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Distributing relief supplies Our Response to the DisasterUpdated on March 9, 2005 Answering the Cry: An updated pictorial presentation of The Family's response to the disaster, including pictures of the new boats Updated on February 11, 2005 It has now been 43 days since the Tsunami struck. The Family India has been working at the disaster sites in Tamil Nadu since the 28th of December 2004. Over the last 41 days, we have been able to do the following with your help and support:
Read more about the village across the river Updated on January 21, 2005 The Tsunami that smashed into the coasts of Southeastern India left behind an unprecedented trail of devastation and despair. -- Never before have so many lost so much! Teams from The Family, India, have been at the disaster site since the 28th of December 2004 and will remain there for as long as they are needed. The following is an overview of how Family Vision and other units of The Family India have been involved in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in partnership with CERP (Coastal Earthquake Relief Programme or ‘The Claretians.’). Our teams have been focusing on 4 major areas:
Immediate Relief DistributionOur teams have been distributing relief supplies in the form of “Family Relief Packs” to the victims of the disaster. These packs include rice, dal, milk, biscuits, sugar, cooking pans, jugs and mats. So far we have distributed over 1500 Family Relief Packs to affected families in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts. 
Distributing Family Packs Community Boat ProjectGive a man a fish and you feed him for a day. The Family India has launched a “Community Boat Project” in a fishing village called Thanthiyarkuppam in Villupuram district and another village called Kameshwaram in Nagapattinam district. Since it is not possible to provide a boat to every single affected fisherman at this point in time, we are providing fiberglass-fishing boats which will be used jointly by the fishermen for the common good of their villages. The income from the fishing will be used for the sustenance of the entire village. A boat smashed by the waves Each of these motorized fiberglass boats is 29 feet long, 7 feet wide and 4 feet deep and costs approximately Rs. 1.5 lakhs. As of writing this report, we are providing 7 boats to the above mentioned villages. We hope to provide many more boats to other villages as we get the funding for them. Emotional Rehabilitation for Affected ChildrenThe Tsunami exacted a heavy emotional toll on thousands of children who have been traumatized by the disaster. Many of them don’t want to go anywhere near the sea again, others have recurring nightmares and most live in a state of fear. In response, The Family India has begun conducting emotional healing programmes for these children in Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu. These programmes involve sports activities, group games, music, clowning and having fun with the kids. We are happy to say that the children have been responding beautifully to these programmes. On the 15th and 16th of January, on the occasion of ‘Pongal’ we held a sports day and a children’s carnival which brought much happiness to nearly 500 children. 
Three-legged race 
Village children thrilled to receive school bags The Collector of Cuddalore District (the highest govt. authority there) has officially requested The Family India to conduct as many Emotional Healing Programmes as possible in the villages of Cuddalore. The following is an excerpt of his request letter dated the 18th of January 2005: The Family India in association with The Claretians has been conducting Emotional Healing Programmes for these children. They have been successful in bringing back the smile, happiness and laughter, which has been sadly missing from the villages since the disaster struck. Their innovative approach involves direct interaction with the children, playing group games, sports activities, extra-curricular activities etc. These programmes have been therapeutic in nature and have gone a long way in bringing back a sense of much needed normalcy to the entire village. The following is our schedule for conducting these programmes: Date Name of Village Number of Children 21st January Devanapattinam 1430 22nd January Singarthoppu 503 23rd January Sonankuppam 497 28th January Sothikuppam 112 29th January Pudupettai 200 30th January Samiyarpettai 119 4th February Pudukuppam 55 5th February Muzhukkuthrai 174 6th February T.S. Pettai 51 11th February M.G.R. Thittu 250 12th February Chinna Vaikkal & 9 Kannagi Nagar 78 13th February Pillu Medu & 29 Mudasalodai Nagar 180 Total No. of Children 3687 
She won a stuffed toy at the Pongal event School RenovationWe have taken up the renovation of the only school building in Thazhanguda village in Cuddalore. We are in the process of re-painting this school building so that it becomes an inspiring place where the children can return to study. |