Projects » KARIAKAL TSUNAMI ASHRAM

HOH adopted an orphanage in 2005 in the Coastal Town of Karaikal in South India. This area was affected by the Tsunami Disaster and left thousands of children orphaned and homeless, without the bare necessities like food, water and medicine.

There are still 52 children in this orphanage, less than when they started just after the storm. Some have been sent to family members in other parts of India, but many are still relying on the help they receive here.

The next step is to expand the education of them. This year, Mr. Gomry was hired to teach the children English, Science and First Aid. He has worked with kids for 30 years and even though 'retired' he remains multi-tasking. Each quarter there will be a report on how the students are doing in school with their new language. Established is a Language Lab and each will learn how to pronounce the words correctly, not the 'Tamil Accent English', to better prepare them for their futures. It is great to see how many are now feeling comfortable with these new words!

There is also a new hire for the Computer Lab. Raja Laxmi is a Technology and Delivery Manager with NIIT. What began with 64 old computers that had been donated, she was able to retrieve 4 machines and an additional 8 drives, creating 13 modern systems and one server!

A third instructor is being trained and weekly reports on each child are available.

Goals

The children of Kariakal were left without food, shelter, and families after the tsunami in 2004, and the goal has been to make these children self sufficient citizens of tomorrow. The most effective way to do this is to empower the children by providing support for growth in education and independence. Our emphasis is to provide these children with technical and computer training so that they can become a part of the mainstream high-tech market of the global economy.

HOH's CONTRIBUTION

• HOH first uplifted the basic living conditions at the Kariakal orphanage by providing nutrition, sanitation, school supplies, and clothing
• In 2006 Dr Yogam donated a spacious home for all of these children, and
• Also in 2006, HOH received a major donation from the Grin Foundation of $50,000 for this location, and the dollars were used in the construction of the Computer Room and Library as well as the addition of a second floor to the home
• In 2010, the beginning of a year-long program that provides the children with an official NIIT Diploma, and in 2011, the course will expand to offer advanced programs like C++, web design, photo shop and more for better job opportunities
• From this point it looks like HOH and the Yaakov Light Computer Lab will contribute to the destiny of this tiny fishing village!