The 2004 Tsunami was the world's biggest natural disaster in 40 years. More than 260,000 people lost their livelihood. Even before it hit, the fisher people in Sri Lanka with an average income of around 30 pence (US$ 55) a month were the most socially and economically vulnerable groups in the whole of Sri Lanka. Getting on for 90% of them lack basic needs and most exist on one meal a day.

The STEP (Skills To Empowerment) Foundation, a UK registered charity was set up to help in alleviating some of the continuing problems, not by handing out material aid, but by providing skills and training and empowering people to help themselves, enabling them to build a better future for themselves and their communities.

But STEP, unfortunately, was not sufficiently big nor resourced to achieve enough just by working alone. A partner needed to be found to ensure that STEP's efforts were not lost in some bureaucratic jungle. STEP was indeed fortunate to meet with SFFL - The Small Fishers Federation of Sri Lanka.

STEP is currently working with SFFL to provide skill and consultancy for such things as English Teaching, establishing and running Pre-School Early Learning Centres, operating a Basic Business School, offering management consultancy and assistance, building financial support through social enterprise, and in a number of other ways.

In this way, STEP believes, and is proving together with SFFL, that it is possible for people to find and develop their self reliance and build a sustainable livelihood for themselves

Sir Alan Greengross and Baroness Sally Greengross with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa at President House in Sri Lanka. Mr. Anuradha Wickramasinghe, Chairman, Small Fishers Federation, is also in the picture.

Sally and Alan cordially welcomed by children at Welani