Professional – Humanitarian Work
Disaster Response
As a volunteer soon after the devastating tsunami in Tamil Nadu and surrounding areas in 1995, Ralph and I were able to set up trainings in the use of the “medical/health” modules of “Child-Centered Spaces” set up as emergency shelters focusing on the needs of infants, children, and youth. These temporary shelters were used for protection from the surrounding environment which was filled with hazards including debris, foul water, and often animals and people who had died. The Child-Centered Spaces also became the place for children to get water, nutrition, comfort and, over time, opportunities to play and to learn if more permanent housing wasn’t available due to the extent of the devastation. In addition to designing the health module, we gave training sessions to both the staff as well as the families and community members who had survived the tsunami.
Knitted then felted shapes reflecting the constructive powers of the earth’s folding to balance the destructive forces we experienced doing humanitarian assistance volunteer work in Tamil Nadu India after the Tsunami
