The Abhina Foundation, thoughts from Sri Lanka
Shamila Tilani, Galle, South Sri Lanka
We lost everything on 26th December 2004. I was left with the frock I was wearing. I was living in camps. Never wore anything other people had. But had to wear used clothes. Father lost his job. I lost hope.
After 3 months, I got the opportunity to join Abhina workshop. There so many young people like me at the workshop. With the support of Anoja and the team we recovered and gained confidence. They never let us feel that we are helpless. They encouraged talented people. I was very fortunate to be selected for the play ‘Children of The Sea’ by Toby Gough. 11 children and 4 young adults from Abhina got the chance to go to Edinburgh Theatre Festival and we won 2 major awards. It was like a dream. We got a lot of courage and strength from Scottish people and press. When we came back we got a lot of publicity. We became very popular. I became a permanent member of Abhina. I was selected for the advanced workshop.
Then I got the chance of working with Sue (Weston) in the The Training of Trainers course (a two week programme written and delivered by Sue Weston to train people as facilitators of practical courses using drama as a tool for healing). She always taught us to be honest with ourselves. I learnt so much about acting from her. It was such a good feeling that I could argue with her. Then solve my problems. She selected me for Kattrin, the dumb daughter of Mother Courage. With her teachings I could perform so well. She always encouraged us to find new things, research. She gave me so much freedom to do the part. I love you, Sue. I miss you a lot. I wish you all the best.
Now I am here with Abhina for last 1 and half years. I am truly one child of Mother Courage. When I look back and think of the things I lost in the tsunami and what I gain during this one and half-year period, I can say that I haven’t lost anything. I have gained a lot. I thank Sue, Anoja and the Abhina Team, HSBC and everyone who supported me.

P H Prashanthi – from Matara, south Sri Lanka, divorced mother of 4-year-old little girl.
While tsunami hit, only thing I wanted to save was my little baby who was 2 years old. We were holding each other and struggling with those huge waves and I never thought we will survive. But we did. I was staying in a temporary camp afterwards and all the time I was fearing that somebody might snatch my child. Even I go to take a bath, toilet or wherever, I didn’t leave her. I could hear the huge noise of the tsunami wave all the time. I didn’t want to do anything. Just sitting in a corner with my child. My sisters only pushed me to go for the workshop conducted by The Abhina Academy. I learnt to be patient. I learnt the meaning of impermanence preached by Lord Buddha. Anoja’s kindness helped me to change.
After joining Sue Weston’s workshop I felt that I am the luckiest person in the whole world. In The Training of Trainers course Anoja tirelessly translated everything to us. I learn how important Sue’s teachings are to me and to us: developing equanimity, organising ourselves, listening, punctuality: some of the matters we explored during our two weeks together. Especially non-violent communication.
After that I got the rare chance of working in the play Mother Courage and Her Children. It is like a dream come true. The training I received from Anoja and Sue to become a performing artist has something I can’t value. I can’t believe the change in me.
Sue worked so hard day and night to bring us where we are today. I thank her, Anoja, HSBC(sponsor of workshops and Mother Courage and Her Chuildren) and everyone who supported me.

Miss Madhumalee Videshika of Dickwella, South Sri Lanka. Age 17 years.
I lost my father on 24 December 2004. Then came the tsunami on 26th. We got caught in it very badly and lost everything. I didn’t know what to do. Lost my house and all the belongings. I was mentally very down, not only me, my entire family. After a couple of days there was a community meeting and there I got to know about Anoja Weerasinghe’s Abhina Academy workshop on performing arts. It was for five days. We got exercises to work with our own trauma and how to face life. It was such a blessing and I thought the Abhina team was sent by God. After that I became very strong and I found the way to work with negativity.
Then I got the rare chance of working with Sue Weston in the Training the Trainers workshop. I learnt to be mindful, how to manage stress and anger, how to deal with fear and how to work with difficult situations.
Same time Sue taught us how to work with people who have similar negative emotions: to listen to others, to hold equanimity, be punctual, to look after ourselves etc.
Then I got the chance of working on the play Mother Courage and Her Children directed by Sue. I still can’t believe that I became a cast member of a play of that calibre, or to work under a director like Sue. After I met Anoja, Sue is another very special person I met in my life. Her knowledge is so vast, like an ocean. It was such a memorable experience to work with her. I have never set foot on stage before. It was a strange experience. I was so scared, backward. But the way she taught us made me a confident actress. I think I am very lucky after all. These two people are so special and I thank both of them so much for helping me to change my life.

K.D.A. Harshika, Matara, South Sri Lanka. 16 years.
When the tsunami hit our town my mother was working in the Middle East. We lost all our belongings. Our house was partly damaged. My school got badly damaged. I was studying to sit for GCE ‘O’ Level exam in December 2005. I lost all my books. I was the first in the class throughout. But after the tsunami I couldn’t do my studies and my standard became very low. I was scared to look into the eyes of males. My cousin met with an accident and died. He was very close to me. So I started feeling shrunken, very negative. I totally lost interest in my studies.
Then I got to know about the workshop conducted by The Abhina Academy of Performing Arts. My teachers told me to join that. During that workshop I could get rid of the negativity. I could get rid of the fear. I learnt to work with what I have without feeling sad about what I lost. I got my confidence back and got ready for the O Level exam. Then I got selected for the Abhina advanced workshop and the Training The Trainers workshop conducted by Sue Weston. I learn a lot of things from Sue. !) Non-violent communication 2) Stress and anger management 3) To work with an open heart 4) Team work 5) Hierarchical/Co-operative/Autonomous systems 6) Non Violent Communication, dance etc.
I was feeling so happy after I got selected for the drama Mother Courage and Her Children. I discovered that I could sing. It is such a good feeling to know that I could perform. We learnt how important it is to work as a team, not to direct others. To work with gut feeling. I learn all these things from Sue. Also I was very lucky to work with Anoja Weerasinghe in the play, since she is a national level artist. I thank Anoja, Sue and The Abhina Team for supporting me to gain confidence.

Poopalasingam Pratheepan, Trincomalee, North East Sri Lanka
My native place is Trincomalee; it is a coastal area in the eastern province of Sri Lanka. I have interest in Music, Poem, Drama and Theatre and other art works. I live to Act and Sing; and, having talent, to learn and perform. But very difficult to do above works and bring up professionally in the North and East. I was mentally affected by the war and afterwards the tsunami wave washed too. I have lost my relations, friends and job. I couldn’t follow my industrial training of the Hotel management course. And I faced so (many) difficulties to perform and study.
After I joined with Abhina Foundation I could learn specially how to project and maintain our voice and how to maintain natural breathing properly. Still I’m learning more about acting. I could know and think about the Five Elements that have lots of very useful things for art and life. Could continue the performance and theatre works. I got chances to work in several places and with new people in the South of Sri Lanka.
I’d got a big chance to participate in the Edinburgh Fringe International Art Festival. I have created different characters in that drama named ‘Children of The Sea’ based on Pericles, The Prince of Tyre – play of William Shakespeare. I have performed several times in that play for our people in many parts of the country. I was feeling very happy to make people laughing through my acting. It was very funny and a different team work with Toby Gough, Director, London.
Mr Wolfgang Stange was leading us working with differently able people. I have feeling happy and satisfaction to work with them. It was very interesting and a different experience to work with Mr Wolfgang Stange. I participated in his Dance 8 Theatre Workshop also. I could develop my dancing skills. I am very happy to worked with him who has a wide experience in the work with differently able people.
I studied different and magic subject for my work and real life from the Training of Trainers workshop below the theme of ‘The Moment of Truth’ by madam Sue Weston, London. I could learn specially about teaching methods, Non Violent Communication and other very useful things to guide me and others in our life. I am being able to find the real need and solution when we feel difficulties in decision making. Abhina has staging a wonderful play ‘Mother Courage and Her Children’ by Bertold Brecht, translated into the Singhahala language, with the support of HSBC bank. The above play was directed by Sue Weston, London. I got different theatrical experience while I am working with Abhina team and in Singhala language (Pradeethepan is Tamil which is also his first language) I have enjoying it very well. I am very proud to act with Mrs Anoja Weerasinghe who is very popular and very talented film actress and the founder of the Abhina Foundation, Sri Lanka.
I am very happy and proud to think that I am growing as a facilitator of Abhina Academy of Performing Arts. I am able to teach others what are the talents I have, I am able to find and improve others’ talents also. Especially I have to thank Basic Needs which has supporting for Abhina’s works. I am thanking and loving Abhina Foundation and its founder and actress Mrs Anoja Weerasinghe for trying to make me a resourceful person and an artist, making me way to learn and for giving defence. (protection?)

Sanjeevan Gunableica, Matara, South Sri Lanka
On 26-December-2004 myself and my mother were at home and we survived after a lot of struggle. Only the clothing we were wearing and partly damaged house were left for us. I was feeling very sad and down when I was thinking of my relatives and friends whose lives were taken by tsunami. I was depressed, sad and didn’t have any hope for future.
Then I got the chance to work with Abhina conducted by Anoja and her team. She allowed me to work (participate) with her in 6 Basic Needs workshops. The vast knowledge and feeling of security I gain from her and her team made me a confident person. I started to think about the future. Also I started to recognise the performing and skills I had. I couldn’t join the Training of Teachers workshop with Sue due to some personal family involvement (his mother died. But I was so lucky when she took me for a part in the play Mother Courage and Her Children. I got four different parts in the play. The way Sue directs us is remarkable. The way she explains a character is very interesting. I was amazed by the techniques she used to get what she wants from a character. It was such a beautiful memory in my life. I am very proud to be a part of the Mother Courage team. Because it is a national level drama and I become a national level actor. A big thank you to everybody who helped me.