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SVP TWINNAGE TSUNAMI APPEAL UPDATE NOVEMBER 2006As the world is well aware the Tsunami disaster occurred in India on Boxing Day 2004. The waves swept across the Indian Ocean and swamped the coastal areas of the east coast of India. The majority of the victims were in the southern state of Tamil Nadu that took the brunt of the Tsunami waves. However, it also affected the eastern state of Andhra Pradesh and even “wrapped” around the western coast of Kerala. Why were there so many orphans left afterwards? The waves hit the coast early in the morning and many parents were at the coast buying fish for the family meals. These poor unfortunates were killed in vast numbers without warning. The response from the local Indian members of the SVP was immediate and as much relief given as possible – both materially and spiritually. There was also a great deal of aid given by other major world charities. However, what set the SVP aside from most charitable organisations is that the whole amount donated is passed to the victim concerned. The Twinnage scheme is run largely by volunteers and all our modest administrative costs associated with this appeal, both in the UK and India, are being met from other sources. This point is considered particularly important when trying to attract donors from outside of SVP sources. The SVP carefully considered what form of aid would be needed, preferable and more importantly achievable once the Tsunami had disappeared from the headlines. A plan was formulated to give the orphans of the disaster the opportunity to continue their education for at least five years but assistance with the funding was sought from overseas SVP National Organisations. The funding would cover education costs but also clothing, food and medicines where required and was set at £25 per year for younger school-going children and £50 per year for older higher/further education students. The England & Wales National Twinnage Committee immediately agreed to seek as much funding as possible from a nationwide appeal. However, the particular target was to obtain as much as possible from donors from outside the SVP mainly by making appeals in parishes. The appeal started in Whitstable Parish in Kent in February 2005 and soon spread nationally. The response was extraordinary, unforeseen and stretched to the limits the logistical organisation of the SVP – who are all voluntary workers - both here and in India. The appeal was closed in May 2006 and was possibly the most successful appeal that SVP Twinnage has ever launched. Statistics are as follows:
Almost 82% of donors came from outside SVP sources i.e. parishioners responding to local appeals, responses to the web site, etc. The “drain” on day to day SVP resources locally was therefore minimal. We have therefore met our aim of ensuring the education of these orphans for at least five years. In the case of the older children this will mean they move into employment with qualifications and so also meet another prime objective of the SVP which is to give the Poor and Needy the opportunity of achieving self-sufficiency rather than just help them subsist. With regard to the younger children, in response to many enquiries donors will be able to carry on with their support beyond the five-year cut off point should they wish to do so. Certificates giving brief details of the children sponsored together with a passport-style photograph have been produced by the SVP in India and distributed to donors. It is planned to issue 2-yearly progress reports (without photographs) to all donors. In this way the appeal has been able to personalise the link between donor in England & Wales and the beneficiary in India. David Wiles |
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