Sam McNeilly, organiser of Tenby Bowling Club's Corals Tournament, which this year is raising funds for a project to help children affacted by the recent Asian tsunami, recently received a moving letter from a young orphan, whose life has been torn apart by the tidal wave disaster. "I am seven-and-a-half and my best friend is Igmal, who is eight-and-a-half," wrote Malek. "We used to live in a small village close to the sea. There used to be a great sandy beach where we used to play and help our dads clean their fishing boat. My dad and Igmal's dad owned the boat and fished every day, but not in a monsoon. They then sold their fish in their local bazaar. Although our dads did not make lots of money, we were all very happy. "One day, when Igmal and I were at school, the sea overflowed and came into our village. Our teacher, Miss Alwis, made us all rush out and run fast to the forest. We were all crying and very scared. We stayed there for a long time until the grown-ups came and found us. They took us to another village as they said ours was all broken. "Igmal and I stayed with a nice lady and man in their house. They had a dog called Tom. The lady bought us new clothes and things for school. The school was much bigger than our own school. We saw boys and girls from our village, so it was alright. "Lots of grown-ups came to see Igmal and I and talked of our village and other things. They were very nice. One day, a nice lady told me that my mum and dad had gone away, but they still loved me and so did Igmal's mum and dad. "Another nice lady has told us that we shall soon be going to a new place with lots of other children. We will live in a new house with a grown-up lady looking after us. We will have a new school and playground, where hopefully we will be able to play cricket, which we love. This new place sounds really great. The lady told us we would meet some of our friends from the village. I'm just glad that Igmal will be with me. "Igmal said we might stay a long time at this new place. I don't mind, as long as it is truly great and as long as Igmal and I are together. When we grow up, we shall get jobs and get a house of our own, and let some of our friends stay with us. That would be truly great." The money raised by the bowling club will be sent to the SOS Village Project in Komari for tsunami affected children. Sam has received an official letter from the project confirming that SOS villages are set up to care for orphaned children, while providing them with a normal family atmosphere. The SOS village in Komari, in the Eastern province, for tsunami affected children will include children from all ethnic communities. The SOS village will have approximately 10 houses, each of which will accommodate 10 children under the care of a 'mother', who would be in charge of them. Anyone who would like to make a donation to the bowling club appeal, is asked to either forward it to Mr. McNeilly at 1 The Coastguard House, Broadwell Hayes, Tenby, or drop it into the club in Sutton Street, with cheques being made payable to Tenby Bowling Club. The Corals Tournament for pairs, meanwhile, will be held on Monday, May 30.
