This phase of project smiles was made possible by the efforts fo PDG Eugene Bail who after reading our blog wanted to swiftly do something for the Tsunami affected people.
He sent in USD 2500 which was used to purchase 4 TVs and sports equipments for 4 villages. A little is left of what he has sent and that will be used for funding transportation to psychiatrists who we hope will be able to help these people find their feet through counselling.
Thanks once again Gene.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
The school which the village ehadman - Perunmal took us to in the village. This is not the school for which the headmaster made a plea. Ths school has requested for 2 computers and some furniture. The computers will benefit more than 400 students in three or four villages nearby. what is seen si the entire school.
Project Smiles - TVs for the Tsunami affected
We set out again on the 15th of August, on the day of India's Independance. We went out to try and bring smiles into the faces of people who have been affected by the Tsunami 8 months ago and to understand their current needs and see how we can help them.
The objective was to visit 4 villages and give them a 29 inch TV each and a collection of sports equipment. Cricket kits, Volleyballs, nets, footballs, carrom boards, chess board and men and so on.
Every village we visited had been affected by the Tsunami and its residents were before the Tsunami living in reasonable comfort. They were not in poverty and now due to an act of nature theye have lost much of their assets and have to look forward to hlp from others to get started again in their lives.
We had also planned to visit the village where we had given Catamarans and nets to get them started. AND a surprise was awaiting us. The villagers had shown the local Govt. official what they were able to achieve with the help of Rotary and had negotiated for permanent housing quarters for the village. We were witness to the hectic constructin activity taking place at the village and found the TV (Chip Ross) we had given was out in the open and people were enjoying themselves. However the fishermen were out at sea, there was no holiday for them independance day or not. No work no food, no rest even for a single day is possible.
The villages , Nadukuppam, Kottakuppam, kandanchavadi and Sodanai Chavandi was where we distributed the TVs and sports equipment. Every village wanted help in getting back to work and it was evident that only those villages that had marketed themselves were able to get relief.
It was in the village Kottakuppam, where I had the chance to meet the widow of Carpenter Gopi. You can scroll down and read the story of Gopi who committed suicide. His widow was living with Gopi's mother and the two women were found to be in bad shae emotionally and financially. Gopi's child had been taken by a French (?) couple and now they were asking his widow for Rs 20000 so they can take the child to France with them. we advised her to first enquire thoroughly before she sent her child with these people.
In the village where we saw her (Kottukuppam) we also visited the primary school (there is no secondary school here) where they had set aside a small room for computers. The digital divide here is very wide and we hope that by providing a few computers and some furniture we will be able to make a difference to the three villages which rely on this village for education.
The village headman showed great enthusiasm and told us that a priest from a nearby school has agreed to send teachers for teaching computers to the children in and around the village.
All in all a great day out, much was accomplished and with help from Eugene Bail who made this day out possible, we were able to bring smiles to 4 villages and this totalling to 2000 people and more.
The objective was to visit 4 villages and give them a 29 inch TV each and a collection of sports equipment. Cricket kits, Volleyballs, nets, footballs, carrom boards, chess board and men and so on.
Every village we visited had been affected by the Tsunami and its residents were before the Tsunami living in reasonable comfort. They were not in poverty and now due to an act of nature theye have lost much of their assets and have to look forward to hlp from others to get started again in their lives.
We had also planned to visit the village where we had given Catamarans and nets to get them started. AND a surprise was awaiting us. The villagers had shown the local Govt. official what they were able to achieve with the help of Rotary and had negotiated for permanent housing quarters for the village. We were witness to the hectic constructin activity taking place at the village and found the TV (Chip Ross) we had given was out in the open and people were enjoying themselves. However the fishermen were out at sea, there was no holiday for them independance day or not. No work no food, no rest even for a single day is possible.
The villages , Nadukuppam, Kottakuppam, kandanchavadi and Sodanai Chavandi was where we distributed the TVs and sports equipment. Every village wanted help in getting back to work and it was evident that only those villages that had marketed themselves were able to get relief.
It was in the village Kottakuppam, where I had the chance to meet the widow of Carpenter Gopi. You can scroll down and read the story of Gopi who committed suicide. His widow was living with Gopi's mother and the two women were found to be in bad shae emotionally and financially. Gopi's child had been taken by a French (?) couple and now they were asking his widow for Rs 20000 so they can take the child to France with them. we advised her to first enquire thoroughly before she sent her child with these people.
In the village where we saw her (Kottukuppam) we also visited the primary school (there is no secondary school here) where they had set aside a small room for computers. The digital divide here is very wide and we hope that by providing a few computers and some furniture we will be able to make a difference to the three villages which rely on this village for education.
The village headman showed great enthusiasm and told us that a priest from a nearby school has agreed to send teachers for teaching computers to the children in and around the village.
All in all a great day out, much was accomplished and with help from Eugene Bail who made this day out possible, we were able to bring smiles to 4 villages and this totalling to 2000 people and more.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Artificial Limb Camp
The valedictory fnuction of an atrificial limb camp, a part of the helping hands project happened on Saturday the 6th of August in the AM.
Helping hands is a joint project of the RC of Chennai Kilpauk and Strathcona Sunrise. This was the first of the artificial limb camps this year. The enxt camp would be for the disabled in a town called Vellore about 160 Kms from Chennai and the third camp will be in the second week of January next year when Rtn. Chip Ross visits us.
At this camp we gave away 65 limbs all of them legs to 65 disabled people.
Mr. Princeson Jose of Prince Jewellers was the Chief guest for the function and he was so touched with what he saw and experienced he made a donation to the project after the fnuction. Some people can handle disability and some find it difficult to do so. venkatesh is a boy of about 16 years of age who lost his left leg in a traffic related accident about 8 months ago. His father and mother have been a great support and have seen him thorugh difficult times and in fact the mother was there with him at the camp. She tells me that they are now finding it difficult to continue his studies because of the extra cost involved because of his disability. This boy definitely neesd counselling and help.
I do hope helping hands goes one step further in the comnig years and is able to set up a counsellnig center for disabled people. No vocational trainnig, no monetary help here, only counselling and talking them into standing on their own feet.
There was a girl however, who in the pictures is wearing a green dress who has adjusted to her disability remarkably. She stopped studying and took on a job and seems quite happy with her life. I asked her fi I could help her pursue her studies to which she responded ni the negative and asid that she was happy now working.
Helping Hands has been and always will be a very rewarding project.
Helping hands is a joint project of the RC of Chennai Kilpauk and Strathcona Sunrise. This was the first of the artificial limb camps this year. The enxt camp would be for the disabled in a town called Vellore about 160 Kms from Chennai and the third camp will be in the second week of January next year when Rtn. Chip Ross visits us.
At this camp we gave away 65 limbs all of them legs to 65 disabled people.
Mr. Princeson Jose of Prince Jewellers was the Chief guest for the function and he was so touched with what he saw and experienced he made a donation to the project after the fnuction. Some people can handle disability and some find it difficult to do so. venkatesh is a boy of about 16 years of age who lost his left leg in a traffic related accident about 8 months ago. His father and mother have been a great support and have seen him thorugh difficult times and in fact the mother was there with him at the camp. She tells me that they are now finding it difficult to continue his studies because of the extra cost involved because of his disability. This boy definitely neesd counselling and help.
I do hope helping hands goes one step further in the comnig years and is able to set up a counsellnig center for disabled people. No vocational trainnig, no monetary help here, only counselling and talking them into standing on their own feet.
There was a girl however, who in the pictures is wearing a green dress who has adjusted to her disability remarkably. She stopped studying and took on a job and seems quite happy with her life. I asked her fi I could help her pursue her studies to which she responded ni the negative and asid that she was happy now working.
Helping Hands has been and always will be a very rewarding project.
Monday, August 01, 2005
A short report on happenings
I have not posted for sometime. So here is a short report on what has been happening in and out of the Club.
The first artificial limb camp for the year is on and the valedictory function will be on the 6th of August, we will be giving away more than 60 artificial limbs. This is a joint project with the RC of Strathcona Sunrise.
The vocational service Director Vijaya has been evry busy and has bene conducting English speaking classes in Thiru Vi Ka School for students. The problem is that these children have almost no little of English and the going is tough. However, the Annes and Rtm Vijaya are giving it their best with a lot of help from a few Rtns.
After the Vaedictory function the members are driving over to Pondicherry about 160 Kms away for retreat. The idea is to brainstorm over the weekend and lay down plans for the club.
On the 15th of August we hope to work on project smiles. Thanks to PDG Eugene Bail and Rtn. Sally Platt we will be giving away TVs and cricket kits, radios and toys to people affected by the Tsunami. It will be a long day and the villages have already been identified. Rtn Vidya has been hard at work and has identified the villages which will receive the TVs.
When Vidya went out to the villages to find out which villages will benefit from the TVs, she first went to the villages where the TVs were given and found that they were the most used equipment. Almost every household had had a TV pre Tsunami and now the entire village shares one TV (the one given by Rotary). This has been a great bonding factor and the three villages are very grateful for Rotary for the entertainment they get out of the TVs. Over 50 people watch the TV in every village and we are told the TVs run continuously. Boy am I glad we did it, we have been succesful in bringing smiles into the lives of these people.
I really am looking forwrad to going over on the 15th with 4 TVs for these people. Not to forget the cricket kits for the teenagers and the play things for the girls.
Vidya has been approached by these villages eeking help in putting their schools together, a village wants 2 computers some furniture and the likes. Most students are sitting on the floor and sharing one classroom with 3 classes. One teacher most probably would be taking lessons for the the three classes at the same time. We will be trying to understand what they want and need when we go there on the 15th.
The first artificial limb camp for the year is on and the valedictory function will be on the 6th of August, we will be giving away more than 60 artificial limbs. This is a joint project with the RC of Strathcona Sunrise.
The vocational service Director Vijaya has been evry busy and has bene conducting English speaking classes in Thiru Vi Ka School for students. The problem is that these children have almost no little of English and the going is tough. However, the Annes and Rtm Vijaya are giving it their best with a lot of help from a few Rtns.
After the Vaedictory function the members are driving over to Pondicherry about 160 Kms away for retreat. The idea is to brainstorm over the weekend and lay down plans for the club.
On the 15th of August we hope to work on project smiles. Thanks to PDG Eugene Bail and Rtn. Sally Platt we will be giving away TVs and cricket kits, radios and toys to people affected by the Tsunami. It will be a long day and the villages have already been identified. Rtn Vidya has been hard at work and has identified the villages which will receive the TVs.
When Vidya went out to the villages to find out which villages will benefit from the TVs, she first went to the villages where the TVs were given and found that they were the most used equipment. Almost every household had had a TV pre Tsunami and now the entire village shares one TV (the one given by Rotary). This has been a great bonding factor and the three villages are very grateful for Rotary for the entertainment they get out of the TVs. Over 50 people watch the TV in every village and we are told the TVs run continuously. Boy am I glad we did it, we have been succesful in bringing smiles into the lives of these people.
I really am looking forwrad to going over on the 15th with 4 TVs for these people. Not to forget the cricket kits for the teenagers and the play things for the girls.
Vidya has been approached by these villages eeking help in putting their schools together, a village wants 2 computers some furniture and the likes. Most students are sitting on the floor and sharing one classroom with 3 classes. One teacher most probably would be taking lessons for the the three classes at the same time. We will be trying to understand what they want and need when we go there on the 15th.
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