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A review of YMCA Tsunami Rehabilitation Programmes one year on
More than one year after the Asian Tsunami, the YMCAs in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia are still as heavy involved in responses as in the first week after the disaster. As the response has moved into the rehabilitation stage, the YMCA's strength as a community-led organization has become even more apparent than in the immediate emergency phase.
One month ago, the India Partner Coordination Group (PCG) on YMCA Tsunami Rehabilitation Programmes reviewed the achievements, discussed the specific plans for the next phase and coordinated partner involvement. Similarly, the PCG for Sri Lanka took place earlier this month. In its coordinating function - jointly with Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs - the World Alliance of YMCAs participated in both PCG meetings.
A year ago, concern was expressed that the Tsunami relief and rehabilitation efforts would stretch the capacities of the implementing YMCAs to a maximum. It was therefore recommended that the international YMCA Movement should support these YMCAs to develop their institutional capacities in order for the YMCA to emerge from the Tsunami response strengthened as a community-based organisation.
In their review of the first year's tsunami response, the PCGs asked if there have been any changes in how the YMCA is perceived. In India, the YMCA was able to involve the community right from the start; it mobilised local resources and cooperated closely with local community leaders. This meant that in some areas the YMCA became the first NGO to hand over houses. These good community relations and the good image of the YMCA is seen as an important asset for the future.
In India almost 60% of the proposed 350 houses have now been built. The "housing phase" is due to finish by April. Now some community rebuilding and livelihood recovery programmes and "children in crisis" programmes have begun, e.g. in Salem, Madurai and Madras. There will be a greater emphasis on community rebuilding and livelihood-recovery in the next phase of the long-term plan.
In Sri Lanka, this first year has brought a new enthusiasm to the work of the YMCA, it has revitalised commitment and fostered a new inclusiveness for the YMCA's growth. It has reactivated dormant YMCAs with new ways for them to be socially involved. The YMCA has moved beyond the traditional YMCA target groups, has improved relationships with the community and has more interfaith partnerships where the openness of the YMCA is recognised. More young people are now interested in the YMCA and they have created a new project management culture with a stronger sense of accountability. Someone summarised it as "less talking, more doing".
5000 families have benefited from home recovery assistance through the YMCA of Sri Lanka, a total of 384 houses have been repaired and more than 350 people have received seed capital grants to restart their small businesses. The housing programme has not been fully implemented yet in several places due to various factors, e.g. legal land matters. But by the end of March, 29 houses out of 120 will be handed over to affected families. The construction of community centres and livelihood programmes have begun in various affected parts in the south and east. New areas of work for 2006 include a micro credit scheme, new vocational training centres, legal and human rights advocacy and a movement strengthening programme.
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Living in Hope - A Sharing from the Secretary General
No 10, January 2005 - Special Issue
Tsunami in Asia: YMCA Response
The scale of the tsunami disaster that hit twelve countries of Asia bordering the Indian Ocean on Sunday 26th December 2004 is obviously one of the biggest in recent history. The death toll is now 155,000 (according to today's count). The figure increases every day. The exact number will probably never be known. Millions of survivors of the disaster in the affected areas are in extremely difficult situations.
The international community responded to the emergency quickly. What was encouraging is the compassion and immediate personal contributions of people around the world. Without delay, people went ahead with their pledges and contributions in order to save lives. Governments, too, committed substantial financial and other material contributions. Now the challenge is appropriate coordination of the relief operations.
The YMCA family moved fast. Already, on the evening of 26th December we at the World Alliance of YMCAs began our contacts in the affected areas and on 27th December our World Alliance office was open to initiate contacts and to coordinate the emergency relief efforts with the YMCAs of Sri Lanka and India.
In Sri Lanka 20 of the 38 local YMCAs are in the affected coastal areas of the country. The YMCA there immediately began relief operations and are distributing emergency aid, such as dry rations and clothing to the victims of the disaster. They have collected these rations through local YMCA leaders. All local YMCAs are working either as Collecting Centres or Distribution Centres. Chrisantha Hettiaratchi, the National General Secretary is coordinating the relief work after visiting four affected YMCAs in the South (Negombo, Dehiwela, Moratuwa and Galle). Volunteers and staff have also gone to the Eastern Provinces (Ampara, Batticaloa, etc.) with the necessary relief goods.
Yesterday staff of the national YMCA of Sri Lanka spent the day training the first group of young YMCA leaders to go to the eastern part of the country to assist the YMCAs in re-establishing leadership, clearing up debris, and implementing relief programs for the community. The training included teambuilding activities, trust initiatives, survival and first aid training, and communication programs. Each received "survival kits" that included food and water for five days and a first aid kit so that they do not have to depend on the YMCA or community resources to survive. The second group of volunteers is being trained today.
The Galle YMCA is in the process of revising some plans for designing a center for orphans of the tsunami. The center is designed around the idea of a residential camp for children and will hopefully begin work next week.
In India, emergency relief work has been initiated by YMCAs in 4 centres in Kulachel and Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu), in Kollam (Kerala) and Machilipatnam (A.P.). The national general secretary, T. Thomas, after visiting some of the affected areas has informed us that since food distribution has been taken care of by the Government at the relief camps, YMCAs are trying to take care of the other essentials such as clothing, medicines, sleeping mattresses, emergency lighting
arrangements, etc. Operations are coordinated by YMCA national council staff under the leadership of local and regional volunteer leaders. The local YMCAs are very much involved in mobilizing local resources including funds, relief materials, medicines, etc. The Gandhidham YMCA staff and volunteers have collected medicines and clothes worth US$ 3'500 and have proceeded to Kulachel in their YMCA ambulance.
There is no YMCA in the affected area of Indonesia, where the loss of life has been greatest. However, the Medan YMCA (on the north east coast of Sumatra and the closest to the affected area) is distributing blankets and food to victims and has plans for the provision of medicines, clothing and daily necessities in the most affected Aceh Province in the Northern part of the country. On January 7th a team from Medan YMCA is going to Nias (an island on the west coast of Sumatra) to continue working with the survivors.
We have been in touch with Bangkok YMCA in Thailand. The most affected area is Phuket which is a long way from the nearest YMCA in Bangkok YMCA. The YMCA and Y's Men's Clubs of Bangkok and Chiangmai are involved in fundraising activities for support to victims in the affected area.
Appeal
As you know, the World Alliance of YMCAs issued a joint appeal with the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) on 27th December and as of today 277,000 USD has been pledged by the YMCA family. Already the first transfers have been made. India YMCA has responded to emergency relief through its own resources and is formulating its plan for long-term rehabilitation work.
There will be 3 phases of YMCA action:
* Immediate emergency relief
The emergency relief which is now going on includes the distribution of food, medicine and other materials to help victims survive. It will hopefully conclude by mid-January.
*Interim restoration
This aims to ease communities back into normal living, e.g. by providing temporary shelters and trauma counselling.
*Long term rehabilitation and reconstruction
This work includes supporting victims to rebuild basic homes and essential infrastructure and could include counselling and programmes for children and young people.
Anyone wishing to make a financial contribution can send a cheque or make a bank transfer to the World Alliance, or please contact your National YMCA Movement. Please mark your payment "Tsunami Fund."
Bank: UBS SA, PO Box 2600, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Account number : 0240-617775.10L
IBAN Code : CH780024024061777510 L
Please make cheques payable to World Alliance of YMCAs, 12 Clos Belmont, 1208 Geneva, Switzerland.
Coordinated response and World Alliance visit
Coordination is clearly crucial to maximise the effectiveness of the resources. The World Alliance is in frequent contact with the affected YMCAs and the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and together we have planned a coordinated response which includes the above appeal. The World Alliance is receiving regular updates from YMCAs in the affected countries.
I will be visiting the YMCA of Sri Lanka and India from 10-15th January. Yip Kok Choong, General Secretary of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, will be joining me after his meeting with leaders of the Indonesian YMCA in Medan. The President of APAY, Rev. Samuel Stephens, will be present at the meetings in Colombo and Madras. We will meet YMCA leaders to discuss relief and rehabilitation plans. Meetings are also scheduled with ecumenical partners including the National Council of Churches in Sri Lanka, and the YWCA.
A Japanese YMCA delegation (Citizens towards Overseas Disaster Emergency) has already visited Ambalangoda in southern Sri Lanka to provide technical support. They are now in the east helping to assess the situation there. A delegation from Singapore YMCA arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday and groups from Singapore and from Kobe, Japan are arriving later in the week.
The Bangladesh YMCA is processing a team of doctors, volunteers and social workers experienced in disaster response.
Expressions of solidarity and information
Regular up-dates will be posted on our website www.ymca.int
For further details contact Emile Stricker, emile(at)ymca.int
Please send messages of solidarity directly to the YMCAs concerned:
Sri Lanka, Mr Chrisantha Hettiaratchi, National General Secretary, srilankaymca(at)eureka.lk
India, Mr. T. Thomas, National General Secretary, ncymca(at)nda.vsnl.net.in
Indonesia, Ms. Judith Lim, National General Secretary, ymca.indonesia(at)telkom.net
Thailand, Mr. Rachan Maneekarn, National General Secretary, yintercm(at)ymcachiangmai.org
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, Mr. Yip Kok Choong, General Secretary,
yip(at)asiapacificymca.org
Expression of Thanks and Gratitude
I wish to thank the YMCAs of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada & YMCA Greater Toronto, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Honduras, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan & Taipei YMCA, USA, Y Care and Y's Men International who have already responded to our Appeal. The YMCAs of Panama, Spain and the European Alliance of YMCAs have expressed their solidarity. I am sure many more YMCAs will respond in the days to come as they mobilize their membership and go ahead with their campaigns.
A Personal Reflection
In the Christmas Living in Hope, I had looked forward with great hope to 2005. This sudden tsunami disaster has made us think again about the world community we are part of and our search for the meaning of life for a deeper relationship with our Creator. In this regard I want to share a short reflection I wrote on 31st December:
Starting 2005
As the long year of war
and genocide ends
and a new year longs to be born,
the bodies of those washed away
by the angry tsunami
float in my mind.
They float
as the numbed mind
tries to count
the countless bodies
melting in a sea of corpses
wrapped in pure white cotton.
The desperate cries of those
who survived
the giant killer waves,
like sharp blades strike my soul.
I gaze at the last sunset
of 2004
and look silently to 2005
saying:
Lord, I don't know why
so many people had to die;
but, I believe in your
new sun
that recreates this universe.
Make us one
standing beside one another-
those left homeless,
motherless, fatherless,
childless,
those left orphans.
For, we are one humanity
floating in a small little world.
Dr. Bart Shaha
Secretary General
World Alliance of YMCAs
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