REPORTS

Pat writes a long fact packed and interesting newsletter after every trip.

Our New School Children
(an extract from visit 33)

"The school that we have already built on the site for slum children (started with funds from Norwich Diocese) goes from strength to strength. 38 children are registered, which is to be increased to 50 by the start of the new school year. These children are really poor, probably poorer than those in city slums. Most of our children come from families with an annual income of less than £40. They were severely malnourished when we started, but now look so much better. They are having a full meal and a snack meal daily, we have them on vitamin complexes, and have gradually increased their protein intakes, and the change in them is remarkable. We were unsure about sponsoring them to begin with, but none have left, in fact we are being inundated with requests for places, so details will be sent (probably before this report) for those of you who have patiently waited for individual child details, and kindly in the meantime sponsored the whole project. Our local trustees have put in so much work (voluntarily) to take the project forward, we are very grateful to them. The local community is very aware of what we are doing, not least the churches, which will play an integral part in our future. As the children are attending our own school, and we see them on a daily basis it is much easier to monitor what is happening."

Sri Lanka Visit
(an extract from visit 32)

"The other area of work continues in Sri Lanka with families who have been affected by the Tsunami. This has really worked well, and Father Terence and his congregation have taken the project to heart. We are sponsoring the educational needs of 33 children now, the most recent a boy whose father, unable to fish any more after the Tsunami, was killed when driving a bus into the war zone. In the three days spent in Sri Lanka we had games on the beach for all of the sponsor children and their families with tea in the hotel. The hotel is about half a mile from the beach fishing village that is home for our children, but they had never been into a hotel before. While our visitors went to see the inland elephant orphanage, I went to some of the homes of our children with Father Terence. The Tsunami has destroyed the old way of life for these people, fishing stocks are severely depleted, and many of their employers who had funds given to them to replace boats after the Tsunami (with International funds), have not purchased new boats. Our people had, and still have, nothing. They had been living in beach shacks, which were completely washed away, and being labourers, not boat owners, were given no compensation. Tourism has also been affected, so the outlook is bleak. However, we are doing something, with, as always, the emphasis on ensuring education."

The four had made a tremendous effort to come to see me. Selveraj travelled from Chennai - seventeen hours each way by train, Vivekandan travelled from Kodikanal - fifteen hours each way by bus, as did Laksmanapandi who had arrived a day earlier. Pramod travelled from Bangalore - twenty-four hours each way by train. Each boy came to offer personal support, concern and understanding, knowing, as all of the children do, all about the events of the past few months. Their love and kindness made me feel very humble. Sitting and eating with these young men who are the surest possible sign that what we do is right, was something that I wish you could have all shared. It was a wonderful evening; their coming spoke volumes."