2004 TSUNAMI RELIEF PROJECTS
Andaman Islands | Maldives | Sri Lanka | Thailand
Andaman Islands
Original Project Description
Tsunami Relief Photos
Mangrove Biological Garden and Resource Center rebuilding and repairs
UPDATE January 2005 - The foundation washed away and the walls of the mangrove center collapsed due to the 105 tremors that followed in the week after the major earthquake.
UPDATE July 2005 - Seacology used Nu Skin Force For Good funds to repair the building. Construction of the new building is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2005.
UPDATE June 2006 - The 2004 tsunami damaged the Mangrove Center during the mid-construction phase. Repairs and reconstruction of the first/mid phase of construction was completed in early 2005 and the entire resource center building was completed in November 2005.
Poultry, goat, and sewing machine purchase and distribution and alternative livelihood program
UPDATE January 2006 - Seacology's tsunami relief fund provided a grant to COPDANET, the local organization running the Mangrove Center project, to purchase and distribute poultry, goats and sewing machines to village families for an alternative livelihood program, as well as to provide general relief aid for boat, house and small infrastructure repairs. The poultry, goats, sewing machines and aid were distributed in early 2005.
Construction of three traditional fishing boats with engines to replace boats lost by fisherpeople
UPDATE June 2006 - As of May 2006, Field Representative Hoslo Jiwa reported that one of the communities slated to receive a boat received one from another agency already. Instead of a boat, Seacology will provide 50-100 ice boxes (with a total cost equivalent to the boat) to that community. Mr. Jiwa will travel to Little Andaman to set up the next boat distribution.
UPDATE January 2007 - In May 2006 one of the communities slated to receive a boat received one from another agency instead. Seacology provided 50-100 ice boxes in lieu of the third boat. The two boats are used to tow villagers’ small fishing kayaks for their sustainable fishing efforts. The boats also hold ice boxes where the day’s catch is stored. Members of the Seacology expedition to the Andamans visited the site in late October 2006 and presented the village with a burgee donated by members of the Bay View Boat Club (a donor to Seacology’s tsunami relief fund).
Eco-employment project for people relocated from the severely damaged Car Nicobar Islands to the Kadachang region
UPDATE June 2006 - Indian Ocean Field Representative Hoslo Jiwa has received confirmations from administrative parties to begin the eco-employment project by mid-2006. Mr. Jiwa is currently preparing a timeline and work plan for Seacology in order to begin the project.
Maldives, Kendhoo Island
Original Project Description
Tsunami Relief Photos
Preschool building repairs and school equipment replacement
UPDATE January 2005 - Even though the tsunami came from the side of the island where the school is located the school suffered only modest damage. The doors were all damaged, the principal's office was damaged and the furniture and books were destroyed.
UPDATE July 2005 - Seacology used Nu Skin Force For Good funds to repair the building and replace school equipment. All equipment was purchased and distributed in early 2005 and building repairs were completed in early 2005.
Housing and elementary school equipment and foliage replacement
UPDATE July 2005 - Seacology's tsunami relief fund provided a grant to Kendhoo to replace damaged furniture, equipment, plants, and trees for village houses and the main school building.
Purchase and installation of a village desalinization plant at Kendhoo Village
UPDATE July 2005 - The tsunami relief fund provided a grant to purchase and install a village desalinization plant to replace the fresh water wells in Kendhoo that turned brackish after tsunami damage. Materials for this project are being purchased and distributed this summer and construction of the desalinization plant began in June 2005 and is expected to take about six weeks to complete.
UPDATE June 2006 - Construction of the plant was completed on December 26, 2005, one year after the tsunami, replacing fresh water wells in Kendhoo that had turned brackish after tsunami damage. Field Representative Hoslo Jiwa visited the site in April 2006 and reported that maintenance of the plant is a potential challenge as parts were already in need of repair after only one half of a year of use. Four Seasons Maldives engineers will be replacing parts and performing maintenance in September 2006. Villagers are also considering only using the plant during the dry season when fresh water becomes scarce.
UPDATE January 2007 - The water plant was evaluated again by engineers in October 2006 and is running. Members of the Seacology expedition to the Maldives visited the site in late October 2006.
UPDATE June 2007 - The village continues to rely on the desalinization plant when there is a water shortage during the dry season. As of May 2007 the village is working on scheduling maintenance and repairs to insure that the plant will be available during that time.
Sri Lanka
Original Project Description
Tsunami Relief Photos
Mangrove Resource Center rebuilding and repairs
UPDATE January 2005 - While the mangrove center fared comparatively well, the building suffered some cracks in the walls and damage to the roof. It was one of the few buildings still standing in that part of Sri Lanka. The computers, copiers, library material and furniture were all destroyed due to flooding.
UPDATE July 2005 - Seacology used Nu Skin Force For Good funds to repair the building and replace the destroyed items at the mangrove center. The repairs have now been completed and damaged materials and equipment have been replaced.
Rebuilding and replacement of drinking wells, sanitary facilities, fishing equipment, fishing boats
UPDATE July 2005 - Seacology's tsunami relief fund provided a grant to repair and rebuild 30 drinking wells for the communities around Kiralakele, and to rebuild sanitary facilities for 97 families. As of May 2005 construction of the drinking wells and sanitary facilities is underway. Final construction is expected to be completed by July 2005.
UPDATE January 2006 - Construction of the drinking wells was completed at the end of July 2005. As of November 2005 construction of 97 sanitary facilities was 95 percent complete.
Rebuilding a fishing community hall and implementing a sustainable fishing livelihood program
UPDATE July 2005 - This was the second grant to Small Fishers Federation of Lanka from Seacology's tsunami relief fund to replace a destroyed fishing community hall used by fishers for meetings, and to set up a fishing livelihood program by purchasing 88 small fishing canoes and sets of fishing gear for villagers who lost their gear in the tsunami. As of May 2005 half the fishing canoes have been built and fishing nets distributed. Final construction and distribution is expected to be completed by July 2005.
UPDATE January 2006 - As of November 2005 construction was complete up to roof level. Completion of the the community center was expected to be finished by the first anniversary of the tsunami.
UPDATE January 2007 - 88 sets of fishing equipment and boats were distributed in 2005 and construction of the community hall was completed in early 2006. The communities surrounding Kiralakele use the hall as a meeting place for fishers in the area and as a preschool during the day.
Providing 15 fishing boats and fishing gear to support a sustainable fishing livelihood program in the Kiralakele region
UPDATE January 2007 - This was a third tsunami relief grant to Small Fishers Federation of Lanka to replace destroyed fishing boats and gear used by fishers in the area. The boats were made in cooperation with the Department of Fisheries of Sri Lanka to meet the standards for Sri Lanka Fisheries and are managed by fishing family co-ops legally registered with the ministry of fisheries to practice sustainable fishing techniques. Each boat is owned and run by three family members who each provide food and income to an average five-member household. Construction of the boats began in October 2006. The project is expected to be completed in early 2007.
UPDATE June 2007 - Construction of the boats was completed in March 2007. Purchase of the engines for the 15 boats is scheduled for mid-2007.
Thailand, Trang Province
Original Project Description
Tsunami Relief Photos
Housing, fishing boat and fishing equipment replacement and reconstruction
UPDATE July 2005 - The people of this area note that the mangrove forests that they work to protect helped mitigate the devastation of the tsunami and save their lives. The original project funded by Seacology did not involve any structures that were damaged. Still, one of the four villages involved with the Seacology project, Koh Muk Village, suffered damage to village houses, fishing boats and fishing equipment. Seacology's tsunami relief fund provided a grant to Yadfon, the local organization that ran the Seacology project, to reconstruct houses and replace or rebuild fishing boats and fishing equipment at Koh Muk. In early 2005, the grant provided materials to build new houses for two poor and widowed families in the area that were ineligible to receive government reconstruction aid because of their status as renters. Also provided were materials to 99 fishers to repair or replace their boats, and materials to 340 fishers to make new fishing equipment.
Construction of community mangrove center and mangrove study boardwalk, and conservation trainings and education
UPDATE July 2005 - A grant was provided to tsunami affected Sukhon Island to help villagers expand their prevention efforts by coordinating mangrove conservation trainings and education, and to build a community mangrove center and mangrove study boardwalk.
UPDATE June 2006 - In December 2005 Sukhon communities used a portion of Seacology funds to commemorate the anniversary of the tsunami by planting mangrove saplings in destroyed areas. Also in early 2006 several village meetings took place to discuss solutions to the long term damage of increased soil salinity and rapid increase in tourism and commercial development in the less-hit area of Sukhon. Their plans include the implementation of sustainable and organic farming, soil improvement, and continuing commitments to mangrove, sea grass and coral reef protection. Successful meetings were also held with local development organizations to ensure that the area remains environmentally sound. Plans for the rest of the year include constructing a mangrove center and mangrove study boardwalk.
UPDATE June 2007 - Construction of the mangrove center and mangrove study boardwalk was approved by the Tambol administrative organization in December 2006 and is scheduled to be constructed in 2007.
