Randy Smith, Instructor, Monterey Peninsula College

My son and I were inspired to become actively involved in helping with the worst natural disaster in recent history, and volunteered with Global Uplift to help with reconstruction in India. As we talked with others, we found satisfying encouragement and support, and were asked by others to join the efforts. By default, I am the organizer of this trip to Akkaraipettai, India for the month of June.

As a young boy, I heard stories from my father about the exotic and wonderful nations of India and China that he observed as a sailor in World War II. In 1971 I was in India at the time of the India-Pakistan war that liberated Bangladesh. As a young Marine, I saw the worst of the poverty in a struggling country with seemingly too many people with too little resources. I saw how adaptable and diligent the people were, and developed an appreciation for a culture that flourished thousands of years prior to the birth of my own nation. As I return to the scene of the tsunami disaster of the poorest of areas in India, I look forward to the opportunity to help needy victims, while at the same time providing my own son and some friends the opportunity to learn more of the world.

Our family had designed and built much of our own house, but construction half way around the world presents a set of different challenges. The government of the province of Tamil Nadu provided a set of guidelines for the type of construction appropriate for this simple fishing community. We are preparing to assist the people in putting their own lives back together, and the housing is a living necessity that will be provided by the families. We facilitate acquiring material through the generous donations from our own communities in the U.S., and we are on site to help expedite building, organizing labor, interpreting plans and following procedures for quality control, and to offer assistance in whatever is needed. We will rely on the local expertise, and offer American and often youthful enthusiasm. Students working on these efforts are at the same time cautious and confident. This project will work because of their perseverance and teamwork.

Global Uplift will build 50 houses and a community center to replace temporary housing that served as a transition after the tsunami struck. Unfortunately, this is but a small effort for a great need and many thousand units are required to provide adequate shelter for this impoverished area. The design of the living units were a challenge, building in a place susceptible to tsunamis, cyclones and earthquakes. And we wanted to construct as many units as possible with our limited budget, wanted the structures to fit the needs of the community, and be a safe and lasting family area that resists “urban decay” of some large scale projects. Prior months show some of the progress of the design phase, and future months will document the community as it is completed by the new residents with pride.

I will be helping to organize this joint effort of the community workers, the representatives from the Indian government who are granting the building site, local community officials, material suppliers, and our own work crew. Our student volunteers are also finding other community needs and are finding training for themselves to be able to staff a medical clinic, distribute hygiene supplies and information, and conduct schooling and training in whatever is most needed while we are visiting. When Spenser first suggested bringing in other eager students to join this mission, I had the normal reservations of a father and teacher. After meeting each of these students and learning about them during our planning, I am excited about the prospects for all involved in this endeavor.

All of us will contribute personal journals, pictures and stories to publish on these pages, and to produce a documentary to inspire future ongoing work and sharing. Thanks for your support.

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