The East Sheen Chengannur Trust

Tsunami Appeal (CLOSED)

Appeal Updates:  March 2005,  October 2005

Trustee's Earthquake Appeal, Friday 31st December 2004

We are still awaiting further news from Jocob our project manager in Chengannur, Southern India following his brief initial confirmation that he and his family are safe (update 1/1/05 follows). It appears that devastation from the great wave affected this part of India even though it is on the West coast. Initial reports indicate hundreds killed in Kerala State and we presume many more are injured or homeless.

Whilst the governments and larger charities around the world are mobilising urgent aid to alleviate the immediate problems of food shelter and hygiene we have had many of our supporters ask if they can help through us. We have decided to open a fund to specifically help this area of India affected by the tidal wave as the bulk of the international aid will probably be directed to other devastated regions. We have also decided that rather than try to offer immediate aid we will be able to assist best with  funds for reconstruction and to help families rebuild their lives. We are therefore opening our `Earthquake (Reconstruction & Renewal) Fund` aimed at helping individuals regain a lively-hood. We don’t yet have finalised plans at this early stage but some ideas which we have used successfully in the past are the provision of sewing machines, goats, wells and temporary shelters. We are hoping Jacob will be able to co-ordinate this for us but if he is unable to then we have contacts with another charity in Southern India who are already working to help the victims and will be able to use any funds that we raise.

If you would like to make a donation please send a cheque (in UK Sterling) payable to East Sheen Chengannur Trust, at East Linton Keycol Hill, Newington, Kent ME9 8NA, England. Alternatively you can pay by credit card through the Paypal system and you just need to click on the `donate` icon on this website.  Please note that 100% of what you donate is always sent out to our projects as no administration deductions are made in the UK so every penny will be used!

We hope you can assist us and we will keep this fund active as long as we feel necessary so donations can be accepted over the coming months. Thank you for your concern and generosity. It may not be possible to acknowledge all donations but if you would specifically like a receipt or acknowledgement please let us know and we will certainly provide one.

Updated information will be provided in our next newsletter and on this website.

Many thanks

The Trustees

Project Manager Update, Saturday 1st January 2005

Dear Friends,

Greetings once again from Kerala in India.  I understand that you are all very much concerned about the position of all the folks here especially after the havoc struck by Tsunami.  Well, it did also strike on the west coast of Kerala.  More than 10000 people lost their lives in Indian Tamil Nadu on the east coast was the most affected.  In Kerala it struck in the district of Quilon which lies just next to Alleppey District where Chengannur falls.  So it was as close as 40 KMs from Chengannur.  About 175 people lost their lives in Kerala.  Sadly it is the poor folks especially the fishing community which were affected the most.  They have practically lost everything including their homes, possessions, fishing boats n equipments n even lives.  A massive relief operation is under way n help is coming from all directions.  Much needs to be done n everyone is trying their best.  All the new year celebrations were cancelled and everyone is trying to contribute their most.  Under the circumstance your concern and help is also most appreciated.  I understand that the Trust is putting up a fund exclusively for this disaster and I request you to contribute to it generously.  You can be sure that it will reach the most needy ones in Kerala.

As all our help is concentrated in and around Chengannur (may be within 15 KMs), from initial reports I realise that none of our sponsored were affected.  One or two relatives of theirs were struck I was told.  Chris and Dermot, friends of our Trust, are safe in Phuket in Thailand where they are on a holiday.  There has been many cancellations of Tourist flow to India but some of our good friends are still looking forward to coming here as India is always a land of fascination for them in spite of all the trouble that we have here.  As you know well that countries like Sri Lanka n Indonesia are much more affected.  Sadly it is the poor folks who suffered more we feel.  Thank you once again for all your affection and care for us.  We appreciate that.  If you have any querries on the above, please feel free to get in touch with me via Russell or Kay.  Warmly, Jacob Punnen, Chengannur, India.

Earthquake/Tsunami Appeal Update – March 2005

Firstly we would like to thank everyone who has generously contributed to our Renewal and Regeneration Fund. The funds will be sent to India next month to be used in the area on the south west coast affected by the wave. Jacob, our Project Manager for all our aid in India, has been in discussions with local officials and aid distributors. We have investigated several possibilities  but have decided our earlier idea of providing fishing equipment for families will be the most useful. This will also enable our funds to be used as we intended for longer term regeneration and self support rather than immediate short term relief.

Jacob visited the head villager in Arattupuzha about 50km from Chengannur and while some families have managed to secure government assistance to replace their fishing gear there are apparently many poorer families who for one reason or another could not get this aid. This is where we intend to help and Jacob will be looking at individual families to identify the most needy.

We will publish more news as things develop. Once again thank you for your donations, we raised over £950 and every penny will be sent to India.

Kay Mattin

Russell Mattin

Richard Breese A.C.A.

Trustees

Earthquake/Tsunami Appeal Update – October 2005

EARTHQUAKE TSUNAMI FUND CHANGES LIVES IN INDIA

After careful investigations by Jacob we have now distributed the initial £1,000 donated and here are some extracts from his report:

“Arattupuzha is a small coastal village by the Arabian sea about 35 Kms from Chengannur. About 10 Kms of the road runs right past the sea and the scenery is breathtaking. Most of the people are either fishermen or engaged in making coir from coconut fibre. So basically it is a sleepy village where 90% of the population are below the poverty line. But things turned topsy turvy on December 26^th, 2004 when the furious Tsunami slashed across this poor village. About 2000 houses and many fishing boats got totally destroyed and about 5000 houses were partially damaged. 29 persons perished here and the Government had to open 19 relief camps to accommodate the dislodged people.

It was through the local sub collector (Indian Civil Service Officer) that I met the locally elected headman of the village. As many agencies were involved in the rehabilitation process, we had to be very choosy in selecting the right beneficiaries for the funds raised by the Trust. I made 3 separate trips there to study the different needy cases before we chose the most deserving families. On the actual day of the distribution (13-09-05) a few more landed up and finally we gave out about 60 pounds each to 16 most needy families and another 40 pounds went to the workers of a shrimp peeling shed nearby. There was a small function in front of the local officer’s house nearby the beach and he was all praise for the Trust and all that you are trying to do for the needy and affected people in this area. The sufferings were too many to be described and each had a sad tale to tell. I realized that the fisher folks were much poorer than the ordinary people and so our help was a big relief to them. I am putting below the details of a few families who were benefited:

2. Thampi (48) and Remani (42) are another couple. Thampi is paralysed for the past 9 years. Remani had 2 cows and also stitches clothes for others for a living and thus with hard work educated her 2 children. They live near the sea and dampness had rusted her sewing machine and the tsunami took off their house. She also lost a cow. They still live in a relief camp. She says with our money she will buy a new sewing machine.

3. Fathima(48) and Abdul Salam (52). Fathima has breast cancer and Abdul has heart problems. Their house was badly damaged in the Tsunami but because of their bad health, they could not stay in the camp and so stayed with their relatives. Though they need a lot of money for medicines, they hope to repair their house with our help. Their 3 children are married and are away.

4. Sainudhin is 50 and Subiyadha is 48. They have four children of whom Nizaruddin (23) is paralysed since the age of one and Anzar (21) is bed-ridden from an accident. Their daughter gets a small income from making coir ropes – about 50pence a day. They lost all their things in the waves and hope to repair the house with our help.

5. Shaji (44) was a fisherman but had a stroke about 5 years back. Sheeja is his wife. They have two sons who live with them. Shaji’s aged father Ponnappan (65) still goes fishing to keep this family going. Their shack was destroyed in the waves.

Most other families in Arattupuzha were affected by the waves in one way or another and had many sad stories to tell me. They were all very needy and helpless people living from hand to mouth and then the waves made it worse. So our help was big to them and it brightened their lives. The village head mentioned that many families were in need but we had to be restrictive and hence short listed just 16. You can be sure that the £1000 raised by the Trust has gone to the most needy families. They are so grateful for your generous thought and help in this hour of their crisis. I would take this chance to say a BIG THANK YOU for your thoughtful gesture.

May God Bless you all.

Kind regards, Jacob Punnen”

WE CAN STILL HELP !!

It was our original aim to provide some fishing equipment to one or two families for their long term benefit, but due to the number of people requesting help we thought it was better to give assistance to as many people as possible with the £1000. We have also assisted with the following request from Jacob's report:

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