Ramriratheep’s village in Sri Lanka was devastated by the tsunami’s waves. The 17-year-old was among a group of 30 young men and women who received carpentry training from Oxfam so that they could help build new houses for people living in emergency shelters.

“We had training on-site whenever Oxfam was building houses in this village,” explains Ramriratheep. “I enjoyed it. We were paid 200 rupees per day and were given tea and lunch. It’s good that girls learn too. I helped to build many houses – 15 in this area. When I walk past a house that I helped to build, I feel very happy.”