On Boxing Day 2004, Rob, Paul, Matty and Rosie Forkan tragically lost their parents in the Boxing Day Tsunami that devastated Sri Lanka. Aged from 8 to 17, they subsequently faced a harrowing 200km trek across the decimated country to get home to safety.
The bravery, ingenuity and resilience they displayed was the result of their unusual upbringing. Taken out of school at a young age, they received an unconventional and global education, learning independence and resourcefulness whilst carrying out voluntary work for charities in India alongside their parents.
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On Boxing Day 2004, Rob, Paul, Matty and Rosie Forkan tragically lost their parents in the Boxing Day Tsunami that devastated Sri Lanka. Aged from 8 to 17, they subsequently faced a harrowing 200km trek across the decimated country to get home to safety.
The bravery, ingenuity and resilience they displayed was the result of their unusual upbringing. Taken out of school at a young age, they received an unconventional and global education, learning independence and resourcefulness whilst carrying out voluntary work for charities in India alongside their parents.
In the decade since the tsunami, Rob and Paul have achieved an incredible feat. From the front room of their rented flat they created a multinational designer flip flop brand, Gandys, endorsed by entrepreneurs including Sir Richard Branson, and adored by celebrities including Jessica Alba. But these are no ordinary flip flops. The company funds Orphans for Orphans, their charitable organization that supports deprived children around the world. They recently attended Buckingham Palace where they were recognised for their work by Her Majesty the Queen as exceptional Young Leaders. Rob and Paul have returned to Sri Lanka since the tsunami and funded a children’s home there.
This book is a heartbreaking, engaging but ultimately uplifting narrative that details, through first-hand retelling, the Forkans' incredible journey from tragedy in Sri Lanka to the boardrooms of London, Downing Street and beyond as told by two inspirational survivors.
