Charity hopes to bring JOY to quake victims

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Thursday 3rd Mar 2005.

A charity is hoping to raise thousands of pounds to rebuild a fishing fleet wiped out by the Boxing Day tsunami.

Jubilee Outreach co-ordinator Dr Kathy Tedd decided to back the project after getting an e-mail from aid workers trying to restore stricken communities in South East India's Tamil Nadu state.

She is now appealing to Telegraph & Argus readers to help. She said: "The tsunami destroyed 50,000 boats along the coastline. Even if they could afford to rebuild their own wooden boats, it wouldn't be possible because there are no trees. When they lost their boats they lost everything, those boats were their livelihood."

Aid workers for a Christian group based in Bangalore called the Divya Shanthi Trust sent Dr Tedd an e-mail picture showing the devastation. They want to provide a new fishing fleet of fibre-glass boats that will last for 25 years.

Dr Tedd said: "The boats will be made near Bangalore, providing local jobs, and then they'll be taken to Tamil Nadu. Each boat will provide for 100 people including the fisherman and their families."

Jubilee Outreach has promised to buy two boats costing £1,500 each and so far they have raised £800.

Since the disaster, Jubilee Outreach - which helps Romanian orphans - has sent four containers of aid to the Maldives and to South East India.

But Dr Tedd said: "None of the aid or the cash we have given to the tsunami plight has been taken from the Romanian work we do. People have been phenomenal in their generosity."

You can make a donation for the fishing boats at either of the charity's shops in Main Street, Bingley, or Westgate, Shipley, or call Dr Tedd on (01274) 531999. Cheques made payable to `JOY' can also be sent direct to Jubilee Outreach headquarters at 14 Jubilee Way, Windhill, Shipley.

l The appeal by The Disasters Emergency Committee, that acted as a co-ordinator for main charities helping victims of the tsunami, has now been closed. Anyone wanting to offer more help should contact the individual charities.

The amount given by the British public reached nearly £300 million.

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