The initial need of food, water and essential supplies are reaching many victims of Tsunami 2004 from the efforts of international aid organizations. As the media turns its attention away from this catastrophic event, we pray that the world will not forget the hundreds of thousands of people who continue to require aid and will need help for a year or more. One of the crucial elements following the aftermath of such an event is the rebuilding process. We are concentrating our small efforts on the Tirunavukkarasu Nayanar Gurukulam (TNG) orphanage in Batticaloa, east Sri Lanka that was devastated in the tsunami.

There are many of you who want to help but are unaware how to participate, or if your financial aid will actually reach the victims.

If you would like to know how your generosity will make a difference in the lives of the children at our Sri Lanka orphanage, please click on any of the following links.

 
 

About Tirunavukkarasu Nayanar Gurukulam (TNG)

The Tirunavukkarasu Nayanar Gurukulam orphanage for boys was founded in 1978 by the late Mr. Eraipannisemmal Swaminathar Thambiah and in recent years Kauai's Hindu Monastery, through the Hindu Heritage Endowment, has been one of its many supporters. Currently the orphanage has 43 boys, with ages ranging from 5 to 27 years old.

The young boys there are more social servants than orphans. In recent years, through the quarterly financial grant that Hindu Heritage Endowment provides, they have been able to perform much religious and social service plus deepen their spiritual pursuits. They taught religion to all in the community, organized and held festivals, fed the poor and the homeless. They held summer camps, devotional singing contests, spiritual dramas and worship services. They encouraged physical fitness among the youth, and promoted what they called "eternal values," moral and spiritual understandings of man and God. They read from Gurudeva's spiritual teachings each day and followed a strict life, which included vegetarianism, regular yoga practices and meditation. Gurudeva was always supportive of their projects and efforts, admiring their attitude of not only taking care of themselves, but reaching out to others, actually helping those who had more than they. In 2003, with aid from the Tamil Orphans Trust, they had built a new multi-purpose facility which gave them new pride and purpose.


Photo shows the boys parading into their new building for the first time on a monsoon day in 2003. This building sustained minor damage, while the older facilities of the orphanage were totally demonished.

 

What happened on December 26th, 2004?


In a recent phone conversation with TNG's treasurer in Sri Lanka, Mr. B. Chandreswaran, he related to us the story of what actually took place that fateful morning. This is what he shared: The young boys had just finished their prayers followed by breakfast when one of the boys who was on the beach came running into the building shouting that a loud thunderous sound was coming from the sea and the sea looked like it was boiling. Some of the boys and staff rushed out to the beach to see what was happening and upon realizing that danger was at hand the staff told the boys to run to safety. The boys who were on the beach fled inland. The staff members then went into the main building to alert the other boys. In their loving, selfless efforts to ensure that all the boys were out of the orphanage building in time, 3 staff members died in the giant waves.One young boy who was handicapped also died, as he could not run to safety with the others. The director of the orphanage, Mr. Kanan Rajaratnam, was seriously hurt as well. While trying to save the boys, he was swept by the giant waves into an electrical pole and sustained serious injuries. He was rescued by the Sri Lankan army and flown by helicopter to a hospital. The first wave was small. The second and third ones caused all the destruction and deaths.

All the orphanage facilities around the main building were reduced to rubble. The only possessions that the boys have now are the clothes on their back. They are stranded, living in the homes of families and other institutions, disorganized and confused and not sleeping well at night.

 

What is going on now?

New Orphanage PC

(update from our latest phone conversation March 31st, 2005)

Babu Chandreswaran shares with us the following: "The architect have given us the plans for the first floor of what will be our new orphanage building and we have already mailed them to you (Kauai's Hindu Monastery). They are currently working on the plans for the second floor. They promise to have done this in the next two weeks. I have been approaching many people on the island to help with various needs of the orphanage. We have had some nice responses. Recently a man bought 5 new bicycles for the older boys so that they may cycle to their colleges which is a little bit from the orphanage. Another person donated a brand new television and another donated a refrigerator. We are happy that locals are helping us as much as they can. But we understand too that there is only so much they can help us with as they have family and friends who also were affected by the tsunami and there are others that need help too. Therefore we are so grateful to Gurudeva that through his aadheenam (monastery) people in the USA, Canada and around the world are contributing to this orphanage.

Click here to read the history of past reports.

 

Mr. Chandreswaran shared with us by cell phone that their main building, which was constructed in 2003 next to the beach, is still standing, but the inside of the first floor was destroyed. All the orphanage facilities surrounding the main building were reduced to rubble. He said that the government of Sri Lanka is in the process of passing a law that will prohibit construction of residential homes/buildings within 100 meters of the shoreline. As a result of this, they will no longer be able to reside in the main building, even though it is still standing.

They had recently acquired land about a kilometer inland for agricultural use, and now plan to rebuild the orphanage on that site. This is an enormous advantage in the reconstruction, having suitable land already in hand. Mr. Chandreswaran said their initial estimate for this new facility is US$50,000. In the second half of January they will be pulling together architectural plans and engineering drawings for a suitable building that is cyclone, flood and tsunami proof.

 

Contributions received so far

(updated Feb 4th, 2005)
 Happily, to date, the total contribution towards the construction of TNG's new facility is US$32,000.45. Mr. Chandreswaran conveyed on behalf of the orphanage boys and the staff their gratitude to all donors for their kind and loving generosity.
 
 
 

How to Contribute Financially

Devotees have been contacting us to ask if they can help to provide relief for the surviving orphans of the TNG orphanage in Batticaloa that has for so many years been one of Gurudeva's cherished charities. We have opened a special fund which you can donate to. All contributions received, in their entirety and without administrative overhead, will go towards the construction of TNG's new orphanage building. Hopefully, we can bring dignity and purpose to the lives of these orphans.

All financial contributions from within the USA are tax-deductible. Saiva Siddhanta Church's (Kauai's Hindu Monastery) tax ID number is 946108645.

If you wish to send a check, please make it out to "Sri Lanka Refugee Relief Fund", and on the description line write "Orphanage."

If you wish to make a contribution by credit card, please e-mail your credit card details to Sadhaka Dandapani at danda@hindu.org or you may call him to personally give your credit card details at 1-808-822-3012, Ext. 239. You may also fax them to 1-808-822-4351.

Please mail your financial contributions to:

SLRRF
Kauai's Hindu Monastery
107 Kaholalele Road
Kapaa, Hawaii 96746-9304

 

Other ways you can help

(updated Feb 4th)

There are many ways that devotees are helping. A doctor in New York has gathered basic medical supplies from various organizations and is in the process of shipping it to the TNG orphanage. Her daughter suggested that she add some toys, sweets, chocolates, biscuits and other goodies to the package as well. So the following day they went shopping for these additional items. Others are sharing this opportunity to help with family, friends and work colleagues as there are many who want to help but are unaware how to or if their financial aid will actually reach the victims. One devotee at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta has been passing the hat and has raised over $2,000. Donors like the idea that all funds, with no overhead, reach the most needy kids. A devotee in New Jersey is researching into how best to get school supplies to all the boys. Devotees in Canada are planning to have fund-raising events to raise money for the orphanage's long-term needs. A couple in Chennai, India, sent new veshtis (a traditional Hindu apparel for men) which the boys received on Feb 4th. Photo shows the distribution of the new veshtis.

Siva Markandu from London, Canada, emailed to tell us that the London Tamil Association are holding a fund-raising dinner with all profits going to the orphanage. It is so very inspiring to the boys in the orphanage to see so many stepping forward in myriad of ways to help create a bright future for them.

A special thank you to Pattrick Harrigan, who is onsite at the TNG orphanage, for sending the latest photos and report.

If you would like to contribute in a non-financial way (example: donating medical or food supplies, etc) please feel free to get in touch with Sadhaka Dandapani for more details.

 

 

If you require more information on the TNG orphanage relief efforts or on the rebuilding of the new TNG orphanage facility, please feel free to contact Sadhaka Dandapani
E-mail: danda@hindu.org
Phone: 1-808-822-3012, Ext. 239
Fax: 1-808-822-4351


For general, all-island support and aid, please use the TRO (Tamils Relief Organization) along with others on our list of agencies, at http://www.hindu.org/aid-relief/

Media wishing to publish an article on the above story can get hi-resolutions photos for print production. Please send a request to danda@hindu.org

This website will be updated periodically with all the latest information.

Top