German Foundation assists tsunami hit Veloor villagers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 March 2005, 23:36 GMT]
Juergen Wahn Foundation (JWF), a non-profit organization located in Soest, Germany, Saturday donated about 1.2 million rupees worth of agricultural implements, bicycles and lamps to tsunami victims of Veloor hamlet located in Nilaveli village, about 16 km off north of Trincomalee town, at an event held at Nilaveli Tamil Maha Vidiyalayam auditorium, sources said.



Veloor residents
The donations supported the self-employment assistance scheme formulated by Veloor Thirumurugan Temple Trustees and implemented by the Veloor-Nilaveli Rural Development Society (RDS), sources said.

JWS officials later laid foundation for a two storied building for the tsunami destroyed Veloor pre-school.

(L-R) JWF Chairman Mr. Hans Joachim Holscher, Mr. Jochen Bock and Mr.Meinoff Schwefer

"This is the first phase of the assistance JWF has agreed to provide to tsunami victims of Veloor hamlet. A two storied building for the destroyed Veloor pre-school would be constructed as the second phase," JWF Chairman Mr. Hans Joachim Holscher said at the event.

Mr.Jochen Bock and Mr.Meinoff Schweter, members of the JWF also accompanied Mr.Holscher to Nilaveli to attend the event.

Agricultural implements for 210 families and push bicycles for 70 students were distributed at the event. Petromax lamps were also handed over to tsunami victims, sources said.

Mr.Jochen Bock hands over a cycle to a student affected by tsunami

Guests later visited the destroyed Veloor village where currently displaced families are clearing tsunami debris, sources said.

Veloor hamlet is the most affected area in tsunami with about 156 deaths. About 80 houses completely destroyed and several partly damaged, according to figures at the district secretariat. All fishing boats owned by Veloor residents were washed away.

Nilaveli Tamil Maha Vidiyalayam lost 32 students in tsunami's deadly waves, said Principal Mr.V.Mathialagan.

A victim of Tsunami lighting the traditional oil lamp

The Juergen Wahn Foundation was named after Juergen Wahn, a student dedicated to helping needy children. Juergen died in an accident on September 24, 1980. However, in proud memory of their son, Dr. Christel and Dr. Hans Guenther Wahn, established an aid foundation in his name, to carry on his important work, JWF's website says of its origin.

"We are providing long term care and relief for children and their mothers living in poverty. Together with local teams we provide necessary help, health care and education in poor countries, until children and mothers become self-sufficient.," the website said of its mission.

Mr.Holscher distributes agricultural implements

Mr.Meinoff Schwefer laying foundation stone for the two storied pre-school in Veloor

Tsunami destroyed Veloor hamlet

German Foundation donates computers and other accessories to Nilaveli Maha Vidiyalayam. Mr.Mathialagan, Principal accepts the gift from Mr.Jochen Bock of JWF

External Links:

JWF:

Jürgen Wahn Stiftung