Archive for the ‘Current Projects’ Category
We want better water
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
Not even 1 month back I was driving a SUV through the crowded highways and byways of South India. I was trying to keep up with my friend Prasanna who himself was driving an SUV but doing about 15 mph faster than me which doesn’t seem like a lot but when you are already doing 60 -65 mph in posted areas of 35 and you are dodging kids, animals, motorcycles and hoping not to meet a bus or larger truck going the wrong direction, that extra 10 – 15mph makes a huge difference. Call me an idiot for wanting to drive in the first place but really, driving in India is fun and chasing Prasanna is even more fun; think NASCAR and your chasing Jimmy Johnson in your Toyota.
Ok, enough of this but I was driving fast and enjoying most of the experience primarily because I had the AC going full blast, music was playing and a cold 2 liter bottle of water resting in the center console. Having the opportunity to take a drink whenever I wanted was magnificent and never really thought about until I got outside and again experienced the rush of hot, humid, Indian summer heat.
We finally rolled into a village which Prasanna was taking us to because in this place they requested water and according to Prasanna it was a needy tribal area so I decided to shoot some video to give you the reader a glimpse of what I experienced. I have edited a lot out as who wants to sit through 20 minutes of video listening to people you can’t understand? So I give you just 5 minutes I think and in this 5 minutes you will see and hear the need. This place unfortunately is typical of many places requesting water. I will say though that at least they have water. Many places in which we carry out our work there isn’t water in the village suitable for drinking. The suitable water is some distance from their dwelling and a considerable amount of time is spent each day in water collection for that day.
My goal in capturing this video is to just bring awareness to how millions of people live each and every day. The reality for this is harsh compared to us. They struggle to survive, we, better yet, I, struggle to find something to drink cold enough to satisfy my whim. For these rural people, they struggle to find just plain water safe enough to use without fear of sickness.
Village needing water (Click on the link to watch the video.)
For this village and countless others, money is all that is needed and not much of it. For less than $2,000 I can outfit this village with a hand pump water project and villages just like it. All I need is your help, your money. Do you want to change a life and make a real difference? Give me some cash and I will change a village with something as simple as water.
Project Proposal, Infant Jesus HS, Maravanur, Manaparai TK
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
PROJECT APPLICATION
| 1. | Name of the Project | : | Project Proposal to Provide drinking water to the students studying at Infant Jesus High School, Maravanur, Manaparai Tk, Tiruchirappalli Dt, Tamil Nadu, India. | |
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| 2. | Applicant | : | C. Maria Susai M.Sc., M.Ed.,
Managing Trustee and Head Master, Infant Jesus High School Maravanaur Samuthiram post, Manaparai -621306, Tiruchirapalli District, Tamilnadu, India. |
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| 3. | Legal Holder | : | Rev. Fr.S. Dhanapragasam,
President, Trichy HFH, 25, Annai Nagar, Pitchandarkoil – 621216 Tiruchirappalli (Dt), Tamil Nadu, India. |
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| 4. | Project to be Implemented | : | Infant Jesus High School,
Maravanur. |
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| 5. | Beneficiaries of the project | : | 581 Rural and dalit girls and boys, students of Infant Jesus High School | |
In order to provide and to promote secondary school education at the most backward rural area Infant Jesus High School was started in June 2002 by Millennium Educational and Environmental Trust. As there was no high school of any type within radius of 10Kms from the Village of Maravanur, the school enrollment has increased year after year.
The school strength for the Academic year 2009-2010 is given below:
|
Std |
Boys |
Girls |
Total |
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VI |
43 |
30 |
73 |
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VII |
52 |
37 |
89 |
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VIII |
79 |
47 |
126 |
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IX |
92 |
60 |
152 |
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X |
76 |
65 |
141 |
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TOTAL |
342 |
239 |
581 |
All these students come from more than 40 villages and their parents are daily wages earners or cattle raisers. 42% of them are from Dalit families; 26% of them are from most backward families and the rest are from backward families. Education is freely given to all and we are committed to give quality education and holistic formation to these Children of God.
Infant Jesus High School is a Tamil Medium School, recognized by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Government gives free text books to all students, free noon – meal for 340 students and free bus pass for 360 students. Our X standard result is always above 92% and our service at this rural area is well appreciated.
Water is life we say. Protected drinking water enhances health for all. Pure drinking water is essential for the normal growth and overall development of each student. The school had a bore well which provided water for drinking, Cooking, and washing. The bore well was in school ground and it’s was very near to NH 45. The Government is extending high ways on both sides of road, laying 4 ways which resulted in abolishing of the school bore well. We have lost the school bore well in January 2010 and we are in great trouble in providing water for our school students. At present water is brought from a nearby private well by two women. They carry water on their heads and it does not satisfy our daily requirements. At this context a project is prepared and is submitted for your kind and a favorable consideration.
Our Proposal
On the facts mentioned above, it has become an immediate and urgent need to dig a bore-well and construct over head tank for our school students. Water source is available at school ground. We have consulted water diviner and an engineer to confirm this and a grant is requested for $6,500.00. It is a one time grant which will make a big difference at school and will help us to solve many problems that we face now.
Our appeal and our Assurance
Infant Jesus High School is a Vernacular Medium High School in a hamlet, aiming at the service of the most backward, neglected poor children. Our students hail from very poor families and they manage to come to school because of free education, free test – books and free noon-meal. On behalf of these students I earnestly appeal to you to consider our project proposal favorably. Once the project is sanctioned, we assure you to implement it sincerely and will submit the completion report within three months.
Hope Island
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Hope Island, a place of great anticipation.
Why?
Well, because prior to our arrival and even more important the arrival of Dr. Premdas and the staff of N.A.S.A. there wasn’t much hope. The small island inhabitants had no school, the children were left to wander the beaches during the day while their dad’s were off fishing the seas and their mothers were on the main land trying to make a living.
All of this is beginning to change. Aaron is now living on the island and organized the children and has formed a school. A meal program has been implemented so that the children are guaranteed at least 1 meal a day. A women empowerment and possibly a micro-enterprise solution will be introduced and last but certainly not least, exploration on their water situation is taking place.
For more on Hope Island watch this video….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7LJvrvoY_Q
