On December 26, 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami that devastated coastal populations in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and eastern Africa. In Sri Lanka alone the tsunami caused 35,000 deaths and left hundreds of thousands homeless.
In July 2005, Hannah Magree and Claire Stewart, two final-year medical students, spent their five-week semester break on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka, assisting in camps for survivors from three villages, Akurala, Ambalangoda and Godagama. During this time they initiated, with sponsorship from The Cunningham Dax Collection, a program of ‘fun days’ where children were encouraged to draw and paint. The main aim of these days was to bring some relief to children who had undergone a tumultuous and distressing six months.
Each day began by spreading mats on the grass and handing out paper, paints and crayons. Hours later, the children would invariably still be engrossed, producing picture after picture of beautiful (often calm ocean) scenes. As a trusting relationship developed, some of the children were encouraged to draw pictures showing their experience of the tsunami and the impact that it had on their lives. Many works of art were created, seventy-six of which were subsequently gifted to The Cunningham Dax Collection. The children were pleased that their drawings were going overseas to tell their story.
