Siffs Tsunami Reconstruction Project. Nagai District

We are based out in Nagapattinam District, specifically in Nallur on East Street. The office is located in the Arappallam-Post area of Sirkali-Taluk. It is a long way from the big cities, and the surroundings are very local and quiet. Our work involves the reconstruction projects following the tsunami, so we are often out in the field rather than sitting behind a desk. The building we use is quite modest and fits in with the rest of the neighborhood. It is not air-conditioned, so we rely on the windows to let in some air, which also brings in some dust from the road. Inside, there are maps pinned to the walls and plenty of ledgers and notebooks. We spend a lot of time talking to the people from the local villages who come by to check on the progress of the work. It is an honest kind of environment where everyone knows everyone else. We drink a lot of local tea and try to stay on top of the logistics involved in rebuilding things. It can be tiring, especially when the weather is hot, but we just keep at it day by day. There is no corporate polish here, just a group of people in a small office trying to manage a very large task. We have been here for quite a while now and have become a regular part of the local community in this part of the district.