Projects
On the 30th of December, 2004, Pujya
Swamiji, Vivek Oberoi, Sadhvi Bhagwati,
Rishikumars from Parmarth Niketan’s
Gurukul and Vivek Oberoi’s family traveled
down to South India in the wake of
the devastating tsunami. Upon seeing
the devastation wrought upon the land, they decided to stay and offer
both short-term and long-term assistance. The relief work ranged from
immediate, emergency measures to the permanent reconstruction of
entire villages.
Phase I – Immediate, Emergency Relief Measures
- Construction of 100 new, temporary homes
- Establishment and running of seven community kitchens where thousands of families received fresh, hot meals, including milk for children
- Medical Relief Centers operated at each of the kitchens
- Playground for the children
- Free Eye and Cataract Operation Camp for hundreds of villagers
- Wide-scale distribution of necessities to thousands of people, including food, water, clothing, cooking supplies, shoes, and sheets
- Repair of over 100 boats and purchase of 15 new boats
- Purchase of over 600 new fishing nets
Phase II – Permanent Village Reconstruction in Pondicherry
Project Hope undertook the reconstruction of villages Pannithittu and Pattincheri in Pondicherry, totalling over 350 homes. Pannithittu, built through the generosity of Rotary International, Sadeh Lok, UK, Himjyoti Foundation and many other generous donors, was inaugurated in December 2005 by the hands of the Honorable Governors of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Uttarakhand.
The village of Pattincheri, sponsored by Shri LN Mittal of London, was inaugurated in April 2007.
Phase III – Cuddalore Town, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu: Orphanage and Women’s Center
The final stage in the work was
completed and inaugurated on May
12, 2007. 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 H.E. the Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Surjit Singh
Barnalaji with Pujya Swamiji.
The orphanage includes dormitory facilities, school rooms, a computer
center, medical room, beautiful kitchen and dining facilities, a vocational
training center and more. It has been built on the same land as the
previously existing home for approximately 200 widowed/abandoned
women, which we also beautified. In this way, the orphaned children will receive, in addition to the staff, mothers, aunts, grandmothers
and older sisters; the women will receive the priceless gift of caring for
orphaned children. We have also built a vocational training center for
the women, and the new huge dining/kitchen facilities are shared by
both the children and the women.
