21-Jan-2005

Dear Brothers / Friends / Partners / Benefactors,

Greetings to you from India,

I am writing to you after my two visits to the Tsunami affected areas. I am intending to visit the northern part of Tamilnadu for my second visit. All our Volunteer team members (inclusive of Brothers, Partners, Young Lasallians and students) have returned from their volunteer services in the affected areas. There were 150 participants in the services. They were all moved and shared the burden of the people by living with them for 7 days.

Indeed their stay enabled to induce hope against hope and to balance reason versus faith. Their interview with the people helped them to cope with life. I am also attaching a file on the report and few photos of the Volunteer services to read it by yourself.

Many of you have asked for the budget of the relief work. We have worked out in three different ways; 1. Immediate relief material supply to the Children and the relations and associates of the Brothers, Partners, Young Lasallians and students; 2. Providing classrooms / toilets / furniture for the schools adopted (which were washed out by Tsunami); and 3. Providing scholarships for the children who are studying in those schools adopted by the Brothers for the next five years.

I am also attaching the 3 budget projections on those proposals mentioned above. You are invited to choose any item that you want to contribute and you are most welcome to do so. We are very much appreciative of your generous contribution for the people and children affected. We assure you that your contribution will reach the needy at this time of great calamity.

Yours in St. La Salle,

Bro. John Fernando.FSC.,
President