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Inauguration |
The final stage in the work of Project Hope, India Heritage Research Foundation in the tsunami affected areas has been completed and inaugurated. On May 12, the orphanage which we built for the tsunami orphans as well as facilities for over 300 children who had been orphaned prior to the tsunami was inaugurated by the hands of H.E. the Hon. Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Surjit Singh Barnalaji with Pujya Swamiji
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His Excellency and Pujya
Swamiji cut the official ribbon: |
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His Excellency and Pujya
Swamiji with children in the classroom: |
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His Excellency turns on the computers: |
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His Excellency is shown one of the sowing
machines by the woman in charge: |
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Pujya Swamiji interacts with the orphaned children: |
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His Excellency and Pujya Swamiji with one of the
orphaned boys: |
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At the official function in Town Hall: |
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The Honorable Governor and Pujya Swamiji opened all of the different rooms, including the school rooms, computer center, vocational training center, medical room, etc.
The dining hall had already been officially inaugurated last year, but the Hon. Governor went also and saw how beautiful it was. He was so happy to see the facilities as well as the smile on the faces of the children.
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Dining Hall: |
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Children in one of the classrooms: |
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Vocational training sewing/tailoring center: |
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Medical center/infirmiry: |
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Computer center: |
Auditorium/multi-purpose hall: |
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Outside half of the L-shaped complex; upstairs is
Hall and downstairs is Computer Center and Vocational Training: |
Hallway upstairs - outside of the bedrooms: |
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One of the bedrooms with beautiful, brand new
mattresses, sheets, etc: |
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Inspiring sayings are painted on the walls
in
English and Tamil: |
Bathrooms: |
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Children in one of the new classrooms: |
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Thank you to the Patel Foundation for Global
Understanding and to Bellaben and Yogeshbhai Patel: |
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A beautiful moment was when the Honorable Governor asked a few of the little orphan children, spontaneously, “What do you want to be?” One said doctor, another said scientist and the third said “Collector”. The district Collector is the government in-charge of the area. In the north they are called District Magistrates. The Collector has been helping the project a great deal so the children of probably seen him coming and going from the site, being the one in charge. . So, this little child, whose father was a fisherman and who has now been orphaned by the tsunami, wants to grow up and be the Collector! It was truly beautiful.
After the official inauguration on site, everyone went to Cuddalore Town Hall for actual function of speeches and blessings.
The Honorable Governor gave a beautiful speech filled with such praise for this project as well as for all of the work that Project Hope has done for the tsunami victims since December 2004.
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Pictures of the women's center before project hope's help |
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| 200 women living,
eating, sleeping, and studying in one hall: |
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| Social service center
and grounds: |
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Foundation Laying Ceremony - February 16, 2005
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The foundation laying ceremony for this project took place on the 16 February by the hands of the Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu with the Honorable Governor of Uttranchal and the Honorable Lt. Governor of Pondicherry and other dignitaries as well as the founders of Project Hope, Pujya Swamiji and Vivek Oberoi
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| Foundation laying
ceremony led by the Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu, with the Honorable Governor of Uttranchal and the Honorable Lt. Governor of Pondicherry, Pujya Swamiji, Vivek Oberoi and other dignitaries: |
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Left to right: Vivek Oberoi, Pujya Swamiji, Honorable Governor of Uttranchal Shri Sudarshan Agarwal, Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu Shri S.S. Barnala, Honorable Lt. Governor of Pondicherry Lt. General M.M. Lakhera, Relief Commissioner Smt. C.K. Gariyali, District Collector of Cuddalore Gagandeep Singh Bedi: |
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After lighting the inaugural lamp, Pujya Swamiji and Vivek Oberoi present the Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu Shri S.S. Barnala with flowers: |
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| Foundation Stone: |
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First Brick is Laid - April 3, 2005 |
The construction work officially began on April 3.. Twenty Rotarians, led by Rotary Governor Elias Thomas III, from USA and UK came for a week to personally assist in the hands-on labor! For 1 week they helped lay bricks, dig trenches and do whatever else is required in the physical construction of the orphanage.
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Cuddalore District Collector Shri Gagandeep Singh Bedi offers effusive words of appreciation for Project Hope's work in Devanampattinam and Cuddalore at the ceremony on April 3: |
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The first brick in the new orphanage is laid by the youngest orphan girl, Pujya Swamiji, & Rotary Gov Elias Thomas of Maine, USA: |
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Honorable Governor of Pondicherry, Lt. Gen. M.M. Lakhera and District Collector of Cuddalore Gagandeep Singh Bedi lay bricks in the new orphanage: |
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| Pujya Swami surveys the construction: |
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Volunteers from Rotary International do hands-on
labor including laying bricks, applying mud and cement and
carrying the bricks and mud: |
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Orphanage construction: |
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Distribution of supplies,
clothing and other necessities
to the children and women |
Throughout our work there we have had several large scale distributions of clothes for the children and ladies as well as other necessities and supplies and special treats for the children. |
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Distributing sarees to the women, bags of relief supplies to the laborers, and balloons
and chocolates to the orphan children: |
