On Tuesday August 23rdthe Tsunami Committee had what
may be its final meeting. Those in attendance approved Chairman Ed's
plan to build a clinic for orphaned children in Northern Sumatra
(Banda Aceh).
Although we had intended to build a school no satisfactory project
was available. The projects we had discussed previously were for
supplies only, not the building of a school.
A facilitating organization (such as we use for water projects), "SOS
Kinderdorf", located in Switzerland has built what they call
an "SOS Children's Village" in over 130 countries and territories.
We have checked them out as best we can (see http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/)
and they have been endorsed by our contacts from the Rotary Club
of Ubud in Bali. Ed has been in constant touch with the district
governor there and they have been very active and productive. They
have received a great deal of funds frm the Rotary Club of NYC.
The village will service 150 children including ten houses for 15
children each, meeting hall, community center, etc. Any extra funds
can be used to purchase equipment for the clinic. While matching
funds are not available from RI for a building they
should be available for the equipment purchase.
