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Our Projects
1. Housing project to build 47 homes with 28 outhouse toilets
as required for villagers in Kalliapattu and Eatham, just outside the
town of Pottuvil.
Four more houses have been added to this project, bringing the total
to 47. We have completely finished two homes, completed the woodwork
on door and window frames and plank walls in 27 of them, and reached
roof level with the masonry work in the rest.
Unfortunately we have run into a shortage of supply of roof timber and
this has delayed the completion of our houses. We expect to receive
a supply of such wood in the course of the current week (June 7th) and
hope to commence roof work shortly thereafter. We are still targeting
July for the completion of this project.
2. Housing project to build 113 homes with an outhouse toilet
each, 5 public wells and a community centre for villagers in Aaittimunai
(Sarvodayapuram), on the far side of the lagoon in Arugam Bay.
With the exception of the shortage in roof timber referred to above
holding back construction, work continues to proceed smoothly with this
project.
The construction work on 27 toilets has begun; this is further to the
already completed 53.
One house has been completed while all work, save the cadjan for the
roofs, has been completed on two houses. A further six will reach the
same stage of completion in the course of the current week. As for the
rest, all woodwork (doors, windows and plank walls) and masonry work
has been finished on 30 houses, roof level reached in terms of masonry
work in a further 20 houses and foundations laid for 28 more. In other
words, of the 113 houses in total to be built, work has commenced on
87 thus far.
Together with Dr Ernst Strasser, the Austrian Government coordinator
for Tsunami Relief, we ceremonially handed over the first completed
house on June 6th, 2005. Our target completion date for this expanded
project remains the end of September.
3. Livelihood project to help fishermen repair or buy new boats
and nets.
Construction of boats has begun and the delivery of the first six motorized
boats along with nets and accessories was made in a ceremony attended
by the Austrian government’s co-ordinator for tsunami relief on
June 6th, 2005. We expect to have all boats delivered by the end of
August.
4. Livelihood project to help tradesmen and other self-employed individuals.
Since the time of our last circular, we received applications from an
additional 18 individuals, to bring our total to 47. We have now disbursed
a total of $28,515 to 34 livelihood applicants and have thus been able
to support the direct re-employment of 104 people. We have a further
$6,055 to give to the 13 individuals whose applications are in hand
(representing employment for an additional 29 people).
Having distributed the first batch of 100 bicycles, we have placed the
order for a further 100 and expect delivery during the course of the
current week.
We have taken delivery of the first 19 sewing machines and will be distributing
them presently. The balance seven machines are expected this week.
The total spent on bicycles and sewing machines comes to $17,055.
The complete list of those we have either already helped (in grey) or
hope to help are as follows:
1. A. Jaham, an aluminium fitter who employed
6 people and lost all his equipment to the tsunami. We have spent $350
to replace his equipment. Funds have been disbursed, tools bought, and
Jaham is back in business.
2. M.L.M. Farook, a carpenter who lost his house as well as his equipment.
He employed 8 people – we spent $650 to replace his tools. Funds
have been disbursed, tools bought, and Farook is now working on our
site building houses in Aaitthimunai.
3. M.P. Ariffdeen, a carpenter who lost some of his tools. He employs
4 people and we spent $270 on him. Funds have been disbursed, tools
bought, and Ariffdeen is now working on our site building houses in
Aaitthimunai.
4. A.H.Hakeem, a carpenter who lost all his tools. Though he was on
our list in our second circular, he has since been helped by another
relief organization and will therefore not be needing our assistance.
.
5. M.C. Cassim Faleel, who lost some of his tools. We will spend $200
to replace the lost items. He employs three. Funds have been disbursed.
6. A.C.M. Razak, owned a carpentry workshop employing eight people.
He needs $2,500 to rebuild and re-equip his workshop. Disbursed $1,500,
which was deemed to be sufficient to get the workshop going again.
7. M.H.M. Kaleefa, owned a carpentry workshop employing six people in
Kotugal, Pottuvil. He needs $935. Funds were disbursed.
8. M.D. Ufardeen, owned a carpentry workshop employing three people
in Kotugal, Pottuvil. He needs $830. Funds were disbursed.
9. M.D. Hameethulebbe, owned a carpentry workshop employing seven people
in Kotugal, Pottuvil. He needs $2,075. Disbursed $1,000, which was deemed
to be sufficient to get the workshop going again.
10. Kanapathi Pillai, a mason from Eatham, Pottuvil, employing 5 people
needs $430 to buy a brick-making machine. He will be supplying our housing
project in Kaillapatthu. Funds were disbursed.
11. Hair salon owner who lives in Kundumadhu, Pottuvil but had his salon
in Arugam Bay. He needs $200 to replace the equipment he lost.
12. M.I. Sharifdeen, is a poultry farmer in Pakkiawatta, Pottuvil who
needed $1,500 to restart his poultry business. He has four families
working for him raising his chicks. Funds were disbursed and he is back
in operation and is supplying our relief base with chicken.
13. I.L. Salfiyar, a shop owner in Arugam Bay who lost his shop, house,
wife and child to the tsunami. He has re-started his shop again using
loan funds from a local bank. He has applied for $1,500 to buy stock.
Funds disbursed.
14. M.I.M. Hanifa, owned a carpentry workshop employing three people
in Jalaldeen Square, Pottuvil. He needs $790. Funds disbursed.
15. M.A.M. Subair, owned a carpentry workshop employing four people
in Jalaldeen Square, Pottuvil. He needs $850. Funds disbursed.
16. A.K. Ismail Lebbe, owned an ice hut on Arugam Bay beach. He employed
six people and needs $905 to re-start his business. Funds have not been
disbursed as there are still discussions on-going as to where he will
be permitted to rebuild by the authorities.
17. S.H. Asirthumma, was self-employed and
made straw mats together with her four grown daughters in Kotugal, Pottuvil.
She needs $400 to buy raw materials and basic equipment. Funds disbursed.
18. S.T.H. Muburaka, was self-employed and ran a small tea boutique
in Kotugal, Pottuvil. She needs $1,000 to re-start her boutique. Funds
disbursed.
19. A.L. Mohamaduthambi, was self-employed and ran a small grocery and
snack shop in Kotugal, Pottuvil. He needs $1,200. Funds disbursed.
20. The Women’s Society in Kotugal has asked for ten sewing machines
to give to tsunami-affected members who have been trained to sew as
a means of generating an income for themselves. The total required to
fund the machines is estimated at $1,300. As noted above,
an additional 16 machines are being purchased – 10 for the Women’s
Society and the six others for self-employed women identified by the
Ulle Relief Trust in Arugam Bay. The cost of the additional machines
comes to $2,100.
21. Other – purchase bicycles for those
who lost theirs in the tsunami and who need them to either go to work
or for their work. We have asked for applications and expect to cap
the first lot at 100 people. The total cost is expected to come to between
$7,000 and $9,000. All 100 bicycles were purchased for $6,800 and are
expected to be distributed by April 30th. We have purchased
a second lot of 100 bicycles as noted above and will be distributing
them starting the week of June 6th.
22. Jerry Gray, worked as a manager in a small guest house that was
washed away in the tsunami (the guest house will not be rebuilt by the
owner). He has secured land in the Lahugala National Park to build a
guest house/campsite consisting of three cabanas costing $1,500. We
contributed $750 through the Ulle Relief Trust, who is overseeing this
project, and who will contribute the balance funds. Funds disbursed.
23. S.L. Zacharya, is a carpenter from Pottuvil employing 2 people.
He needs $1,000 to purchase lost tools. Funds disbursed.
24. M.B. Nagoorthamby, is a carpenter from Pottuvil employing 2 people.
He needs $1,000 to purchase lost tools. Funds disbursed.
25. D.W. Weerasiri lives in Panadura and had his home destroyed in the
tsunami. He required $2,550 in working capital to restart his grocery
and daily needs shop. Funds disbursed.
26. Ulle Relief Trust – we released $3,000 to fund the purchase
of a hand tractor, a three wheeler (tuk tuk) and a bicycle for three
individuals the Ulle Relief Trust had identified as being worthy of
support to get their livelihoods back on track. Funds disbursed.
27. Haja Mohideen from Arugam Bay ran a rice mill employing 2 people.
He needs $630 to buy a new engine and belt for his mill.
28. M.I. Samsudeen from Jalaldeen Square, Pottuvil, runs a dry fish
business employing 2. He needs $600 to rebuild his facilities.
29. M.I. Aroos from Jalaldeen Square, Pottuvil, is a fish seller who
needs $400 in working capital to restart his business .
30. M.L. Nasurdeen is a sweets seller who needs $600 for working capital
to restart his business.
31. M.S. Hanifa (actual recipient is M.A.M. Hussain; Hanifa is his employee
who made the initial request) is a carpenter from Jalaldeen Square,
Pottuvil, employing 5 people who needs $870 to purchase lost tools.
32. M.M. Majeed (actual recipient is M.L. Nazeer; Majeed is his employee
who made the initial request) is a carpenter from Pottuvil employing
3 people. He needs $730 to replace lost tools.
33. Y.L. Nakeem is a carpenter from Pottuvil employing 3 people. He
needs $560 to replace lost tools. Nakeem received help from elsewhere
and will not be needing ours.
34. S. Ismail is a carpenter from Pottuvil employing 3 people. He needs
$560 to replace lost tools.
35. S.T.M. Ismail carried on a business selling fish in Pottuvil and
employed two people. He needs $150 for working capital.
36. M.A. Gafoor carried on a business selling fish in Pottuvil but did
not employ anyone. He needs $300 for working capital.
37. A. Kalandar from Pottuvil operated a transportation service using
his bullock cart and employing one helper. He lost his two bulls and
needs $720 to buy new ones.
38. M.A. Aboobaker is a mason from Pottuvil employing 3 people needs
$300 to purchase new tools.
39. P. Sunderalingam from Pottuvil owns and runs a small grocery shopemploying
two family members and needs $500 for working capital.
40. A.J.A. Kamish from Pottuvil is a hair salon owner employing 2 who
needs $200 to commence his business again.
41. M.I.A. Husain operated an Ayurveda medicine shop employing 2 people
and needs $[400] for working capital to re-start his business.
42. A.B. Mansoor from Pottuvil is a carpenter employing [2] people who
needs $400 for tools.
43. A.B. Awwaumma from Pottuvil is a pottery maker employing two family
members who needs $300 for working capital to start business again.
44. A.B. Saburaumma from Pottuvil is also a pottery maker employing
two family members who needs $300 for working capital to start business
again.
45. U.L. Thangamarikkar is a fish seller with no employees who needs
$350 for working capital.
46. M.C. Subaideen from Pottuvil is a tri-shaw driver with no employees
who needs $500 to repair his tri-shaw.
47. Y.B.M. Hanifa is a mason from Pottuvil employing 2 people who needs
$300 to buy tools.
48. M.M.A. Jabbar is a mason from Pottuvil employing 3 people who needs
$400 to buy tools.
49. A.W.A. Siddique is a mason from Pottuvil employing 3 people who
needs $400 to buy tools.
50. I.L. Pichaithambi from Pottuvil owns a tea and snack shop employing
one family member and needs $800 to out-fit and stock his shop.
51. M.B. Ishaq from Pottuvil is a carpenter employing 2 people who needs
$300 to buy tools.
As noted earlier, we expect this project to continue until the end of
June of this year.
5. Other Projects
Though we have tried to focus on the projects in hand, it has been hard
to resist a few of the requests that have come our way. Hence we have
taken on-board the following:
1. A school children-focused series of mini-projects to be carried out
in conjuction with Scot Aid:
i. Building,
furnishing and fitting out a pre-school for Al-Munawara Vidyalaya
– estimated cost £3,000
ii. Improvements
to a primary school - we have received a request from Al-Noorariya
Vidyala for water supply, boundary wall, two cabinets and school kits
and bags - the estimated cost would be £2,000
iii. School kits
for children at a Primary School - we have a request from Inspector
Eatham G.T.M.S. Primary School for shoes, socks, school bags and books
for 110 students - estimated cost is £750
iv. Shoes for
students of a secondary school - request to provide shoes for 450
students (sizes have been specified) of Pottuvil Methodist Tamil Maha
Vidyalayam - estimated cost is £1,250
v. Wall and teacher
furniture for primary school - we have been asked to build a boundary
wall and supply some basic furniture for teachers at Al-Hidaya Vidyalaya
- estimated cost is £2,000
vi. Repair building
to be used as an office by the Divisional Education Office in Pottuvil
- the original office was completely destroyed by the tsunami and
we have been requested to repair a building that has been identified
as being suitable for use as a new office - estimated cost is £2,000
vii. Play area
for children - a dutch woman carrying out children-based relief projects
in Arugam Bay has proposed the building of a play-garden together
with a play house in Sarvodayapuram - estimated cost is £1,000
2. Thirty tube wells for the housing project in Aaitthamunai with the
support of a Canadian charity – estimated budget £2,500.
3. Ten computers for Vinayagapuram Maha Vidyalaya, a school in Thirukkovil
(a town north of Pottuvil on the east coast) – estimated cost
£3,800.
4. Build a structure to house a modest public library in the town of
Eatham in Pottuvil – estimated cost £500
5. Build three standard sized houses for three families that sold their
land to make way for a relocated school – estimated cost £2,250.
Once again, we would like to say a very big THANK YOU! to all those
of you who have contributed funds and made all our relief efforts possible.
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