Tsunami Recovery in Five Coastal Villages, India
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Updates from the Field:
Updates from the Field (or Progress Reports) on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.com by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
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Index of Updates from the Field
Brief update on rural teenage girls schooling
By Backiamary - In Charge of St Joseph House, Santhome, Chennai, November 20, 2008 11:21 AM
Dear Madam or Sir,
Loving greetings from Backiam.
Hope you are doing well.
With God's grace and with your support we are keeping well. Girls are doing well their studies. Now we have 20 children. I have sent a photo to Mr Mathew, project coordinator, showing the new girls studying.
Mathew visited our new premises. We could feel at home there too. The people who live in the premises are kind to us. Since the hostel is closer to the shool it is much convenient to the girls. There are more demand to join the shelter and school, but with our limited means, I am taking only the most needy.
Everything is possible because of your kind support to us. Thanking you for that.
Our Sincere prayers to you all.
With much love
Backiamary.
Attachments:
Progress in Home Care for Poor Rural Teenage Girl Students
By Backiamary D. - In Charge of St Joseph House, Santhome, Chennai, May 13, 2008 04:58 PM
Dear Respected GlobalGiving Contributors,
Loving Greetings from India!
I am writing this progress report and follow-up action for the ongoing Home Care for Poor Rural Teenage Girl Students in Santhome, Chennai, a vital component of this project. Attached is the group photo of the girls.
AIM OF THE PROJECT COMPONENT: To run a free house accommodation for the underprivileged teenage girls to enable them to complete high school finals AND (new follow-up action) to attend short-term technical courses in the city so as to learn a trade.
REASON FOR INITIAL PROJECT COMPONENT (ongoing):
The Tsunami that hit Tamil Nadu, India in Dec 2004 deprived many of our children of the essential necessities of schooling and home. St Joseph's House came into being in 2005 to provide food and lodging for 25 tsunami-affected students of the 10th, 11th and 12th Standard grades.
Since June 2005 these students have had the benefits of a secure environment, conducive to the preparation of their final exams. Their food and household amenities was taken care of by the House and in part (see below) by donations through GlobalGiving, which have been life saving help the second year.
St Joseph's house has been fortunate to have had good sponsors for these past 3 years (Caritas India the first year till April 2006; Mary Mother of Peace-Medjugorje Charity and its partner in India Jesus Youth/Jeewana Samridhi the second year till April 2007 including some vital funding to MMP-MC through Global Giving Foundation; the Bishop’s Office in Chennai-Santhome the third year till April 2008). The operating budget we incurred for each year was around Rs.330,000/- (US$ 8,250) plus some small equipment in 2007 such as 25 benches and tables, etc provided by MMP-MC/JY (US$900). Operating budget included the rent for the accommodation of the students in the boarding house/hostel.
PURPOSE OF FOLLOW-UP PROJECT COMPONENT:
After ongoing project implementation is drawing close to 3 years now and most current students will be finishing their school finals in April 2008, there is a need to plan for next step to make the whole scheme sustainable over time. A majority of the girls being financially handicapped cannot afford to continue their higher education. This is bringing St Joseph's house to the next level of its purpose - that is, to provide the same facilities so that these girls and other poor rural children could attend short-term technical courses like home nursing, lab technician courses and basic knowledge in computers. These courses are free and sponsored by local NGOs in the city.
One problem we face today is the house’s landlord has requested us to vacate the facilities as he is in need of the building for himself and his activities. To avoid a similar problem in future it would be better to own an apartment or a house to accommodate the students. Keeping this in mind St Joseph's House is looking forward to have its own premises for the uninterrupted running of the hostel and schooling of the girls. If this provision is made then the monthly rental expenditure which escalates annually could be used for better running the house. The buying of city water could also be avoided as the current house has no water supply (we buy every week from a city truck).
Our future plan is to keep St Joseph's house open to reach out to about 10 to 20 rural teenage girls per year aspiring for short-term vocational training courses in the city, so as to secure their future.
EXPECTED BUDGET for MAY 2008 to APRIL 2009:
In Rs for each month: (US$ 1 = Rs 40)
Rent of premises 10,000.00
(optional - if still not owned)
Electricity 2,000.00
Food @ 500/- per girl 5,000.00 (If starting with 10 girls only)
Water 2,000.00
(if new owned premises has
city water direct supply this expense
could be avoided)
Salary - Cook 2,000.00
Watchman
2,000.00
Medical and Telephone 2,000.00
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Total one month 25,000.00 (US$625)
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Therefore we require the total amount of Rs 275,000/- ( 25,000 x 11 months) or about US$6,875 for one year. We will be very grateful if we are helped to pursue our goals for the coming years. We look forward to a positive reply from the GlobalGiving family.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
Backiamary D.
In charge-St Joseph's House.
Attachments:
Happy 2008 GlobaGiving Donors!
By PierLo - Volunteer, December 26, 2007 05:47 PM
Hi! dear Friends and GlobalGiving Donors,
Let me wish you a Merry Christmas and all my very best wishes for 2008:
I hope you will get what you long for and that 2008 will be filled with happiness and love.
Forgive me for not writing to each of you individually; I do think of you as such! Do get all my love, you all are dear to me and I do wish you the very best from the deepest core of my heart. May you always be happy.
They are still 20,000 families in India who need a new home three years after the catastrophic tsunami.
Thanks to you and GlobalGiving some survivors are rebuilding their homes and their lives with much gratitude. Thank you for your generosity.
PierLo with much love
Footnote from MMP-MC: PierLo is a young woman and HS teacher from France who spent a year in India as a MMP-MCharity unpaid volunteer to help poor children and suffering families.
Some progress on rebuilding homes
By Mathew Sebastian - Field Operations Supervisor, November 19, 2007 08:44 PM
Greetings and Loving regards to all at Global Giving and MMP-Charity in America in the name of the Lord!
We hope everything is safe with His grace!
Our social work activities are going on well in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
I have done field visit these days especially to monitor the house construction of Mr. Sebastiane and Mr. Joseph. I am enclosing here copy of the photos of both house construction for your reference.
Mr. Sebastiane and his son are masons and both of them are working hard to complete the construction of walls. Mr. Joseph has completed the construction of walls and these days he is about to complete the roofing with funds he hopes to get soon from Global Giving donors. Thank you in advance.
During the field visit I could see that both families are so glad and thankful to God because of your concern and support that they are going to fulfill their dreams. There are two more families continuing the construction of houses and hope to visit after a few days.
With warm regards,
Mathew Sebastian.
Attachments:
Rebuilding destroyed homes
By Mathew Sebastian - Field operations Supervisor, July 16, 2007 05:54 PM
Dear Global Giving Friends and MMP-MCharity Executives,
Greetings from India with God's blessing to America!
Regarding the house construction, there are two family members who have completed the foundation work. Another family already completed the foundation work and they are constructing the walls. These families are really worried about forthcoming monsoon and trying all their best to complete the roof at the earliest.
We hope our mighty God will bless these peoples to meet all the necessary needs through your dedicated efforts for the poor.
With best regards,
Mathew Sebastian
Project Field Operations Supervisor
2006 annual report
By Bernard Dussert - Treasurer, April 02, 2007 05:25 PM
Dear Global Giving benefactors,
We especially thank all those who contributed these past two years to make a difference in the life of many suffering people in Southern India. Enclosed new MMP-MC annual report (10 pages, India in front) will brief you on progress made and work still to be done to complete this post-tsunami project in a timely manner.
E-mail us if you have specific questions and we will be pleased to respond.
With the remarkable partnership we also have in India with Jeevana Samridhi Charity/Jesus Youth non-profit for this project, each dollar is going a long way in helping beneficiaries rebuild their lives, homes, health and livelihoods, and in sending boys and girls to school in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Medical program is saving the life of a few children and making healthy again many others.
Our ratio of management cost to core program expenses is a low 5% placing MMP-MC --although a small Charity--among the best non-profits for financial performance and good use of your donations.
God bless you all. Bernard
(see attachment)
Attachments:
Tsunami recovery phase II: Project update
By Bernie - Treasurer, February 22, 2007 12:36 PM
Assessments and supervision are a continuing process and new project data are fine-tuned as we progress in our knowledge of situation and real needs, village by village, and through actions undertaken.
Actions include as of beginning 2007:
(a) Providing household utensils, clean water, food supplements, clothes, medical care, school supplies, 20 sewing machines for young village women at $100 each, a few fishing nets at US$155 each (if needed), and technical assistance/training for livelihoods recovery including women (sub-total of US$4,500) ;
(b) Repairing and rebuilding homes in disaster areas (10 new homes at US$2,000 per home); 7 homes were rebuilt in 2006 including clean water supply and electricity connection;
(c) Protecting and sponsoring children through a God-parenthood program in Kerala and Tamil Nadu (10 children at US$550 per child for a year) and helping orphans (Food and necessities for 20 orphans in Kerala for 10 months: US$5,000); this successful program will continue in 2007;
(d) Helping a new school in 2007 (has just been selected) as our assistance to 25 tsunami-affected girls students in Chennai has now received local funding for 2007-2008 and is self sustainable (St Joseph Shelter in Santhome managed by Ms. Backiamary): Budget proposed: US$9,950 for one school year; and
(e) Carrying out surgical operations in private local hospitals to save the life of poor children who survived the tsunami, on a case by case basis (US$9,900 for major surgery such as cardiology; US1,000 for minor surgery such as ear, eye). Minor operations are planned for this project (US$4,000) and a major one (US$5,000).
More info is available in project update report of Feb 10, 2007 attached (doc 1).
Attachments:
Helping 25 girls in Santhome finish school
By Bernie - Volunteer Treasurer of MMP-MC, October 19, 2006 03:02 PM
News from Santhome, Chennai: Two years after the tsunami, we are filled with hope, as we help people in India rebuild their homes, their lives and their livelihoods. The stories of the resilience of the survivors of the tsunami and local volunteers are inspiring. One example among many others is what Ms. Backiamary does to help 25 poor girls of all faiths. The girls are radiating joy simply because they can go to school. We want now to ensure the girls can finish their school compulsory program and get their degree. See attached update. Thank you for your support. Bernie
Attachments:
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