THESE children need help and Ipswich woman Violet Gitzer is determined to give it to them.Each of them lost parents in the Indian Ocean tsunami and each of them need cash to continue with their studies.

THESE children need help and Ipswich woman Violet Gitzer is determined to give it to them.

Each of them lost parents in the Indian Ocean tsunami and each of them need cash to continue with their studies.

Mrs Gitzer of Wimborne Road, Ipswich, travelled to Sri Lanka recently to take aid to the areas worst affected.

Mrs Gitzer is appealing to the public to sponsor children who lost parents in the tsunami.

The children she is attempting to help are being cared for by the sisters of The Holy Family based in the capital Colombo.

She said they had been badly affected by the events of Boxing Day and although they attempt to smile, the pain can be seen in their eyes.

Throughout Mrs Gitzer's trip she heard some remarkable stories of loss.

She added: "One woman had lost 25 members of her family. She only went to Sri Lanka a year ago from Saudi Arabia to look for a living. She was completely inconsolable."

Mrs Gitzer said she had managed to bring some comfort to the children by hugging them and had taken toys for the younger ones donated by Gill Angrave and Sheila Swannick who both live in Martlesham.

She has also launched a major fundraising campaign through her charity Support for World in Need and is hoping to buy boats to support fisherman and to provide cash for poultry farms.

She said: "No one wants hand-outs. They want to fish for themselves like they have been doing for generations. They want to rear their own chickens.

"The experience was amazing and there were some very sad stories.

"It was especially rewarding speaking to the people themselves. I think being there with them means a lot to them, to share their sorrow and their life."

Cash was raised prior to Mrs Gitzer's trip and whilst in Sri Lanka she managed to give people some of the tools needed to help them back to work.

Audrey Canell, from Woodbridge also went on the trip to offer support.

Support for World in Need was founded by Mrs Gitzer and her daughter Cathy in 1999 in response to the refugee crisis in Kosovo and Macedonia.

Cathy was unable to accompany her mother on the latest trip because she is currently studying at St Andrews University in Scotland.

However, she did help with the fundraising effort and instead of having presents on her 21st birthday she asked friends to donate money to the appeal.

N Children can be sponsored for as little as £5 a month by contacting Violet Gitzer at Support for World In Need on 01473 271671. Donations can be made on the same number. Alternatively email world.need@btinternet.com or make a donation at Lloyds Bank, Cornhill Ipswich account number 3684718, sort code 30-94-55.