Physical Health India Project #18251

Help Build Homes and Eco-Toilets in Santhom Slum

by Action Change (Formerly GVI Trust)

Project Report | Aug 11, 2015
13 house completed in Santhom

By Kate Robey | Charitable Trust Operations Manager

Dear Supporter,

The month of June was very exciting in Santhom- home improvement was top of the list of things to do! With generous donations from all of our supporters and fundraisers, including The Anna Crossman Trust, we had enough funds to build 13 brand new homes in Santhom.

Each year, the residents of Santhom spend far more than they earn repairing broken roofs, rebuilding fallen walls and trying to keep the floods from their doors. This year, the families with children will be able to put that money towards better things, such as nutritious food, medical care, education and warm clothing in the winter. Waterproof, floodproof, comfortable and secure, the new houses are a far preferable alternative to the shacks.

The houses were all designed with raised foundations for flood mitigation, doors, windows and indoor partitions for much-needed privacy.

After the exteriors were completed, the eager GVI construction volunteers decided that they weren't done yet and they shifted their focus to decorating! The drab grey concrete that makes up the foundation of the homes was painted a matt black to help hide some of the dirt that will inevitably gather and murals were painted onto selected walls.The volunteers really banded together with the new home-owners and helped the houses to become homes.

One of the girls who lives in Santhom loves painting and was eager to be involved, so we have provided her with everything that she needs to continue painting and decorating the outside of the homes. All of the new houses in Santhom are far more comfortable and have a lovely homely feel about them.

We’d like to thank, along with the GVI staff and volunteers, all the local labourers who worked so hard to create the houses before the monsoon came, and to Saiju for organising them. Another huge thank you goes to the Anna Crossman Trust who paid for 12 of the houses.

Our next project is to build a playground in Santhom- watch this space!

With Gratitude,

GVI-India

Links:

The Charitable Trust

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May 18, 2015
The Anna Crossman Trust

By Tyrone Bennett | Head of Alumni Services

Dear Supporter,

The Anna Crossman Trust recently donated £46,000.00 to our projects to help build new homes and a playground in Santhom. The Trust was started by Anna's parents, who volunteered with us in India back in 2011 as part of our teaching program. After her time on the project ended, she returned to the UK and 2 years later passed away. In honour of her memory, her parents set up the Anna Crossman Trust for Kids in Kerala.

So far, the donation has funded in full the rebuilding of 12 houses within the slum. As it stands, 8 of the houses have been started with around half nearing completion. We worked closely with local contractors and labourers to ensure these houses were built to the highest standard and are able to withstand the coming Monsoon season. The occupants of our new houses will have sturdy aluminium sheeting on red sand and concrete foundations that provide a cool, waterproof, safe and secure home. The land, essentially deemed worthless by the local government, was too poor quality to hold up brick structures. Fortunately, aluminium sheeting provided a fantastic alternative. By being lightweight, heat reflective and waterproof, the aluminium will provide everything that the residents asked for and need in terms of a new home.

Thanks to ACT funds, the children that live inside these homes will be able to get a long, comfortable nights rest each day. They will be able to live in open conditions, avoid the rot of the decaying wood previously used for walls and avoid the associated health risks that come with it. They will now be able to live in a bright, positive environment as opposed to the dark, cramped conditions of their old homes.

Through these funds, we have contributed towards the following UN Millennium Development Goals:

Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty
Through providing new housing, we have indirectly made an impact on this goal. By providing a steady home, we are ensuring that they no longer have to waste large amounts of money each year fixing it. This will help raise them up out of poverty, leave them able to pay their bills or provide food when necessary.
Achieve Universal Primary EducationEducation
Through giving the children a safe, open home, we reduce the risk of illness - something which the children of Santhom suffer from frequently. Hopefully, the new houses will prevent much of the illness and transmission of illness, giving them more days each year in which to attend school.
Reduce Child Mortality
Child mortality refers to deaths of children under five years old. A safe home, free of rot, damp and disease will give the children a much higher chance of living out a happy, healthy childhood.
Global Partnership for Development
Partnerships have been made, with the community, the local labourers, the contractors and the local government. These partnerships have benefited all parties involved – providing a livelihood for the labourers, having potential for the contractors to work with us again on other projects, increasing awareness of our work and aims within the local community and government.

Thank you for your continued support on this project!

All the best

GVI India

The new houses

Links:

www.gvi.org

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Mar 2, 2015
Sweaty Bums For Slums Challenge!

By Tyrone Bennett | Head of Alumni Services

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