Animal Welfare India Project #33108

Project Asian Elephants 101 for 101 Youth in India

by Voices for Asian Elephants

Project Report | Nov 6, 2018
Update on Executing Project Asian Elephants 101

By Sangita Iyer | Project Leader

Screening Gods in Shackles - Kerala Police Academy

I am delighted to provide you some concrete updates on the launch of our Project Asian Elephants 101, including the estimated timeline for completion.

I am traveling to India on November 26th and will remain there until the end of March or mid-April 2019, so we can implement at least three projects within that timeframe. Given that airfare and accommodation are expensive, we are trying to use every penny from our donors most frugally. In this regard, I will be staying in an apartment complex, paying less than $600 per month.
We are partnering with a highly recognized educational institution in Kerala that is considering the participation of two student researchers in our week-long youth empowerment program to foster elephant conservation. Once we sign an agreement I will be at liberty to share the name.
Kerala State Police Chief (SPC) has agreed to send 100 police cadets to be part of Project Asian Elephants 101. This is a major step in the right direction, as these young police cadets will be eventually responsible for enforcing the existing laws of the land. How cool is that!!
The plan is to launch the program between the 15th and the 28th of February 2019 when two local university students will conduct formative and summative analysis, synthesize the findings and then produce a report that will be shared with other organizations so they can implement our program as well.

The two images attached were taken in March 2017 when Gods in Shackles documentary was screened at the Kerala Police Academy (KPA). Discussions to launch Project Asian Elephants 101 had begun that far back. And exactly a year later we are ready to execute!! We have come full circle :)

The speed at which VFAES has been able to navigate through the bureaucratic processes has been quite astounding. We believe in cultivating strong relationships and gaining trust, so people realize that we have no vested interests - we only have the welfare of elephants in our hearts and souls. But YOU MADE IT HAPPEN!!! Without funds we couldn't have imagined bringing this very powerful project to fruition. You are now part of an incredible movement!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for believing in us!!!

On a different note, we've also launched our second project called The Gentle Giant Summit today. You can click here to read more. I will be in touch with you shortly with more details on this too.

From the depth of my soul, Infinite Gratitude for your support. It means the world to us and the elephants, for you are helping us change the attitudes and mindsets of young people (under 25 years of age), who make up more than 50% of India's population. With The Gentle Giant Summit we will begin to influence decision and policy makers, which is badly needed at a time when wildlife is under seige!!

Thank you again!!

Sincerely,

Sangita

Humbled to receive an award from Director of KPA

Trumpets of Gratitude!!!!

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Sep 10, 2018
Infinite Gratitude and a Quick Update

By Sangita Iyer | Project Leader

People waddling through the devastating Floods!

The Voice for Asian Elephants (VFAES) team is immeasurably grateful to you for your unwavering support of our noble project! Every single penny of your hard earned money has been allocated to achieving the specific goals and completing specific tasks. Your funds will be disbursed by our Treasurer as soon as we schedule the exact dates to conduct Project Asian Elephants 101 for 101 Youth of India.

Given the unprecedented monsoon floods all across India, especially in Kerala, where we were aiming to launch our project this autumn, VFAES has been unable to nail down the exact dates. You may be aware of the natural catastrophe that unfolded in Kerala between the 8th and 15th of August. Almost 500 people have died in the monsoon floods and at least 500,000 people have lost their homes. The news media has been flooded with heartbreaking stories of humans and nonhumans trying to cope with the suffering. For your convienience, here are a couple of articles, please feel free to click on them and read:

Rebulding is estimated at $US3.4

483 dead in the monsoon floods

Many schools are still closed, as the state is coming to grips with the magnitude of the crises. Aside from the number of deaths and property loss, the greater concern is, a pandemic outbreak of vector-borne illnesses. For instance, mosquito is a vector (carrier of viruses) and they breed in stagnant waters. These insects spread dengue fever, malaria and other life threatening illnesses. So naturally, the government's priority is to bring this looming health crises under control.

Meantime, students, schools, public and religious institutions and the local people need a few months to recouperate in the aftermath of this natural disaster. I've been in discussions with key authorities in Kerala's Ministry of Education, and they feel that the current focus is to get students back into schools. Under these dire circumstances, we feel that it would be best to give people space and time. We hope to launch our project in the early part of 2019.

I will send you another update and keep you posted every step of the way.

With Infinite Gratitude for all your support!!

Sincerely,

Sangita

Damage estimated at $3.4billion in Kerala

Links:

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