Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) and Lions are making great progress in helping victims of the tsunami in South Asia. LCIF mobilized US$15 million for relief and reconstruction. Our plan was to construct suitable, sturdy and comfortable homes, as well as schools, health clinics, hospitals, water wells and child welfare centers.

Here is a progress report on the four nations in which local Lions are engaged in reconstruction.

In Indonesia, LCIF has disbursed US$418,375. The Indonesian Lions Tsunami Committee has successfully established two Lions Villages in Aceh Province. LCIF has funded 320 homes with electricity, village restrooms and six deep-water wells. Upcoming projects in Indonesia include economic revival activities in the Lions villages and housing for tsunami victims in Banda Aceh, the capital.

Along with Past International Director Barry Palmer and an LCIF staff person, I recently traveled to the Lions Village in Seunuddon to check on 200 Lions homes there. I can tell you that the Lions did a great job of building these homes and that the occupants are extremely grateful to the Lions. Families have a roof over their heads and are enjoying a sense of normalcy again. The smiles on their faces when meeting Lions tell all you need to know about how effective Lions and LCIF have been in South Asia.

In Sri Lanka, the Lions plan to build 318 homes at five locations at a cost of US$1.25 million. In the Western part of the island, 40 homes will be built at Modera/M kuliya, Colombo, and 70 homes at Bandaragama, Panadura. In the South, 20 homes will be built at Dodangoda, Kalutara. In the East, 105 homes are planned for Kuchhaveli, Trincomalee, and 83 homes are slated for Pothuvil, Ampara. In July 2005, LCIF staff visited Sri Lanka to inspect initial tsunami reconstruction work and LCIF disbursed US$412,500 in September to get the building started. The Sri Lankan Lions are expected to request additional funding to build more homes.

In Thailand, LCIF has disbursed US$702,583. The Thailand Tsunami Committee is overseeing the construction of 195 homes at two Lions villages on two separate islands. The first village on Lanta Island is scheduled to be completed in December.

In India, the Lions MD-324 Tsunami Disaster Relief Committee presented a US$1.25 million plan to build homes, community rehabilitation centers, potable water facilities, primary health centers, schools and an orphanage. The majority of resources will be directed toward the Lions districts on the East coast from Chennai to Nagapatinam that were most affected by the tsunami. LCIF staff visited India in July to meet with key Lions, and LCIF disbursed US$412,500 to the Relief Committee in September so that it could begin reconstruction work.

Our reconstruction work in South Asia is helping thousands of people with little means get back on their feet and resume their lives. We will help thousands more in the near future. Thanks to the generosity of Lions worldwide and the untiring service of Lions in South Asia, people who suffered the wrath of a natural disaster are starting over with a new home and are making the most of their opportunity.