Hi Prasanthi, I'm in awe of your and our other volunteer's work, and how you take so much out of your time to do this (Particularly the BoSF coordination). Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to do the physical work, being in the U.S. Sending money is one thing, but most difficult is taking time and doing things in person.
I'd like to contribute some amount to this cause, please utilize the way you deem best fit., will ask my sister to get in touch with you or Satya shortly for the payment as I already transferred some amount to India . Respectfully, Surya ________________________________ From: Prasanthi Uppalapati <[email protected]> To: ToMake Adifference <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, October 12, 2009 8:35:58 AM Subject: [tomakeadifference] <V.Important>Flood Relief Update Dear Friends, Greetings. I am sorry for not being in touch for the past so many days. I am engrossed in the BosF coordination. After all, BosF is our pet project. What we have done so far? We took active role in supporting other groups in BosF who visited various places in AP to provide flood relief. For the first trip, I went as a volunteer with two more groups to Naguladinne in Kurnool (70 kms from Kurnool). This was on 7th October. We gave 8k as monetary support other than offering help in managing the procurement. Second trip, two of our volunteers, Kasyap and Ravi Shankar visited interior places in Kurnool (90 to 100 kms from Kurnool) along with AID India volunteers. We provided 10k amount. (We promised them this amount. We haven't given them yet). Actually I am discussing with other groups in BosF platform to zero in on one village wherein all our groups will concentrate on rehabilitation of entire village so that we will get the satisfaction of making a difference in the life of villagers of one place. The devastation is to the extent that no single group can handle one village as a whole. It might have monetary support but to garner volunteer support and to manage logistics is not that easy. Also this is a good opportunity to prove the power of unity. Almost all the groups in BosF are convinced with this idea. Very soon we will come up with this big project. If we decide to work on building homes for the people, we have to start our work after Diwali or two weeks later. If we want to concentrate on providing them livelihoods, we have to do lot of ground work and coordination that the actual work would start from the first week of November. We can get some idea by this weekend. I am ready to take leave for 11 days and so I can spare 15 days on field. Most probably we may choose interior places in Kurnool so our Bangalore and Chennai volunteers also can participate. Coming to taking up a project ourselves, exclusively TMAD front, we can still do like other groups. We can go to a flood affected remote village near Mehbub Nagar or Kurnool and distribute relief material there. The approximate cost for family is 2000 rs. and we can reach out to 150 families with a 3 lakh budget. I am also trying to reach Wardha people to buy water filters. This would be very very useful for them. It would cost around Rs. 450 for each filter which can remove flouride and arsenic too. The approximate cost for the material: 1. Water Filter - 450 rs. 2. 2 Cotton Sarees - 400 rs. to 500 rs. 3. 2 Lungis - 140 rs. to 200 rs. 4. 2 Blankets - 180 rs. 5. 1 Mat - 80 rs. to 100 rs. 6. 1 Bucket - 40 rs. to 50 rs. 7. Utensils set - 500 rs. 8. Cosmetic set - 200 rs. (Bath soaps, cloth soaps, utensils soaps, hair oil, mirror, comb, tooth paste, tooth brush) 9. Other Necessities - Candles/Match Boxes/Mosquito Coil - 150 rs. 10. Tarpalin Sheet (6 *4) - 50 rs. On bulk, we can get at that rate. Are you interested to raise the amount? Can we do this on war footing? Can we go on this Saturday and Sunday? So that even if we have to stay back we will have Sunday. Are you ready to celebrate Diwali in a meaningful way? Please respond at the earliest. -- Thank you. with regards, PRASANTHI. http://groups. google.com/ group/birdsofsam efeathers ---- When you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
