The Superior General reports on out Tsunami relief efforts…30 June 2005
My brothers and sisters of the Vincentian Family,
May the grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ fill your hearts now and forever!
For our benefactors for the tsunami victims — a report from Fr. Sebastian Anthikad, Province of South India:
You must be interested to know our activities with the victims of tsunami at Kanyakumari village. For the last 5 months, I am with the victims, except for four or five days a month, which I spend in Vijayawada, doing the office work of Tsunami.
These are the various programmes that we have carried out till today for the benefit of the victims of Tsunami.
* Kindergarten for the children of the affected people.
There are 99 children below the age of 12. Two teachers, one housemother and a messenger are appointed to look after the children from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. They are taught the basics of alphabets, numbers, rhymes, music, dance, indoor and outdoor games.
* Nutrition Centre.
Here we provide the children with milk, biscuits and fruits. We also arrange with the local doctor a weekly medical checkup.
* Family visits, counseling and awareness building.
Three sisters and two brothers who are qualified are engaged with this programme. The people are suffering from fear and trauma caused by the Tsunami. The counseling and family visits are very helpful for the people as a whole and women and children in particular. We use street plays, music, dramas, skits, puppets, flannel card, discussion, seminar, workshop, etc. to build up confidence in the victims.
* Herbal medicines and herbal treatment.
This is a new means in this area used to treat the common sickness of the victims with minimum cost, without any side effects. The people are introduced to herbal plants at the time of demonstration and the different use of herbal plants is explained to them.
* Supply of household articles
We supplied to the 100 families cooking stove, table, fans, chairs, plastic containers and the household items like plates and glasses.
* School Uniforms.
We supplied school uniforms and stationery to 300 children of the village. There are another 250 more to be supplied.
* We have opened a tailoring centre for the girls who are not occupied with anything.
* .
We selected 75 families of daily wage earners who are not in a position to own any fishing craft, either before or after the tsunami. We provided one “vallam” (fiber boat), two nets, one motor engine and other accessories to three families. We are trying to find the money needed to provide the rest with fishing craft.
* Finally our programme of construction of 150 houses is yet to take shape. It depends upon the Government of Tamil Nadu. It has to give the land for the people and the plan of the house so that we could start the construction of the houses.
As the monsoon has already started the temporary shelters have started to wither away. We have given them tarpaulin to cover the roof. They will have to put up and pull on with this rainy season.
As you can tell, funds are still needed. If possible, please consider another donation. We can channel it through the General Curia of the Congregation of the Mission.
Your brother in St. Vincent,
G. Gregory Gay, C.M.
