Proud homeowners stand outside their brightly colored houses in Thetativu, Batticaloa District. The rows of bright blue, orange, green and pink houses stand out in sharp contrast to the stark, almost barren landscape, yet they mark a return to normalcy for families whose homes, livelihoods and financial capital were destroyed in the tsunami.

Economic development has accompanied the construction of the community. In some of the homes rooms have been converted into grocery shops, while one resident has set up a bicycle repair business in his front yard. Most families have started home-gardens for growing vegetables.

The 86 houses built in Thetativu have been constructed under the "Community Recovery and Reconstruction Partnership" - the owner-driven housing programme initiated by the Red Cross Red Crescent over three years ago to help families rebuild after the tsunami.

Decision-making

With funding from the British Red Cross and technical support provided by UN Habitat, the families at Thetativu not only constructed their own homes, they also participated in every step of the decision-making process. The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society was involved in mobilizing the community and instrumental in setting up a community development council, which was registered under the local Pradeshiya Sabha (government agency).

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, together with technical officers from UN Habitat, would meet regularly with the community development council to help guide families through the construction process.

The sense of ownership that families enjoy under the community recovery and reconstruction partnership programme is evident - not only through the personal touches such as the colours chosen for their homes, but through the spirit of cooperation that exists amongst the community members. It is in the community's best interests to work together as the housing grants are disbursed only when everyone has reached the same stage of the construction process.

Community resettlement

The programme also looks towards the longer term resettlement of these communities rather than just the provision of their basic needs. Under the community recovery and reconstruction partnership, 93 Swiss francs per beneficiary is earmarked for various community infrastructure projects that the community development council identifies, such as internal gravel roads, drainage ditches and communal wells.

Furthermore, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society is working with the community development councils to provide trainings ranging from first aid to leadership skills.

The Red Cross Red Crescent has pledged 28.8 million Swiss francs to the community recovery and reconstruction partnership. To date, 4,000 houses in Kalutara, Jaffna, Ampara and south Batticaloa have been completed, while 1,450 houses in Vaharai and Echilampattu in northern Batticaloa will be finished within the next month.

Discover where this story takes place (requires Google Earth installed): http://www.ifrc.org/Docs/News/09/09052801/thetativu-en.kmz

En francais: Sri Lanka : Un avenir meilleur pour Batticaloa - http://www.ifrc.org/fr/Docs/News/09/09052801/index.asp

En espanol: Sri Lanka: Forjando un futuro lleno de promesas en Batticaloa - http://www.ifrc.org/sp/Docs/News/09/09052801/index.asp