In simple, heartbreaking detail, Sobanath describes the moment just before the tsunami hit and the crushing aftermath.
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"I was catching prawns with my grandfather and younger brother. We did not see the wave come," he said. "The bodies of my grandfather and my younger brother were never found."
Fast forward just a few months, and see young Sobanath, confident and strong as the head of the new local children's club, established – and documented on film – with the help of Plan.
Sobanath was one of six children from the two worst affected villages in Nagapattinam district in the state of Tamil Nadu, who went behind the camera in 2005 to describe the tsunami, how they survived, as well as the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.
"Tsunami: Before and After" describes some of Plan's post-tsunami work in India – from children's clubs and plays to teach hygiene, to children's participation in permanent housing designs and assistance for their parents' livelihoods.
"The tsunami has made everyone equal. There are no rich and no poor," says a narrator in the 16-minute documentary, produced by the children, aged 13 to 16, under the guidance of independent filmmaker Shonu Chandra, and with input from renowned Indian director and producer Govind Nihalani.
"It has also brought children to the centre of their community's development. Today, we also feel, just like adults, we have a voice and that our views are respected. We children received an opportunity to express our needs in the relief and ongoing reconstruction activities. Our views need to be taken into consideration if each and every resource is to be optimally utilized. Also, we are the ones who will be responsible for these resources in the future."
