Tsunami Donation Sri Lankans

Almost a year has gone by since personnel from Stonehaven's Maritime Rescue Institute visited the tsunami devastated areas of Sri Lanka.

Since returning to Scotland MRI has strengthened its links with Bobbie Annand's Newtonshill group and the Aberdeen Sri Lanka group who both want to support and help children in the devastated coastal regions of Sri Lanka. One way of assisting these children is with maritime education and safety.

MRI has been developing its educational and safety messages in a number of ways, in particular forging strong and sustainable links with local Scottish schools and children. The aim is to re-engage children with their local maritime heritage, both environmental and cultural. The next step is to interlink this education in Scottish schools with Sri Lankan schools. Children in both Sri Lanka and Scotland will befriend MRI characters Rory and Ropey. Ropey is a puppet made of rope who gets up to all sorts of mischief when playing by the sea. Rory is a little boy who keeps Ropey in check. These characters were designed by Grays DesignStudent Helene Bost. All stories are centred round the coastal environment. By using these characters in visual, oral and written context and by use of the internet, MRI can strengthen relationships with local schools and these schools in turn can have dialogue with the children in newly built schools in Sri Lanka. The hope is to have a cross exchange of safety and environmental messages along with the learning of heritage and cultural differences.

Tsunami Donation Sri Lankans continued...

To develop these stories, games, pictures and competitions MRI needs funding - and the Aberdeen Sri Lankan group are seen here on 27 September kindly donating £250 as the next step in progressing with the concept.

 A big "thank you" to the Sri Lankan Community of Aberdeen