Among the most devastated villages after the Tsunami hit the coast of Tamil Nadu was Tharangambadi and Chinnankudi. When our workers and volunteers visited these two villages for immediate relief, they could see bodies floating in the water with no one to pull it out. The scale of the devastation was so high that every family lost some near or dear one. Fishermen and their families are primary residents of these two villages. The misery of these villagers is further magnified by the fact that there is hardly any presence of government to provide basic necessities like schools or hospitals. Following immediate relief, HOPE foundation decided to provide to these villagers service that will be long-term. During a survey of the two villages, the unanimous demand that was voiced was education for the children. The fishermen folk were quite sure that the only way that their children could lead a better life was to educate them. Thus, was born the initiative to establish a school each in Tharangambadi and Chinnankudi village. This effort has been ably supported by United Way Mumbai, Samsung, Herman Miller, Danone, Phillips, Sonata software, SAP Labs, Shetland Council and Children’s Hope foundation.
