Students at Blue Point School have raised more than $300 and donated 130 “comfort kits” for Sri Lankan children who are rebuilding from the tsunami that struck their country in December.

Their efforts are part of the Sahana Project, which was developed by Ru Freeman, a Sri Lankan-born Waterville resident and recently naturalized U.S. citizen. The Sahana Project is working to rebuild the Kalametiya village, which is located near the Kumana bird-life sanctuary on the southeastern coast of Sri Lanka.

The village was home to about 100 people living in 31 households when it was destroyed by the tsunami. The Sahana Project is seeking donations from a wide range of organizations including schools, churches, communities and trade associations within Maine and other states to assist in rebuilding a small component of the village.

The kits the school children donated will be shipped to the village’s children and the money they raised will assist with the shipping costs. Each kit contains a stuffed animal, a picture of the students and a small note. Other items that are included in the kits were up to each student. Some included toiletries, while other kits had coloring books and crayons.

“We wanted to find a way for kids to help other kids,” said Lisa Freeman, Ru Freeman’s sister-in-law, who is assisting with the Sahana project.

Lisa Freeman approached the Greater Portland Mothers and Fathers organization about collecting the comfort kits. Lynne Rinaldi, a parent of a Blue Point School student brought the idea to the school and soon after the entire building was assisting with the effort.

Building at the new Kalametiya village has started in a new area three kilometers from the coast. The Sahana Project’s goal to rebuild the village’s 31 homes and have the families settled in by the Sri Lankan New Year, which is on April 14. The town will have a new playground, community building, and orchards and gardens for growing produce.

For more information on the Sahana Project visit the group’s Web site at www.sahanaproject.org.

Some of the Blue Point School students who collected money and