Housing Project Update

Amritapuri, India
August 28, 2005

Construction of new homes in the Alappuzha district, Kerala is complete. To date 150 homes have been built. About 88 homes were constructed and given to the local Kerala government for distribution to the affected tsunami victims in June 2005. The last 62 homes have now been completed. They will be handed over to the government in the coming weeks. The most recent homes constructed are 2 storeys tall as requested by the recipients.

Many of the houses constructed in the Alappuzha district are very isolated, some located on small islands. Needless to say, the logistical challenges involved in transporting all the building supplies needed were extreme, due lack of access.

These difficulties were overcome by constructing mini bridges (picture on your right shows workers transporting supplies over these temporray bridges).

What did the recipients think of moving into their "new" homes? Read on...

Seena and Manmuthan, recipients of a new home said "My original house was destroyed by the tsunami and we are currently living in a temporary thatch shack on our property where the new house is being built. Now that we are getting this house we feel happy and at peace. We want to come see Amma to express our gratitude for all she has done for us. Compared to our old house, the new one is beautiful...excellent!"

Sathi's family inhabits their own small island and their house was destroyed by the tsunami. When the water came, she was carried away several hundred meters inland. When asked how she likes this new house Sathi said, "Not only did I never expect to have a house this nice in this lifetime, I couldn't have even imagined one this nice in my next life. I really appreciate all the work and the workers. I know how hard it is to get the work done in such an isolated place and I see them working day in and day out with so little food and rest."

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