Kiritha
Age: 12 years
Location: Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
Kiritha is a 6th grader at the Mankanni Roman Catholic School in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. While she escaped the tsunami with her parents, Kiritha was forced to leave her community and friends behind. Memories remain with her, as she faces daily obstacles within her new community.
"I was so scared at that time and thought that the ocean would take me.I ran after my parents and escaped," she explains. "Now I don't have my old friends.I don't know where they are. However, I am happy now because now we have a new house."
The family's new home, funded by the American Red Cross, is a source of pride for Kiritha who is a willing helper with the housework. Kiritha will grow in this new house and community, as she continues to recover from the devastation of the tsunami.
