WEEKLY SUMMARY

Field Operations:
This week we continued with the eye camps in the TVRI camp with the total number of beneficiaries reaching 607 people. The three member RAM unit returned to USA but not before preparing excellent guidelines on the repair of the four damaged houses in Neuheun village that AMURT has committed to fix.
Dada Devashuddhanandaji continued the eye camps after the departure of the RAM team and is arranging some of the victims to receive cataract operations from a Japanese eye doctor who is assisting AMURT in the camps.
We distributed 416 “resettlement kits” to the families of Neuheun village working in coordination with the NGO Concern International. The kits included a kerosene stove, a wok, a cooking pot, 2 large washing buckets, a large serving spoon, a cutting board, a large knife, 6 spoons, six plates, 3 sarongs, a bath towel and two pairs of sandals. Everyone was so pleased to receive these useful gifts for their “homes”.
Dada Dinakar, Didis Ananda Vijaya, Hema and Utpala all took three days psycho-social training from the International Medical Corps and passed their field training. The Didis continued their psycho-social counseling benefiting another 12 women this week.
Dada Nirmalkrsnanandaji completed the survey of the damaged houses in Nusa camp and plans to continue with similar surveys in Lamasan Kling and Lampinung Camps. Another 100 cottage brick factories have been reported destroyed in five villages of Aceh Besar and we will do a thorough assessment and present our proposal to potential donors.
We submitted our Jr. High School repair proposal to UNICEF.
AMURTEL completed their assessment of the needs of 67 women vendors representing three villages who are now staying in the TVRI camp. They visited the head of the Rural Bank and acquired useful information on the cash grant scheme which they envision as the method to assist these women get back on their feet. Didis also moved into a larger dwelling and acquired the services of a motorcycle for a one month trial period to ease their transport difficulties.
Didi Hema began English classes twice a week to 30 women in the TVRI Camp.
Sister Soma took extensive filming of the women vendors, the eye camps, the brick kilns and other areas in preparation of a 15 minute promotional video of AMURT/AMURTEL activities.
UNICEF donated one school-in-a-box for our pre-school activities in Neuheun village that continues to benefit some 45 pre-school age children.
In Malaysia Did Ananda Devanistha and her large contingent of Sungei Petani/Penang Margiis are planning an ambitious fundraising concert on March 27th to raise funds for Aceh. Didi organized two press conferences for Dada Nirmalkrsnanandaji in Penang and KL.
The current strength of the teams are: AMURT: 10, AMURTEL: 4. We are taking more service from the local Acehnese and eventually they will become an integral part of our entire operation.

Our Needs:
• Skilled carpenters, handyman, house builders
• Child Animators, Psychologists
• Midwives
• Office Assistant
• Cash


Note: Volunteers are welcome but for non-Indonesian speakers they must commit for a minimum of two months. In the case of Indonesian speakers they must commit for a minimum of two weeks.


Dada Shiilabhadrananda