Friday 8th July 2011 - Published by Lara Page - Account Manager
Tsunami Victims Aided by Local Family
Children and families left devastated by the South East Asian Boxing Day Tsunami are slowly rebuilding their lives, thanks to a charity set up by a family in South Wales.
Cavan and Debra Sullivan, and their daughter Aimee, set up The HAT Foundation in 2005, with the help of friends and customers of Cavan’s business, Welsh Window Systems, based in Barry.
The foundation, which is registered as a charitable trust, raises money to fund a number of projects in Sri Lanka, including providing fresh water to homes and helping schools with their building and educational needs.
Cavan, Managing Director of Welsh Window Systems, said: “We raise money throughout the year and make an annual visit to ensure the money is spent on worthwhile projects that are really making a difference to the people that live there.
“Most of our work centres around the education of children, but we have also been funding the installation of fresh running water directly into homes”, he added.
A recent trip to Sri Lanka saw the Sullivan family and their friends progress a number of projects, including the successful installation of running water into 46 homes, organising a party for 92 children, conducting repairs on school facilities and installing a new playground.
All trustees of the charity and the friends that help give their time and materials free of charge. The HAT foundation is registered as a charitable trust, enabling it to claim back “gift aid” from the Government.
childrens celebration after building new toilets
