Project Hope hands over houses in first tsunami reconstructed village

TAMIL NADU, INDIA, December 16, 2005: On December 13, the first tsunami reconstructed village built by Project Hope in Pondicherry was officially inaugurated by the Hon. Lt. Governor of Pondicherry, the Hon. Governor of Tamil Nadu and the Hon. Governor of Uttranchal together with the founders and leaders of Project Hope, H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh and Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi. World famous drummer Sivamani, a devotee of Pujya Swamiji’s, also came and gave a divine musical concert for the village.

The village of Pannithittu, which will ultimately include not only the 100 houses but also a school, community center, vocational training center, primary medical care center and computer center, was adopted by Project Hope in July 2005 and construction began in the middle of August. In just under 4 months, the first batch of houses were completed and handed over to the villagers. Following the function, hot lunch was served to thousands of villagers.

Project Hope was founded at the end of December, 2004, by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and Vivek Oberoi for the relief and rehabilitation of tsunami victims. Project Hope was very active in immediate, emergency tsunami relief in Tamil Nadu, providing thousands of villagers with temporary homes, community kitchens, medical care, relief supplies as well as new fishing nets and boats.

In addition to village reconstruction in Pondicherry, Project Hope is constructing an orphanage in Cuddalore town and renovating a social service center in which approximately 200 widowed, abandoned or impoverished ladies live. The orphanage and ladies center will also include school rooms, computer center, vocational training center and a medical care center.