Progressive Organizations that need your support

From http://www.lines-magazine.org/tsunami/TsunamiInitiatives.htm

This list was compiled with input from friends who have personal contacts and knowledge of these initiatives. There are more initiatives that we plan to add to this list as more projects focused on long term relief get off the ground. This is not intended as a comprehensive list, these are just projects where we have special links - there are other initiatives that are equally worthy of support

The initiatives described below are the following:

1. Suriya Women's Development Center, Batticaloa

2. Women's Fund for Tsunami Relief and Reconstruction, Sri Lanka

3. Initiative Sunrise Lanka (ISL for Ampara, Eastern Province)

4. Equal Ground, Colombo

5. Shanthiham, Jaffna

6. Jeeva Jothi, Batticaloa

7. Rural Development Foundation (RDF), Trincomalee

8. Sarvodaya, Moratuwa

9. Butterfly Garden Tsunami Relief, Batticaloa

1. Suriya Women's Development Center, Batticaloa

Focus:

Immediate term:

1. Addressing the immediate needs of women and children in the hard hit Batiicaloa region. This work involves meeting both material needs and psychological needs.

2. Preventing gender based violence in refugee camps.

Monitoring and addressing incidents of gender based violence; Measures to prevent/deter such incidents.

Medium and long term

1. Continuing relief activities and activities in relation to gender based violations.
2. In addition, taking steps to ensure inclusive participatory decision making so that women’s voices will be heard in shaping policies for temporary and permanent resettlement.

Who is doing it:

Suriya Women’s Development Centre (Suriya) was established in 1991 (See http://suriya.modblog.com/?show=main) to work with the people displaced by the internal conflict in the North-Eastern province, and living in the camps, which were established in Colombo. Suriya focused on working with women and children. After the closure of the camps in Colombo and the inmates were forced to returned to their former places of residence in 1993, Suriya moved to Batticaloa and has been working in the Eastern Province for the last eight years,

Suriya has worked i with women’s groups in all three communities addressing gender awareness, human rights, access to justice, violence against women, economic empowerment and other social development issues. Using theater and other avenues they have also been active in the movement for peace with justice involving women in the Tamil and Muslim communities. The individuals involved with Suriya include Vijayakumari Murugiah and Prof. Sitralega Mounaguru of the Eastern Unviersity.

Financial Logistics:

Account Number :- 0730 07303335 101

Name of the Bank :- Seylan Bank ltd.

Swift Code :- SEYBLKLX

Contact Information:

Contact Suriya at suriyaw@slt.lk.

# 20 Dias Lane, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Telephone- + 94-65-23297, Fax- + 94-65-24657

2. Women's Fund for Tsunami Relief and Reconstruction, Sri Lanka

Focus:

This fund will be used for two major projects, The first project will be done as a collective effort with a broad coalition of women’s groups. The second project will be carried out by the Association of War Affected Women focusing on “Peace through Reconciliation and coexistence, women taking the leadership” The donors can indicate which project they would like the funds to be utilized.

1. Collective project

i. To identify needs and priorities for the delivery of relief and assistance in the immediate future

ii. To ensure the inclusion of women in all processes of decision making in the reconstruction and rehabilitation processes.

iii. To identify medium-term and long-term programs that can strengthen women’s initiatives at the community level, and to ensure the protection and promotion of women’s rights in the processes of reconstruction and rehabilitation.

2. AWAW Project

To rebuild a fishing village where all communities can live together as a model village. In addition to rehabilitation and restoration of homes this project will aim to strengthen the peace process and let the women play a vital role in decision making on rebuilding and reconstruction of their village, giving priorities to women.

The exact necessitates and the plan for reconstruction will be posted in the www.awawsl.org official web site of AWAW by 2^nd week of January 2005.

Who is doing it:

• Harini Amerasinghe; Centre for Women’s Research (CENWOR)
• Nehama Jayewardene: Centre for the Study of Human Rights
• Ananda Galappatti: War Trauma and Psycho-Social Support Group
• Shermal Wijewardene, University of Colombo
• Anberiya Haniffa: Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
• Visakha Dharmadasa: Association of War Affected Women (AWAW)
• Sunila Abeysekera: INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre
• Jayanthi kuru-utumpala, Viola Perera, Rajeshwary Sureshkumar: Women and Media Collective
• Sepali Kottegoda: Women and Media Collective/ Sri Lanka Women’s NGO Forum

Financial logistics:

Donations can be made through any of the participant groups in this collective effort:

i. Women and Media Collective:

· Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank

· Bank Address: Standard Charterd Bank, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka

· Account Name: Forum for Tsunami Affected Women

· Account Number: 01 1237314 01

· Swift Code Number: SCBLKLX

· Bank Branch: Rajagiriya Branch

ii. Association of War Affected Women(AWAW):

· Name of Account: Fund for Tsunami Affected Women

· Bank account No: 0004120-1

· Bank: Bank of Ceylon, Pilimathalawa Branch

· Swift code: BECY- LK- LX, 7010/587

Contact Information:

i. Women and Media Collective

Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala

Junior Programme Officer, Women and Media Collective

Phone: + 94 - 11 - 2805127 / 2805579

Fax: + 94 - 11 – 2805580

ii. Association of War Affected Women (AWAW)

Visakha Dharmadasa

Chair, Association of War Affected Women (AWAW)
No 09’ Riverdale Rd, Aniwatthe, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka.

E-Mail: venuwan@sltnet.lk

Tel/Fax: 0094 81 2224098

3. Initiative Sunrise Lanka (ISL for Ampara, Eastern Province)

Focus:

This initiative is focused on setting up a people-centred rebuilding initiative in one of the worst-hit districts, Ampara, on Sri Lanka's east coast, looking specifically at villages north of Yala Park, such as Panama (paa-nuh-muh). The aim is to set up a collaborative initiative with a number of affected families in the area in consultation with them and their own assessment of their needs and priorities. This area was also chosen because it includes remote long-impoverished coastal villages made up of all 3 main communities (Tamil, Muslim, Sinhala) living together for centuries. What makes ISL different from other relief efforts (international, government) is the main stress here is on going directly to the people and 1st finding out exactly what they need, and also on people-to-people continuity, so that the village won't be abandoned after the headlines abandon this tragedy in a couple of weeks. The plan is to support affected communities to ensure they maintain as much control as possible in the process of the rebuilding of their own lives.

Organizations, individuals or groups of individuals may give a one-time donation, or also choose to donate at least $1000 over the next months (possible in regular instalments) to sponsor one family. We are operating on the principle that 100% of donated funds should go to the affected people themselves. NOTE: ISL is NOT an NGO or established organization, just a group of individuals committed to doing something direct and effective together with affected people themselves. For more information, you can contact May & Kris at: ravan@eureka.lk

Who is doing it:

· May Yee and Kris Bhaggiyadatta, writers/editors, teachers.

· Tilak Jayaratne, communication consultant & media trainer.

· Sunethra Rajukarunayaka, author.

· Broadcasters and others affiliated with the Uva Community Radio working in the east and southeast.

· Other activists, architects/technical experts, & others; esp. those familiar with or close to the area.

Financial logistics:

i. In the USA:

Donations to Initiative Sunrise Lanka (ISL) are also being accepted by DiasporaFlow. DiasporaFlow, a Sri Lankan-run 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization, has started an initiative called ‘The Sri Lanka Relief Fund,’ a coalition of Sri Lankans committed to the long-term rebuilding of the lives of all Sri Lankans (Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim) affected by this devastation. You can pay securely online at www.diasporaflow.org/srilanka-relief.html – and then send an email to srilanka-relief@diasporaflow.org with your full name, with subject heading ‘ISL’ to confirm that your specified donation has been made. If you are sending a check, please state clearly that the money is for the ‘ISL’ project and make checks out to ‘The Sri Lanka Relief Fund.’ Checks can be mailed to ‘ISL’ c/o The Sri Lanka Relief Fund, P.O. Box 14039, Minneapolis, MN 55414. If you would like a receipt of donation for tax purposes, please include a S.A.S.E.

ii. In Canada:

Direct deposits, by cash or cheque, can be made at any TD branch to May Yee’s TD-Canada Trust bank account, Branch 1160, Account no. 103801; PLEASE also email ravan@eureka.lk (& cc: mwhyee@yahoo.com), subject: ‘donation’, giving full details.

iii. In the UK

At the Bank of Ceylon London UK branch, deposits can be made directly into the group’s Bank of Ceylon account in the process of being set up in Colombo.

Contact Information:

Email: ravan@eureka.lk

4. Equal Ground, Colombo

Focus:

EQUAL GROUND is raising funds for much needed food, clothing, medicine and other essential items. It is our hope that rather than utilize your donation to arbitrarily buy essential items and ship of to affected areas, we will pick a village or two and concentrate our efforts on relief and rebuilding there.

Sri Lanka will take years to recover from this disaster. Essential services such as schools, hospitals and so on have been wiped out. Our aim is to try and sustainably assist an area and continue to do so as long as we are able to. We are also looking for a reliable local organisation through which to put the money to work most effectively, if this is a more efficient way to do so.

Who is doing it:

Equal Ground’s webpage is http://www.equal-ground.org. EqualGround is an organization committed to the equitable status for all sexual orientations and gender identities; its executive director is Rosanna Flamer-Caldera.

Financial logistics:

Diverse Communications in Chicago will be the single receiving point in the U.S. on behalf of the EQUAL GROUND Relief and Assistance Program. The Trustees of Equal Ground are looking to increase the effectiveness of any funds donated by personally supervising that it is spent on the needy and not on “administration”. Cheques must be made out to "Diverse Communications" (a 501 (c) (3) approved organisation), marked "Sri Lanka" or "Sri Lanka Fund" and mailed to: Diverse Communications, 1146 S Taylor Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304, Tel: 312-804-1647, Contact Person: Alan Amberg

Contact Information

i. You can reach us by phone/fax at:

Telephone / Fax International Callers: +94 11 2682278
Telephone / Fax Local Callers: 2682278
Mobile International Callers: +94 7722 254348
Mobile Local Callers: 07722 254348

ii. You can also reach us by e-mail at:

General usage: info@equal-ground.org or equalground@gmail.com
Donations: donate@equal-ground.org

5. Shanthiham, Jaffna

Focus:

The Mental Health Task Force in Disaster was set up to co-ordinate mental health interventions in response to the natural disaster caused by the tsaunami on the 26^th December 2004. Shanthiham would provide logistical support, human resources and technical expertise for the publication of manuals and pamphlets. This support in conjunction with other Task Force members enabled an immediate response in the provision of education about normal psychological reactions to trauma thus enabling communities and aid workers to offer appropriate support and identify those with more severe problems. It is hoped that this early intervention will play a preventive role in the development of later psychological problems. In the immediate term the focus is on helping relief workers provide brief psychological first aid and crisis intervention. In the medium to long term, the focus will be on providing more concerted interventions like counselling, group work, relaxation and psychological support to address grief, depression, anxiety and PTSD.

In addition to providing direct psychological relief, there will also be focus on offering training for various categories of relief workers, health staff, governmental and non-governmental workers in basic mental health. Within ten days of the Tsunami, Shanthiham had trained over 130 volunteers, medical / university students/ Training College Teacher trainees and one local NGO’s in Crisis Intervention. They have also been able to respond to the request from a local NGO to train their staff on The Psychological Effects of a Disaster. The training provided is in basic mental health and is being referred to as Psychological First Aid as counseling and other therapeutic interventions are not deemed effective immediately after a disaster and should only be undertaken by trained mental health professionals. It is felt that this is a more appropriate intervention in the short term as for many, the psychological symptoms they’re experiencing will go away.

Finally, the Task Force is producing a number of publications: pamphlets, manuals and posters will be printed and disseminated in Tamil on how to cope with the disaster situation (what to do and not to do) at two levels (general population, welfare camps and relief workers - INGO’s / local NGO’s).

Who is doing it:

a. Shanthiham has worked in the Northern province for many years addressing war trauma and related psychosocial issues.

b. At present Shanthiham has 15 trained volunteers, 17 PST’s and 10 core group members. Shanthiham works with a multidisciplinary team (counselors, social workers, relaxation therapists etc.) counselors and psychosocial workers who have a long record of working with war trauma in the Northern province.

c. It is headed by Prof. D. J. Somasundaram, MD, MRCPsy, Consultant Psychiatrist at the General (Teaching) Hospital, Jaffna, DH, Tellipalai & BH, Point Pedro; He is also head of the Dept. of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna

Financial logistics

• Bank Account No: 1060012972, Commercial Bank of Ceylon Ltd., Hospital Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
• Swift Code: CCEYL KLX

Contact Information

• The Association for Health and Counselling, Shanthiham, No. 15, Kachcheri Nallur Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
• TP& Fax: 021-2223338
• Email: psych@sltnet.lk

6. Jeeva Jothi, Batticaloa

Focus:

• Immediate relief in refugee camps aimed at orphaned and displaced girls in Batticaloa; in addition however, they have also been deluged by requests for relief supplies and other kidns of assistance from many in need so they are also responding to these requests on an ongoing basis.
• They are also exploring the financial and logistical feasibility of expanding their long term capacity to house more orphans in their home.

Who is doing it?

Jeeva Jothi is a girls home. It is a registered NGO with the National NGO Secretariat. It is licensed to work all over the country. The home is registered with the North East Probation and Childcare Department. Its director is Kandiah Ilankovan, who has run the organization for 12 years and started it on his own initiative. The home has 80 girls and is one of the few secular orphanages in the region. All the children attend school and have taken part in many programs such as the Peace Conferences in Singapore in the years 2003, and 2004.

Financial Logistics

· In Sri Lanka:

People’s Bank, Town Branch, Batticaloa; Current account number: 1670040426

· In the US:

Donations to Jeeva Jothy are also being accepted by DiasporaFlow. DiasporaFlow, a Sri Lankan-run 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization, has started an initiative called ‘The Sri Lanka Relief Fund,’ a coalition of Sri Lankans committed to the long-term rebuilding of the lives of all Sri Lankans (Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim) affected by this devastation. You can pay securely online at www.diasporaflow.org/srilanka-relief.html – and then send an email to srilanka-relief@diasporaflow.org with your full name, with subject heading ‘Jeeva Jothy’ to confirm that your specified donation has been made. If you are sending a check, please state clearly that the money is for the ‘Jeeva Jothy’ project and make checks out to ‘The Sri Lanka Relief Fund.’ Checks can be mailed to ‘Jeeva Jothy’ c/o The Sri Lanka Relief Fund, P.O. Box 14039, Minneapolis, MN 55414. If you would like a receipt of donation for tax purposes, please include a S.A.S.E.

Contact Information

Email: jeevajothy@vinet.lk

Phone number: 94-65222457.

7. Rural Development Foundation (RDF), Trincomallee Office

Focus

Workign with all three communities in developing a long term resettlement program for three villages on the Trincomalee Coast. Many inhabitants of these villagers are now in refugee camps:

• Camp 1 in Adampodai (situated on private land) in Kuchchaiveli DS Division with villagers from the priamrilly Tamil village of Vellore, Nilavelli
• Camp 2 in Mohideen Jumma Mosque (land behind the mosque) near Nilavelli Government High School with villagers from the primarilly Muslim village of Kalsunaikal.
• Camp 3 in Kuchchaveli Muslim School with villagers from the primarilly Sinhala village of Pulmoddai, Arasamalai.

RDF has consulted with the people concerned and will continue to proceed with the collaboration and participation of all concerned. RDF would like to focus on these three villages and work with all three ethnic groups. As all three villages were thriving and lived comparatively well through fishing, farming, and small businesses they require a great deal of financial assistance to replace all that they lost. There are challenges in that the villagers cannot return to their own lands as previously thought, and the Kalsunaikal villagers (Camp 2) are living in cramped conditions with lack of sanitation and water. It is of primary importance to move them elsewhere immediately.

RDF is proposing two phases of assistance:

Phase 1 – 0 to 12 months

1. RDF will work with the villagers and the GA to determine where they will resettle on a long-term basis with future land ownership. As the government has (as of Jan 11^th) stated that people need to live above a 3 metre contour, the villagers will need to settle elsewhere. During this period of discussion and negotiation RDF will regularly visit the camp, ensure that conditions are good and the villagers needs are being met, and set up and/or support village groups such as women and children’s groups, men’s groups etc. If necessary, psycho-social counselling will be provided.
2. Once the area of land has been allocated temporary shelter will be constructed, community wells (20 to each family), and individual permanent toilets. The land may have to be cleared and small access roads may have to be built. With the two larger villages the pre-schools will be replaced. The villagers will be involved as much as possible with all areas of reconstruction, as their participation and collaboration in rebuilding is essential. Discussions will continue with the villagers to determine activities for Phase 3 and to provide support with the rebuilding of their lives.

Phase 2 – To be determined

Phase 2 work will involve permanent housing, wells, income generation activities (grants and loans which will involve the formation of societies), and replacement of materials and equipment. RDF will continue monitoring and supporting for a period of time after these activities are completed.

Alongside these activities the RDF will also continue to provide immediate relief to meet humanitarian needs. Since the tsunami hit Sri Lanka RDF have been actively involved in relief efforts. RDF’s main office and warehouse in Puttalum has coordinated supplies of dry rations, clothes and infant health items to Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara districts and used our 4 vehicles for distribution. In Vavuniya, RDF has been working with the NGO consortium and provided relief items and funds to the Northern region, primarily Mullaitivu district. RDF has also provided 20 counsellors to Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara who are currently working in the camps. They will be training more counsellors in the next few weeks.

Who is doing it?

The Rural Development Foundation was founded in 1984 in response to the growing conflict in the North West. It now operates in five districts (Puttalum which is the head office, Mannar, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, and Trincomalee) and has a staff of over 100. RDF works primarily in relief and rehabilitation in water and sanitation with all three ethnic groups, gender based violence in the welfare centres, women’s programs, and operates a quality training centre that provides counselling, conflict resolution, social mobilization, PRA etc. RDF is committed to alleviating poverty, empowering women, improving the capacity of village-based organizations, and educational facilities for children.

Financial Logistics

• Contact person: Mr. A.M. Jawamil (Chairperson) / Ms. M. Hillier (VSO-RDF)
• Email: rdf-trc@sltnet.lk, jml2003@wow.lk, rdfpav@sltnet.lk

Contact Information

• Trincomalee Office: No.20/3 Konepuram Road, Orrshill, Trincomallee
• Vavuniya Office: Kandy Road, Thekkawatta, Vavuniya
• Phone 011 4614887 / 077 7259884 / 024 2222671 / 077 6294886
• Email: rdf-trc@sltnet.lk, jml2003@wow.lk, rdfpav@sltnet.lk

8. Sarvodaya, Moratuwa

Focus:

In addition to general relief work across the country, Sarvodaya has pledged to take in and provide for all children aged 11 and below who have been orphaned by the tsunami disaster. In addition Sarvodaya will care for all women and girls below the age of 19. They have begun drafting plans to build permanent housing and school facilities. Sarvodaya is also mobilizing a group of 30 counsellors and meditation teachers to implement a psycho-spiritual healing program for the Tsunami survivors.

Who is doing it:

Sarvodaya’s website is www.sarvodaya.org

Sarvodaya is a Sri Lankan organization with the largest community

network in the country and has a 50 year history of decent social development work. In the past they have provided an important avenue for Sinhala people to develop ties with Tamil and Muslim communities in the North and East by contributing to post-conflict reconstruction

Financial logistics:

• To donate to Sarvodaya online by credit card you may donate through the Nonviolent Peaceforce: http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/english/help/donatetosarvodaya.asp Go directly to the Sarvodaya donation page. 100% of the money we collect at this site will go to Sarvodaya.
• To donate via post within the USA, send a tax-deductible check made out to Sarvodaya USA to 5716 Manchester Avenue #3, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Contact Information

Sarvodaya Headquarters
No 98, Rawatawatta Road,
Moratuwa , Sri Lanka
Phone +9411 2647 159, 5550 756, 2655 255
Fax +9411 5557 972
Email: arisar@sltnet.lk

9. Butterfly Garden Tsunami Relief, Batticaloa

Focus:

This project is focused on the needs of the people of Batticaloa town and its environs, in particular the very large refugee settlements set up at by St Michael’s College /St. Cecelia’s in Batticaloa and nearby Manresa in the countryside. Both these centres currently assist over 2000 people each. There are other such centres at all the Batticaloa schools as well as temples, mosques and churches. Batticaloa has been hard hit by the Tsunami. There are over 280,000 displaced people in this district alone. The situation varies from place to place. Some people have settled in small gatherings but there also some very large camps in the district. It is anticipated that this will be a three stage process

i. Responding immediately to the emergency addressing needs such as Tarpaulins and plastic sheeting for shelte; bedding;bottled water, food etc.

ii. Interim re-settling with materials to build small shelters, supplying cooking and household items and basic financial support.

iii. Resettlement of the people in their home communities.

Who is doing it:

• Father Paul Satkunanayagam SJ, Executive Director, Butterfly Peace Garden
• Paul Hogan, Batticaloa Peace Garden
• Father Miller of St. Michael’s who has a long history of involvement with community based networks resisting human rights violations, political violence, communalism and the suppression of dissent in Batiicaloa
• Others involved with the Butterfly Peace Garden (focused on children and war trauma) and local secondary schools St. Michael’s and St. Cecelias.

Financial logistics:

• Please forward money to Fr. Paul Satkunayagam, Hatton National Bank, Batticaloa, Account Number 02 - 0306001 -3. Please specify the money is for Father Paul and give this address, Jesuit Residence, No.1 Jesuit Street, Batticaloa, Please indicate “Tsunami Relief – Batticaloa” and give your name and address.
• In Canada: If need a tax receipt this can be arranged by making your donation through the Geist Gallery/ Stupid School. The contact there is Laurie Edwards. His numbers are: Stupid School 416-778-1667 / mobile 416- 561- 4856. If you send money directly to Batticaloa there will be no tax receipt.
• In the USA: If need a tax receipt make donations through the Virgina based non-profit, Ashoka to the Butterfly Peace Garden of Batticaloa - Tsunami Relief Fund. Please mail checks to Ashoka Innovators for the Public, 1700 N. Moore Street, Suite 3000, Arlington, Virginia 22209 -192, USA. Attention Carol Grodzins; Ashoka is involved in several relief efforts so please Indicate that you check is for the Butterfly Peace Garden of Batticaloa – Tsunami Relief Fund.

Contact information

Paul Hogan of Butterfly Garden at poho@sierra.lk

Father Paul Satkunanayagam, Jesuit Residence, No.1 Jesuit Street, Batticaloa.