The tragic tidal wave of December 2004 took a heavy toll on lives and families around the Chennai coastal region. Many families lost loved ones and many children lost one or both parents, leaving them orphaned and with little hope of rescue from poverty, starvation and disease.
Eagles Wings, together with their Indian partner, Moses Prem Kumar, have put together a rescue package for at least 200 of these children by taking them to a purpose built children’s centre in Yelambakkam, about 50 km inland from the city and situated in two acres of countryside.
The children have been grouped together into family care units of about 30-40 children so that they are brought up in a caring and loving environment. As the children’s centre is developed and built, all of these groups will come together in one centre. At this stage, 50 of the children are living at Yelambakkam with 8 adult carers and cooks.
Two acres of land has already been purchased outright and the initial accommodation block for 50 children, toilets, cooking and utility areas are already complete. As funds permit, we will start on the next accommodation block for the next 40 children (approximately £8000). We have fresh running water on site from a borehole, good water storage facilities and the land is firmly secured with a perimeter fence.
House Of Hope, Phase 1
It is our desire to make this project as self sufficient as possible by growing vegetables for the children to eat and to sell locally, and training the older children in tailoring and various skills.
We are financing a bus for school transport at about £250 per month, as the nearest school is several miles away, and fees are around £30 per child per term. Schooling has been subsidised by the Indian Government, down from £60 per term to £30 per term for the orphans, but to date we have not seen a single Rupee from any of the millions of British and world aid sent after the tsunami. In addition to this, each child must provide for himself a school uniform, daily packed lunch, school bag, his own books, and pay for daily transport. Not surprisingly, with no money from family or state, many children receive no education and have little hope of ever receiving any.
Orphans from the Tsunami
“I have seen a notable difference in the children since I first met them 2 years ago. They are cared for, look nice, are happy, have fun and enjoy school.” Says Bruce.
We have been able to give each child a mattress, blanket, travel bag, school bag, books, pencils, and toys of their own through the generosity of our UK friends at Eagles Wings. They now have their own clothes, a school uniform and we are just managing to keep them going with a balanced food diet.
Our ongoing struggle is to help with the daily food, transport and school fees. Whilst this pressure is on us, it is difficult to build more accommodation blocks and provide long term solutions to the need for self sufficiency at the centre. “I am conscious of the children who are not at the centre yet, who are not eating properly and who are not being schooled at all” says Bruce.
Any support is very welcome, either for the ongoing cost of food or to help with the school bus and education. Larger amounts will be used to start the next accommodation block and develop the vegetable garden.
