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Our Emergency Relief Efforts

It is difficult to know whether you can ever really prepare yourself for the experience of a disaster first hand.

There is a certain sense of powerlessness when all electricity, transport, phone and infrastructure is cut off.

The initial shock. The initial chaos. Then there’s the gradual realisation of loss – and slowly the extent of it. 

The unsettling cries and survival instincts from animals. Families openly weeping as they mourn loved ones. The dust. The prayers. The smells. The silence.

In the early hours of 6 August...

We folded up our 2010 program and rolled up our sleeves in the realisation that our focus had just shifted towards disaster relief.

For the next 6 weeks we were on call providing hands-on emergency relief where possible.

We helped evacuate children and families to safety. With 2 of our schools under mud and knowing our sponsor children were safely refuged on higher ground, we hijacked the school bus and within 5 days had organised over 250 international volunteers to help dig out the mud and debris at one of our schools.

With assistance from doctors from Austria to Australia, we bandaged, bathed and helped treat some of our Ladakhi family and others injured in the disaster.

For those who lost loved ones, their homes and livelihoods, we rented them places to live. We handed out blankets, stoves and food. We provided clothes, medical and financial support and will continue to do so throughout the bleak winter months.

With roads blocked and more pressing issues at hand...

Our plans to build more greenhouses this year were put on hold. Instead, at request of local government, we helped to address one of the most pressing issues – water contamination.

With the incredible support of Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airlines Cargo and Disaster Aid Australia we arranged for the delivery of highly specialised water purification systems which were airlifted to Delhi, arriving in record time. Each unit is capable of delivering up to 10,000 litres of clean drinking water per day - enough for a village, hospital and school.

Yet, as efficient as our Australian efforts were...

Logistics in India are not as straight forward. To transport our units into the disaster zone, we had to successfully negotiate with Senior Ministers in the Indian Government and arrange for local airlines to fast track the clearance and delivery up to Leh.

This involved canvassing the Prime Minister’s Office to pass a law in India waiving all duties on emergency relief equipment coming into the country.

Our units were deployed into affected communities providing fresh drinking water as needed.

Now, with infrastructure reinstated, they have been relocated to the Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital where they will continue to benefit Ladakhis for years to come and be on hand for any future emergencies.

In spite of challenging circumstances, human spirit will triumph...

We have crossed paths with some incredible people - compassionate, generous and with endless enthusiasm to make a difference.

Those willing to dig mud for days with their bare hands. Others supporting our sponsor children affected first hand by the devastation and of course, those who have donated or campaigned on our behalf to raise money for our disaster relief efforts.

We have received incredible support from many friends from around the world.

Through these efforts we have been able to provide fresh drinking water to thousands of people. We have helped families to rebuild their lives and found sponsors for more than 15 children who were orphaned or rendered homeless by the 6 August disaster.

Our focus in the coming months is to continue doing what we do best.

First is to build greenhouses and teach families the skills to grow fresh vegetables year round. In particular, to provide relief to affected communities which have lost their fields, food and future income source.

Secondly, to educate children. To continue to find sponsors for those children living in destitution and help to send them to school.

We are proud of our achievements to date and inspired by the support of those around us. Thank you to everyone who has played a part.