Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme by Smile Foundation

FIELD REPORT- TSUNAMI AFFECTED AREAS

During the initial phase of relief operations, Smile team made a site visit to coastal areas between Chennai and Pondichery and observed Tsunami affected population (families) having been accommodated in government/private buildings or tents converted into temporary shelter homes. These areas have been

• Ururolcott kuppam- wadi kuppam- about 100 families (500 population) having lost their house/homes;

• Pattinabakam Srinivaspuram- 22000 Population largely of fishermen, having suffered 1000 deaths;

• Tiruvanmaur kuppan- kottibakam kuppam- on outskirts of Chennai having 50 families, fishermen.

• Muttukuddu kuppan on Manjal Road- between Chennai and Mahabalipuram, called Mamlapuram, 300 families of fishermen having lost homes and another group of still-lower caste families( 23 in total) to whom any help given by any one is stoutly resisted by families of fishermen.

Smile, in response to Tsunami disaster, started relief operations by selectively distributing raw rice, steel utensils, biscuits, mat for sleeping etc. to people /families who were not served by other sources-individuals or institutional. Further, about 150 children from up to 5th Standard from Muttukuddu Kuppan were distributed study materials like copies, pencils, slate etc. and also play items such as cricket bat and balls, carom boards etc.

Counseling was done to students, in all 35-40, of class X and XII from Pattinabakam Srinivaspuram and Tiruvanmaur Kuppan –kotibakam kuppan, who still remained in state of shock and traumatized. These children were also given coaching in mathematics and science.

Smile to disabled tsunami victims

SMILE has tied up with Ajay Memorial Foundation (AMF), Chennai, which is a local NGO, aiming to help physically handicapped tsunami victims by means of providing aids and appliances, which they lost due to tsunami. The Aids and appliances are being distributed to the 105 concerned persons of two districts, Thiruvallur and Kanyakumari, as identified by a need assessment survey. SMILE will support AMF to purchase aids and appliances and distribute those materials to the needy people. Following aids and appliances are being provided as per necessity:

· Try cycles
· Wheel Chairs
· Bilateral PP Hip Knee Ankle foot orthosis with shoes, Child size
· Bilateral PP Knee Ankle foot orthosis with shoes, Adult size
· Bilateral PP Ankle foot orthosis with shoes, Adult size
· Crutches
· Above Elbow Prosthesis (Adult)
· Bilateral PTB Prosthesis (Adult)
· CTEV boots (Adult)
· Walker folding type adjustable
· Adjustable Trippad

For detail list of beneficiaries kindly click here…

Smile to local youth…..more earning…..more smile

Restoration of the livelihoods is one of the urgent needs for the tragedy-stuck tsunami affected humanity. Keeping this in mind SMILE has intended to involve in long-term livelihoods interventions in some major tsunami affected areas. As its first intervention of such kind SMILE is partnering with Indian Social Service Institute (ISSI), which is a local NGO based at Thiruvarangulam District, Tamil Nadu. SMILE is assisting ISSI to conduct a One-year Vocational skill and disaster management training programme aiming to promote alternative employment opportunities and develop disaster management skills for 140 youth of Anayan thoapu and surrounding coastal areas of Kameshwaram panchayat, Nagapattinum district, Tamil Nadu. The programme would consist of five vocational trainings as mentioned below:

· Diesel Engine and Boat Repair/Maintenance
· Fishnet Knitting and repair
· Solar Fish Processing
· T.V. and radio repair and
· Coire Rope Making.

All youths would also be provided:

· Disaster management and preparedness training,
· Marketing & Entrepreneurial
· Training and Employment guidance & counseling

which would enable to manage multiple disaster situations involving local communities and would help them in achieving their employment goals.