picking them up. His simple jeweller's machine was also ruined, corroded by the salt water.

For two months Sudath's family survived on the Government's monthly post-tsunami hand-out of 5000 rupees (€45). He then started hiring the use of a jewellery machine in near-by Galle, the southern Sri Lankan town which boasts large seaside ramparts, a legacy of the Dutch colonial period.

Tamara Damayanthi, another jeweller, found herself in a similar predicament to Sudath, with her metal, gems and tools were destroyed.

In trying to get her livelihood back on track she approached a number of organisations but only Caritas responded after she visited the Galle office. Caritas staff advised her to form a jewellers' cooperative so she contacted Sudath and the others seated in his sitting room.

All of them are from jewellers families – their skills in working silver and gems into ornate rings, bracelets and necklaces have been passed down the generations.

“We now realise the benefits of working together,” says Tamara, who is now president of the cooperative.

Once they had established their group one of Caritas' field workers came to visit them to begin the process of setting up a financial system.

Three months ago, in July, the five jewellers received two machines from Caritas, costing 22,000 rupees (€200). They share the machines between them.

In order to strengthen producer groups Caritas operates a revolving loan system whereby the group pays a percentage of the value of donated assets into a joint account.

Hence the jewellers are now paying 15 per cent of the value of the donated machines into the cooperative's account. These funds are then available for the group's future needs such as individual loans.

“The benefits of this system are various,” explains Georgina Jordan, Caritas Sri Lanka Livelihoods Adviser. “It gives groups ownership of donated assets and control over the money paid back, preventing a hand-out culture. Also the system can sustain itself into the future without Caritas assistance.”

Sudath is now once again working from the small bench beside the window in his kitchen, equipped with a pressing machine, various hand tools and a good light.

His jewellery is striking and between cooperative members they have a wide selection – bracelets, rings (for men and women), brooches and necklaces.

They hope sales to retailers will improve. Pre-tsunami their main outlet was to the tourist market, so with slow recovery in the number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka, their income remains well below last year's.

And for the next few weeks they face another problem. “Now we have election time and so shop owners don't buy out of fear of looting,” says Tamara.

Hopefully after the presidential election in mid-November the jewellers will once again be able to sell their gems.

ENDS