying or working full time on international development isn’t an option for everyone. Yet there are many other ways you can make a difference. The Rough Guide to a Better World is a great guide to show you how which charities and campaigns you support; where you invest; where you travel and what you buy can and does make a difference. Gone are the days when FairTrade meant tasteless coffee….coffee, chocolate, wine, clothes – the market is growing every day.
• And trade leads me on to my final advice. Use your voice. There is sadly no shortage of issues to campaign on at local, national and international levels. Making global trade rules fairer is just one issue that needs the energy, commitment and determination you dedicated to the tsunami. Support NGO campaigns. Lobby your national Members of Parliament and international ones, particularly the European Parliament – this is needed right now to maximise the chances of pro-development outcome in this month’s World Trade Organisation trade talks in Hong Kong.

But these are all rather UK centric ideas I hear you cry. Yes they are. But the advantages of being part of PG2005, is that we’re part of an international network of people with ideas, opportunities and contacts. So I encourage the 30+ countries we the PG2005 volunteers represent to add your ideas to mine. In doing so, we can ensure that the Anniversary of the Tsunami does not also mark the beginning of our declining commitment to international development and the many, many countries beyond Sri Lanka that need our support.