Jersey Side by Side
Website www.sidebyside.je
E-mail sidebyside@jerseymail.co.uk
Chairman: Michael Wavell. Tel: 01534 725321
The Treasurer, c/o Secretary Trenna Forrest,
Jersey Side By Side,
Chant de la Mer,
4 Les Fourneaux, La Rue de la Corbiere,
St.Brelade, Jersey JE3 8HP
History
On Boxing Day 2004, the world united in shock and sympathy when an undersea earthquake led to devastating floods across low-lying areas of South-East Asia, including Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia. More than 230,000 people lost their lives and whole towns and communities were swept away or reduced to ruins.
In Jersey, there was a spontaneous outpouring of generosity, initially in response to the South-East Asia Appeal launched by the Island’s Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache. With help from many individuals and organisations, this appeal eventually raised £1.5m towards the British Red Cross’s efforts on behalf of the victims.
One of the partners in the appeal was the Jersey Evening Post. In January 2005, the newspaper invited its readers to join in a gesture of solidarity with the stricken people of other coastal communities by gathering in silent fellowship on the beach at St Ouen’s Bay.
The event, organised by JEP assistant editor Anthony Lewis with creative assistance from Jersey artist Ian Rolls, attracted 5,000 Islanders, who lined up together to spell out the message SIDE BY SIDE. As the emphasis moved to reconstruction, the decision was taken that the Bailiff’s appeal, and Jersey’s extraordinary response to it, should become the basis for a permanent charity.
The result was the launch of Jersey Side by Side, which now works to fulfil the commitment made at St Ouen’s Bay in January 2005, to support the rebuilding of lives damaged by the tsunami and to channel Jersey’s community spirit to help relieve the victims of other tragedies, wherever in the world they are with other disasters wherever in the world they occur.
Aims
Jersey Side by Side’s aims are:
To fulfil the commitment towards victims of the tsunami expressed by the citizens of Jersey who gathered on the beach at St Ouen’s Bay on 30 January 2005. In Sri Lanka, this commitment includes the completion of a vocational centre teaching new skills at Matara and the provision of its initial running costs.
To complete the building of a new school for up to 300 girls in Mera Bakot, in the area of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan. The original school was destroyed by the earthquake there in 2005.
To offer a swift, flexible response to future emergencies, channelling the goodwill and generosity of the people of Jersey.
To promote international friendship and encourage the people of Jersey to look outward and share the Island’s good fortune with other communities.
Jersey Side by Side is not associated with any political or religious organisation or set beliefs.