Tsunami Recovery in Four Fishing Villages, India

More than three years after the tragedy, as relief has given way to the long and difficult process of reconstruction, it is essential to continue to support the efforts of affected and/or forgotten communities in regaining some normalcy and rebuilding their shattered lives.

A lot has been accomplished in 3 years. With close to 35,000 USD received in donations we provided boats and fishing nets to fishermen, shelter for villagers especially orphans, home reconstruction for families and medical/ school supplies.

Among the victim families of the natural disaster and other local poor families are talented but materially disadvantaged students who cannot pursue their dreams of a better educated life.

In the months ahead a special effort will be done to help 10 of these forgotten beneficiaries of the project. With 600 USD net (27,000Indian Rupees) per student per year we need to raise 6,000 USD to help them all for a full academic year which starts in Spring in Southern India.

As Field Supervisor (Mathew ), let me add for your information that deserving candidates selected (boys and girls) are studying for nursing, MBA, engineering or social sciences.

So, think fast, help quickly. Do something important. Change a life. Your valuable feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you.

Under this project progressing well and nearing completion, our priority continues to be post-disaster recovery, clean water, medical care, earning activities, and sending children to school.

For efficient results we continue to work with success in partnership with the reliable Indian Non-proft Charity Jeevana Samridhi (Life in Abundance) in Kochi, Kerala. They are also present in Tamil Nadu.

How do we work at village level or at refugee camps? For example, when a abandoned child is identified for the program of assistance, the first step is to protect the child by bringing him/her in a place where he/she can be taken care of in a family-like environment. See pictures 1,2,3 below in that order for the case of twin sisters Tanemozhi and Kanemozhi who were left homeless, hungry, sick and in despair after the tsunami in Tamil Nadu. Now an aunt is taking care of them with our support. They smile again to life.

Project is targeting about 425 people in four villages. Fishermen have already resumed their productive activities thanks to the generosity of many GlobalGiving donors and friends. Many children and poor families still need help. Thank you to help them and help us complete together all key actions of this project towards its initial goals.

1. Consolidated Project Results. Four years after the tsunami, fishermen have resumed their productive activities to feed their families, which were left with nothing after the tragic disaster; 10 houses have been rebuilt; and medical care was provided for a cost of US$14,763. Emergency relief has been completed at the cost of US$19,737. All this thanks to GlobalGiving donors. It made a difference in the life of these village families who were able to rebuild a livelihood in Tamil Nadu and Kerala (2005-2008), and Andhra Pradesh (2005). Special attention was given all these years to ensure that the recovery effort does not exacerbate existing inequities and that all people being helped are on their way to a better and safer development path than they were prior to this tragic tsunami. Poverty is still acute in the region and needs to be fought.

2. Action under way in 2009 includes helping about 60 refugee families at Kannaki Nagar. This is a small refugee camp/village slum 30 kilometers (20 miles) away from Chennai in Tamil Nadu where the government relocated thousand of village families who lost their houses in tsunami affected areas in 2005. In March 2009 many are still living there under difficult conditions (no jobs, no electricity, no access to school and transportation, unclean water and just a few square feet to sleep on the floor). Proposed activities as part of this project are to support 20 students; treat 5 persons in great need of medical care; provide paid city jobs to 10 unemployed rural head of families after training them; provide house maintenance needs to 20 families; and give marriage financial support to 5 girls (+ 5 girls in Kerala) to avoid their social exclusion and misery (US$475 for each bride). This action did not take off as planned in 2008 for lack of funds. Budget needed: US$15,500. Thank you for your generous support these difficult times.