World Vision's response to the tsunami in India achieved a major milestone on 7 November with the handing over of 100 permanent houses to the government in the tsunami-affected districts of Kerala.
In a ceremony to mark the occasion, Asia Pacific Regional Vice President Lynn Arnold along with World Vision India National Director Jayakumar Christian and Operations Director of the India Tsunami Response Team Alex Snary, handed over a symbolic key to K.M. Mani, Kerala State Minister for Revenue and Disaster Mitigation.
During the ceremony, keys were also handed out to beneficiaries of the houses.
"We were just waiting to receive the keys to our new home," was all an emotional Padmaleela from Arattupuzha village in Kerala, could say as she and her family received their keys.
World Vision is constructing 656 permanent shelters in Kerala, one of the ten areas affected by the tsunami in India.
The first phase of 100 houses were handed over yesterday. "I am very much encouraged by your strength in overcoming the disaster," Lynn Arnold said, addressing the government and community.
It was a day full of emotions. For the survivors of the tsunami, the houses were a reliable roof over their heads once again and a place to call home. For others, like the World Vision team, the handing over of houses provided a sense of satisfaction at having completed yet another milestone in keeping commitments made to the communities.
In its work following the tsunami, World Vision has received wide praise from Kerala government officials, a sentiment that was echoed by the minister at the ceremony when he said, "World Vision's vision of universal brotherhood is highly commendable."
World Vision is also assisting the communities with boats, nets, alternate livelihood and cash for work programs, and also special programs for children and youth.
Talking about the journey that World Vision embarked on alongside the community from the day the tsunami hit, Jayakumar Christian said, "That day, we came to grieve with you; today, we come to celebrate.
He impatiently pushed past them and stepped into a new It's only through God's grace, coupled with your support, that we moved from meal packets then, to permanent shelters today," he said.
Glittering festoons, balloons, and tender coconut shoots decorated the new house as Padmaleela's husband Prasannan cut the ribbon to his new house along with Lynn Arnold and Jayakumar Christian. home, eyes beaming with pride. Alex Snary said, "Right now these are structures made of bricks and cement: It is up to you to turn them into homes."
"Behind the smiles," reflected Franklin Jones, World Vision Operations Manager, "We remember a lot of the challenges that we overcame -- from incessant rains to transporting construction materials across the backwaters that didn't have a bridge, and the shortage of labour." He added with a broad smile: "But at the end of the day we are happy that we lived up to the challenge of providing the communities with quality."
World Vision is working on tsunami relief and rehabilitation in two districts of Kollam and Allepy, in Kerala, reaching about 8,000 families.
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