On the 30th of May 2007 the first of five schools rebuilt by PAH was passed on to the local community. Janina Ochojska, who was the ceremony guest of honour reports on how the ceremony was held.

Kannaki Vidyalayam school entrance was beautifully decorated with palm leaves and flowers. Schools orchestra, which was waiting for PAH delegation and local administration, led us along the lane of smiling students and saluting scouts who showered us with petals. A red ribbon symbolically separated the school entrance. Students smiling faces confirmed our belief that we'd done something exceptional for them.

The Kannaki Vidyalaym school complex consists of primary and secondary schools where 513 students attend altogether. The buildings had not been destroyed by tsunami waves. However, after the disaster refugees were located there, which actually led to the devastation of the buildings and furnishing. In 2006 the reconstruction of the ruined buildings started, as well as the construction of a totally new - two-storied one. They were Polish Radio and Orange company who held the collection of the money to help the school, which, added to Polish contributors' donations transferred to PAH, helped achieve the goal. I felt proud and thankful to see the sign on the school front wall which said: Constructed and redecorated by the Polish nation."

PAH also helped in connecting the school to the power system as well as in making drinkable water available. For me and all those who worked hard to make the school work again it was a boundless joy to pass it on to the local community. The school headmaster led us through the class rooms, which unfortunately were empty that day. They were equipped only with desks and chairs destroyed in tsunami. I would really like to provide the school with new furniture, including boards and library, as well as computer, chemistry and physics laboratories. 80 thousand PLN would cover its costs.

K.V. students with their teachers prepared a wonderful festive to thank PAH and all Polish contributors. Traditional singing and dancing full of colours, art and charm made us feel enchanted. One of the parents sung a song specially composed for the occasion, which expressed their gratitude for the school, water and hope for better future.

Local students and their teachers put a lot of effort to make the morning of May 30th a festive of joy and gratitude for us and the local community. I remember the state of K.V. school soon after the disaster of tsunami. By the school in steel huts there'd lived around 150 refugees who had come from different villages destroyed by the wave. Lessons had been given outside under a sort of shelter where several classes could get altogether. The rest of students had taken lessons underneath a tree. All wells nearby had been salted and neither the school nor the nearby village had had the access to drinkable water.

In October 2005, while sinking a well within the school area, a several-meter high water pillar spurted out. We turned out to find the richest water spring in the Ampara region. Today both the school and the dwellers of Kannakipuram village satisfy their water needs due to the well.