Help Build Homes and Eco-Toilets in Santhom Slum

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:

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. 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

Links:

• www.gvi.org