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HOW IT ALL BEGAN
On the 30th December, Pujya Swamiji, Vivek Oberoi, Suresh Oberoi, Yashodhara Oberoi, Sadhvi Bhagwati and rishikumars from Parmarth’s Gurukul came down planning to adopt 500 orphans and to build an orphanage. Further, we were planning to spend New Year’s with the tsunami victims to offer them hope and peace. However, upon seeing the devastation wrought on the villages, we decided to stay and to adopt and repair the entire village of Devanampattnam, a village with about 3000 families that was devastated by the tsunami.
Devastation on the beaches of Devanampattinam when we arrived
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The people were standing, hopeless and helpless on piles of rubble
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| We began with a beautiful yagna and puja ceremony on New Year’s Day, led by the rishikumars in which we prayed for peace for all the departed souls and chanted Shantipath. Further, we pledged our support and assistance for all surviving members of the village. |
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Puja is performed on New Year's Day in the center of Devanampattinam |
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| Thus India Heritage Research Foundation and Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation have joined hands and formed PROJECT HOPE for the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the village of Devanampattnam (and hopefully other villages as well after we finish Devanampattnam). We are also joining hands with other organizations and with the local people and local government. |
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Project Hope establishes its headquarters
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Meeting with the Village Collector and local volunteers
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Local villagers became immediate Project Hope volunteers |
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Even the Parmarth Rishikumars were active volunteers, and exhausted at the end of each day!
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| We are doing short term and long term relief work here, including rebuilding homes that were destroyed, repairing homes that were damaged, setting up community kitchens, medical centers, distribution centers, etc. Further we are building shops for those women/girls who have been handicapped by the tsunami and who have lost all male members of their families (and who therefore have no way to make a living). We are also taking part in repairing boats that were damaged. We are also purchasing new nets for the fishermen.
We have also decided to open an orphanage here for any children from Chennai to Kanyakumari who have been orphaned by the tragedy (or by any other tragic circumstances).
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Volunteers
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TOTAL PROJECTS DONE
BY PROJECT HOPE IN DEVANAMPATTNAM:
- Building and provision of more than 100 new, temporary homes for those whose homes were destroyed in the tsunami.
- Plantation of 3000 trees in honor of victims of tsunami from every country.
- Replacement of lost/destroyed fishing nets for the fisherman, including those with catamarans. With the generosity of Shri Ramesh Goenkaji of Dubai, We distributed 400 nets
- Repair of damaged boats. With the assistance of Ashok Leyland and CII we repaired 100 boats
- Replacement of boats that were completely destroyed. With the assistance of Rotary International we purchased 15 new boats
- Community Kitchens where all 3000 families were fed hot meals 3 times a day - 7 Kitchens were already set up and we also provided milk for babies and children.
- A play ground for the children, with sports equipment, including swings, slide, merry-go-round, jungle-gym, etc.
- Medical Relief Centers at each of these community centers.
- Distribution of necessities such as food, water, clothing, candles, stoves, cooking supplies, shoes, sheets, etc. (this was done in two huge scale distributions to more than 4000 people each time). This was made possible by the generosity of Shri Chandru Kewalramani of London, UK and others.
- Free Eye Camp and Cataract Operation Camp: more than 600 villagers were examined, nearly 100 new pairs of glasses were distributed and nearly 40 free cataract operations were performed on site.
- Two large tree plantation ceremonies in memory of all those who lost their lives in the tragedy and also as a physical barrier against any future tidal waves.
- Drinking water tanks in many places throughout the village.
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The Central Minister for Law and Justice, Shri K. Venkapathyji also joined Project Hope's Team! |
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Water facilities were immediately provided to villagers
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A new shop was built for a woman who was widowed by the tsunami |
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