The people that you meet as your walking down the street, the people in your neighbourhood. Every Friday from now until Christmas I plan to post the story of one of the people that we have been able to provide a livelihood to. Hopefully it will give you insight into what we and you’ll appreciate the story that each person has. This week’s installment is Kanagasingam. He really is one of my favourite beneficiaries. He always has this massive smile and an awesome beard! Very similar to mine.

Kanagasingam

Thiraimadu

Small business support: Tea shop

Kanagasingam is a 60 year old fireball of a man. This Hindu man and his family were in Navalady when the 20 04 tsunami struck. The town that this family man lived in was entirely wiped out by the tsunami and as he recounts the tale it as though it happened yesterday. Just prior to the tsunami he had a sense to take the family to the temple and so they were all gathered together. Then as they were about to leave they saw the wave coming and he rushed his family and about 40 community members up to the second floor of his house. This modern day Noah recounts how the 30 foot waves came crashing towards the house but parted like the sea around his home and thus spared the 40 people harbouring there. He and the people on that second floor saw this as divine intervention. Since the tsunami he has been living in a temporary shelter at a nearby IDP camp. From within the camp this man operated a small but renowned tea shop. SP-SL has come along side and provided this family with the basic supplies to maximize his shop. From the shelter materials he has rebuilt his shop and SP-SL has come along and rebuilt his hope. This tremendous entrepreneur has also agreed to provide some business mentorship to some needy widows in the area so they can also start a tea shop. The possibilities and future for this man and his family have been greatly improved because of the SP-SL Livelihood Project

Make it a great day

(Kanagasingam's family and the Livelihood team)