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News from Tsunami Junction
November 21, 2005
Update 16.5
It has been a while since I updated this page -- that doesn't mean there's nothing new to report, merely that I haven't made the time to wrestle with FrontPage lately! After the Backpack Nation contest closed, I contacted Marc Gold, one of the grant winners, to congratulate him. At that time, Marc was in the process of relocating permanently to Thailand and planning a philanthropic mission to Asia for his organization, 100 Friends, which does amazing work in developing nations all over the world. When I mentioned I was looking for someone to deliver a cash donation to my friends in Sri Lanka, Marc offered to not only deliver it himself, but also to make a generous donation to the orphans through his organization.
Needless to say, I was very grateful for the offer and excited that Marc would be visiting the girls in Trincomalee. I gave him the additional donations in cash before he left the country, as well as contact names and numbers in Sri Lanka. He told me he would be traveling through several other countries first, and it would likely be November before he made it to Sri Lanka. Well, it's November now and I'm delighted to report that Marc made it safely to Sri Lanka and met with my friend Noeline Selvam in Colombo. Noeline has been the guardian angel of this project from the beginning. With typical Sri Lankan hospitality, she introduced Marc to her family and acted as his personal tour guide. They discussed the latest conditions at both St. Joseph's and the affiliated boys' home, which houses another 85 children (many of whom are related to the girls at St. Joseph's.) Marc visited both orphanages in person. Since I was there last spring, the Girls' Home has been fortunate enough to find a reliable source of funding and is doing much better financially. Marc and Noeline decided, with my full support, to give the rest of the money collected through my story along with matching funds from 100 Friends to St. Joseph's for the girls' educational expenses, and an additional $1,000 US from 100 Friends to the boys' home, where the need was more urgent.
I just received a note from Sister Theresilda who runs the girls' home, asking me to please express her gratitude to everyone for their concern and help. And many, many thanks again from me, to all those who donated to this project and supported it in so many other ways, and to Marc Gold and 100 Friends for the generous contributions.
June 9, 2005
Update 16.4 Backpack Nation Results are in
The 2005 Backpack Nation results are in: my story did not win a grant, but four other worthy projects did. There is no bad news with this project -- some of the grant winners are stories I voted for, and two of them were written by folks I know from the Bay Area. Most importantly, this money will change lives in parts of the world where people hardly ever get a break. Once again, it has been a great experience overall -- and I know from last year’s outcome with Akha House that the positive effects will only continue to grow. Thank you all so much for participating in this project with me, and an especially big thanks to those who took the time to read the stories and vote. This year's grant winners and their stories can be found on Backpack Nation.
For those who are following the Sri Lanka orphanage story, everyone there is doing fine. In May, there was a flare-up of civil unrest in Trincomalee and many of the orphans at St. Joseph’s were temporarily moved out of town as a precaution. They are all safe and being well cared for, and will return to Trinco when things calm down. A few more small donations have trickled in recently through my website and I am looking for a safe, quick, inexpensive way to transfer these funds to them. Is anybody headed out Asia?? Please let me know if you can help.
May 23, 2005
Update 16.3 Last Reminder! An hour of your time could be worth $1000
...to my friends at St. Joseph’s Girls Home in Sri Lanka, and 11 other grassroots projects from around the world. The Backpack Nation deadline is only a few days away, and your votes will determine where this grant money will be allocated. It won’t cost you anything more than an hour of your time, so if you haven’t yet cast your vote, please do so by midnight on May 31!
And can I just say…Backpack Nation ROCKS!!
Some of you may remember that I participated in Backpack Nation last year as well. Although my 2004 story didn’t win a grant, I am still receiving email from people around the world who are interested in the Student Project at Akha Hill House. Chief Apae wrote recently to tell me that the story has brought attention, donations, and volunteer teachers to their project. I’m still hoping for a grant this year, of course, but the exposure alone makes this project so worthwhile. A drop starts a ripple that becomes a wave....
May 10, 2005
Update 16.2 Thanks from Sri Lanka
The total donations received since last month's dispatch came to $495.00 USD, and the money arrived in Sri Lanka safely about a month ago. I asked the sisters to determine the most appropriate use of these funds, since by that time I’d been away for a couple of months. I’ve been corresponding with Sister Theresilda, the Mother Superior in charge of the orphanage, and with Noeline Selvam, a Sinhalese woman who helps her out as a volunteer. Noeline has been the guardian angel of this undertaking, managing all the correspondence and administrative details. They obtained mosquito nets for all the children before the monsoon, and made some much-needed repairs to the kitchen and bathroom. Although $495 doesn’t sound like much to us, it helped get them through a crisis period and thankfully, a local donor has now come forward to finance the more expensive remodeling of the old dormitory building.
Sister Theresilda asked me to forward her email, below, to all those who donated funds to the orphanage, along with her thanks. I’m extending that thanks to everyone on my list, because so many of you also contributed – and continue to contribute – your time and effort to publicize this story. And, once again from me, THANK YOU all so much for your generous contributions. I am amazed at the response to this project, and the power of simply telling a story and passing it on. I feel privileged to know so many good humans. Several donations came in from people I’ve never even met, so I hope sometime I’ll have the opportunity to say thanks in person.
And in their own words....
My dear Laurie,
Greetings to you and all our donors from all at St. Joseph's Girls home and all the Sisters. Special love and thanks from me to you.
How are you?
Thank you for cash you sent to the bank. I received Rs 47,039.00. This money was very helpful to do some repair of our Girls' home kitchen and repair of the toilets. The expenses came up to Rs 50,000.00. With our girls we thank you for the help, we have already got the mosquito nets for the children. Please thank all those who contributed towards our Girls Home.
Our girls are going on happily and doing well. They do think of you and all the benefactors with gratitude. We are planning to do a big repair of our girl's home. Some generous group has come forward to help us. They might begin the work very soon. So dear Laurie once again I thank you for you love, affection and care for our girls. The children send their love and thanks to you. Please thank all our benefactors on behalf of our children. I thank you all sincerely for your love and concern towards us.
May you have a happy life, good health.
Best wishes
With love and thanks
Sr. Theresilda
April 8, 2005
Update 16.1 Mosquito Nets for Everyone?!
Since I first sent their story out to my email list, $475 has come in for the orphans at St. Joseph's. It may not sound like much to most of us, but believe me; it will go a very long way in Sri Lanka. I’ve asked Sister Theresilda to choose the best use for this money -- whether it’s mosquito nets, food, mattresses or school supplies -- and to let me know so I can thank each of the donors and let them know where their money went. In the meantime, many, many thanks to all of you who donated and/or promoted this project in other ways. Everyone at the orphanage is so grateful for your help, as am I. You all rock. Donations are certainly still needed, so if you can continue to spread the word in any way, please do so. And there is one more thing you can do to help….
Backpack Nation Finalists Chosen – Your Vote is Worth $1000!
I’m very excited to report that “Tsunami Junction, Sri Lanka” has entered the final round of the 2005 Backpack Nation story contest. Some of you will remember this event from last year. Backpack Nation is a great project that encourages travelers to share their stories of Western “Haves” sharing their resources with “Have Nots” in developing countries. This year, 12 stories have been chosen for the final round, and 4 of those will receive a grant of $1000 each based on a public vote -- which starts now! So, the 55 little girls I met in Sri Lanka, along with 11 other deserving grassroots projects from around the world have a chance to receive $1000 cash. And it won’t cost you a thing, other than about an hour of your time to read these inspiring stories and cast your vote. Just go to the Backpack Nation site, and follow the voting instructions.