Thushani Albert

Thushani Albert, 8 years old, was living with her grandparents in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit, killing her father and brother. Her grandparents are comforted with the knowledge that she has a secure shelter, funded by the American Red Cross.

Age: 8 years old
Location: Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

Thusani Albert has little memory of her life before the tsunami. The Sri Lankan 8-year-old has been living with her grandparents since her mother's death, when Thusani was only three months old. She was in their protective care during the 2004 tsunami, which took the lives of her father and older brother.

The shy child quietly talks about life with her grandparents. "I don't know when I was born. But I am living happily with my grandparents," Thushani explains. "I am going to school everyday. My best friend is Selvana. We have this new house and I like it. My grandparents love me a lot. They tell me stories and play with me."

Her grandparents make their livelihoods by selling fish and helping in the market. Despite their meager wages, they are optimistic about the future. "We never want any hardship for Thushani," says her grandfather. "Now that we know she has a shelter, we are comfortable about her future.