OBI is helping more than 460 young tsunami survivors in south India learn to read and write so that they can qualify for school.

INDIA – The tsunami made Chandra Bose an orphan, but literacy is giving him a second chance for a brighter future.

Since moving in with relatives following the 2004 tsunami that claimed his parents' lives, Chandra has had to deal with unequal treatment from his new family.

Because of their extreme poverty, they could only afford to send their own children to school, leaving Chandra at home, and behind in his studies.

Operation Blessing recently delivered new backpacks to the children that were filled with school uniforms, books and hygiene supplies such as toothbrushes and toothpaste.

"Being an orphan is not an easy life," said an Operation Blessing representative who is working with the 10-year-old.

Fortunately, OBI heard of Chandra's situation and began preparing the boy for regular school at an Operation Blessing literacy center in south India.

Chandra isn't alone. OBI is also helping more than 460 children at three literacy centers in the district of Nagapattinam learn to read and write so that they can qualify for tuition-based classes. Once they've started school, the literacy centers serve as a support and coaching center – three hours a day, five days a week.

All of the children being helped are survivors of the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami that devastated the region and killed more than 230,000 people.

Despite living through such a disaster, Chandra began classes, and has excelled in his schoolwork.

"According to his teacher, Chandra is a very smart child," said the representative. "He completes his homework very well."

Recently, Operation Blessing delivered new school supplies to the children at each of the literacy centers. New backpacks were filled with school uniforms, books and hygiene supplies such as toothbrushes and toothpaste.

"Ever since you have started this center our children are doing well in school and are well-disciplined," said one parent.

Unable to afford supplies on their own, the families were grateful.

"Ever since you have started this center our children are doing well in school and are well-disciplined," said one parent.

Since the 2004 tsunami, OBI has supplied devastated areas with more than $27 million in medicine; purchased fogging machines for mosquito control and malaria prevention; provided medical treatment to more than 180,000 tsunami victims; helped build hundreds of new homes throughout Aceh's west coast provinces; created microenterprise opportunities such as brick factories and boat building projects; and constructed new medical clinics.

Relief and recovery efforts to date have benefited more than 850,000 survivors.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing disaster relief efforts by making an online contribution to those recovering from international disasters.

 

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