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Aid mission to Sri Lanka takes off

Four Squamish residents are in the tsunami-ravaged island nation of Sri Lanka this week getting a better understanding of what needs to be done to help rebuild Squamish's adopted village of Wanduruppuwa.

Four Squamish residents are in the tsunami-ravaged island nation of Sri Lanka this week getting a better understanding of what needs to be done to help rebuild Squamish's adopted village of Wanduruppuwa.

Humanity Village Project leaders Jeff Dawson, Peter Gordon, Patty Heintzman and John De Souza left Squamish on Monday (Feb. 5) and made the long flight to Sri Lanka with four bins full of books for the children of Wanduruppuwa.

"This is a relationship building/ reconnaissance mission," Heintzman said before departing. "We are all paying our own way but will be there to establish strong relationships and take an inventory of what will be needed to make this happen responsibly and efficiently."

Dawson told his District of Squamish Council colleagues he spoke with a village representative after the trip was confirmed.

Dawson said he had to ask three times what the group could bring to help make life easier for the villagers. Initially, the village spokesperson said the group should bring nothing other than their commitment to help rebuild the village.

Dawson said his contact finally relented and said preschool-aged books written in English would be appropriate to bring along.

The day before their departure Dawson said the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse, requested a meeting with the group from Squamish.

Dawson made headlines across the country when he announced after Christmas his intention to head up an initiative to adopt a village in the tsunami zone.

With hundreds of volunteers now backing the effort and financial support from MAC Realty of Vancouver the project is a reality.

The Humanity Village concept continues to get national media attention, particularly from CTV, as Dawson and Heintzman were interviewed for an information piece that played during the tsunami relief benefit concert on Jan. 29 at GM Place.

A reporter from CTV also interviewed the foursome at the airport as the group prepared to board their plane to Sri Lanka.

The four local international aid volunteers are scheduled to return on Friday (Feb. 18).

In an effort to raise even more money for the people of Wanduruppuwa a Valentine's Day dance is set for Saturday (Feb. 12) at the Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Company Pub.

The party starts at 8 p.m. and the tickets are $15 each at the door.

Two other local people caught up in the tsunami drama returned to Squamish on Wednesday (Feb. 9). Sherry Lundholm and Elvina Morrison were in Sri Lanka when the tsunami slammed into south Asia.

The pair stayed in the Sri Lankan village of Tangalla after the catastrophic even. They helped the villagers out as much as they could and called on friends and family back home to raise funds so a fishing boat, a tuc tuc and a sewing machine could be purchased for the village.

More than $5,000 was raised for the people of Tangalla.

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