Tsunami Press Release

Dr. Ali Tahiri calmly sips tea as he flips through a Power Point presentation of his recent tsunami relief trips to Sri Lanka. Each picture is accompanied by a different story told with quiet intensity and great reverence.  He speaks of miracles, hope, and the power of the human spirit.  Within minutes, one realizes they are in the presence of an exceptional human being.

Tahiri refers to himself as an "international gypsy."   The Sri Lanka native lived in England, Hong Kong, Central America, and California before moving to the Village Walk home last July where he lives with his wife, Matti, and their two sons, 9-year-old Amaan and 10-year-old Ariya.  Both children are students at Pine View.

The day the tsunami struck, Tahiri took action.  He spoke to school officials at Pine View who wanted to give students the opportunity to take part in relief efforts.  Soon thereafter, WAVE AID was created in conjunction with the Sunrise Rotary Club, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), a service-oriented business association, and Why Me?, a global relief and awareness club.

With his international background and ties to Sri Lanka, Tahiri was an obvious choice to set up and supervise the implementation of the WAVE AID relief project.

As an honorary representative of Shelter Box USA, Tahiri has helped to provide shelter and supplies for thousands of tsunami victims.  Within 24 hours of the tsunami, Shelter Box USA sent 250 shelter boxes to the affected areas.  A shelter box includes 10 sleeping bags, a large tent capable of sleeping 10 adults, a stove, raincoats, a first aid kit, and water purification tablets to last for six months.

His first trip to Sri Lanka in January was mainly a fact-finding mission to assess the needs of the Sri Lankan people.  Tampa plastic surgeon Dr. Bart Rademaker accompanied Tahiri on his second mission to Sri Lanka in April along with several other doctors, nurses, and counselors.  This trip focused more on providing medical assistance to those with the greatest need.

Over the next 5-10 years, Tahiri has committed to visiting Sri Lanka four times per year.  His next trip is scheduled for November.

"Immediately, our target is to rebuild the schools that were washed away," says Tahiri.  "We would eventually like to have the opportunity to take the Pine View kids there to see the fruits of their labor."

While great strides are being made toward the relief efforts, there is still work to be done.

Life in Sri Lanka is returning to some semblance of normalcy, but, as Tahiri says, there remains an element of fear in the Sri Lankan people.

"You see people still looking at the ocean with trepidation from time to time.  This was a friend and provider that turned against them," he says.

Tahiri's missions focus on training Sri Lankan Rotarians to ensure their efforts will leave a lasting effect on the tsunami victims.

"We could work with a few of the people there and then just leave," says Tahiri.  "But our aim is to train 20 people who will continue to work in these villages, and will in turn train 20 more people and so on."

Tahiri was saddened to see what he refers to as "mismanagement of aid" in Sri Lanka.  Aid is often wrongly appropriated to venues where the Sri Lankan government is seeking political favor, he explains. Some areas he visited were receiving no aid whatsoever because it was physically difficult to travel there.

However, Tahiri assures that there is great hope for the future of Sri Lanka and its citizens.

"The famous Sri Lankan smile is starting to return," he says.  "I see parents picking up the pieces and moving on with their lives.  My hope is that they will find peace and prosperity in the end.  That is the greatest thing that could come out of this tragedy."

In addition to his work in Sri Lanka, Tahiri has dedicated his time and skill to children around the world.  His commitment to international public service has taken him to places such as Kenya, Pakistan, and Panama.

Additionally, Tahiri has lent a helping hand locally with hurricane relief efforts throughout Florida.  Last week, Sunrise Rotary Club and Pine View School donated 60 computers to Memorial Elementary in Arcadia.

And how has his family reacted to their oft absent patriarch?

"If there are any heroes here, it's my family," says Tahiri.  "If not for their support, none of this would be possible.  They are the ones who put up with me being gone for weeks at a time."

His sons have even been known to donate their own pocket money toward various relief efforts.  The fact that he has young children of his own, Tahiri explains, made his experience more poignant as he was constantly in contact with recently orphaned children.

"People often ask me what I get out of it and what I make.  I tell them, 'You need a special wallet to hold the currency that I am given doing what I do.  You look at the faces and the smiles of the children, you see that you're making a difference in their lives, and that is heart currency.' "

Anyone wishing to support WAVE AID may send a check payable to Pine

View School, attention: WAVE AID, 1 Python Path, Osprey, FL 34229. For more information, please call (941) 486-2001.

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION
SOUTH WEST LONDON COLLEGE (UNIVERSITY OF GREEWICH)
United Kingdom, Certified  Accountancy, 1989

MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Member 1996

MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Acupuncture Foundation 1996

MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA
Colombo, Sri Lanka Homeopathy Foundation 1998

MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Fellowship of Acupuncture Foundation 1999

MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Fellowship of Medicina Alternativa 1999

MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Doctor of Medicine 2001

MEDICINA ALTERNATIVA
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Doctor of Philosophy 2002

EXPERIENCE         

COLOMBO SOUTH TEACHING HOSPITAL,
Kalubowila, Sri Lanka, Accupunture Clinic 1999-2005

OPEN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY FOR COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINES,
Colombo Sri Lanka, Visiting Lecturer 1999 - 2005

MASENO MISSION HOSPITAL,
Maseno, Kenya, Visiting Medical Assistant 2003

ABOTTABAD TEACHING HOSPITAL
Pakistan, Visiting Medical Assistant 2005

PERSONAL           
Nationality: British

Date of Birth: October 19, 1954

Countries of Residence: Sri Lanka: 1954 – 76, Belgium 1976  
U.K 1977 – 96, Hong Kong 1996, Sri Lanka 1996 –1999,
U.S.A.1999–2003, Panama 2003–2004, U.S.A. 2004 –present.

Languages: English, Sinhalese.

Hobbies: Golf, Antiques, Photography.

Special Interests: Children, Environment, Self Improvement, Self Motivation, Alternative Medicine, Public Speaking

CHARITY PROJECTS  SRI LANKA

CHILDRENS CANCER HOSPITAL, Maharagama

PRISON BABIES PROJECT, Colombo

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL FREE MEDICAL CLINICS, Colombo

SPONSORING & PROVIDING SURGERY FOR CHILDREN UNTREATABLE IN Sri Lanka

TSUNAMI RELIEF, Countrywide

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, Pakistan

MEXICO, 1000 SMILES CLINIC, Ensanada,

FREE MEDICAL CLINICS & CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AWARNESS CAMPAIGN, Guadalajara

MASENO MISSION HOSPITAL, Maseno, Kenya

MEDICAL MISSIONS, Panama City, Panama

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, Bam, Iran

KARACHI EYE CORNEA PROJECT, Karachi, Pakistan

Past/present  Affiliations    

President Scout, Troop Leader, Asst Scout Master, St Peters College, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Past President, 2003-2003, San Diego North Rotary Club, San Diego, California

Director, Creekside Education Foundation 2001 - 2003, San Diego, California

Strategic Planning Committee Member 2002, Poway School District, Poway, California

Director International Service  2004/2005

Sarasota Sunrise Rotary Club, Sarasota Florida

Director, Sunrise Rotary Foundation 2004/2006, Sarasota, Florida

Director, Pineview Association 2004/2006, Osprey, Florida

Director, Operation Serving Children, Sarasota, Florida

Co-Founder, Wave Aid, Tsunami Relief Project

Sunrise Rotary Foundation & Pineview School

Sarasota Florida

Advisor to the Board, National Association for the Visually Handicapped, Sri Lanka

Advisor to the Board, Ananiquem, Childrens Burns Clinic, Panama City, Panama

Rotarian of the Year 2004 – 2005

Sarasota School District award for Innovative Project 2005

Honorary U.S.A. Representative to Sri Lanka

Shelter Box U.S.A. Tsunami Relief

Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming

Certified in Hypnotherapy

Currently establishing new corporations in the Organic Fertilizer  Industry, Rain Forest Reforestation and a Multi Function Mini Tractor

Entrepreneur