Work has begun on eight of the 36 schools the Presbyterian Church is helping rebuild as permanent replacements for those destroyed by the Boxing Day Tsunami on the remote Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
In a newsletter from the General Secretary of the Church of North India, Rev Enos Das Pradhan reports that the foundation stones for three primary, two middle and three secondary schools were laid in special ceremonies earlier this month on the main island of Car Nicobar.
Presbyterians around Ireland donated £1.8m for tsunami relief of which £400,000 was given to the Church of North India to help with rebuilding the schools on the Nicobar Islands which lie about 1000 miles to the south east of the Indian mainland.
Inhabited by 40,000 people, of which 95% are members of the Church of North India, these low lying islands were devastated by the Boxing Day earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
"After the tsunami, these schools are the first permanent rebuilding programmes to begin on the island," reported Rev Pradan. "For the hundreds of islanders that attended these solemn functions they could see their hopes and aspirations coming true and their fears and mistrust decreasing.
"The Nocobarese were really concerned about the future of their children and their education following the tsunami. The work of the Church of North India together with the help of our partners has begun restoring the dignity of these people by fulfilling their desires particularly during these monsoon times. It has brought a ray of hope in the lives of the people that will never fade."
A further earthquake struck the Nicobar Islands on Sunday 26 July. No tsunami resulted from this and reports indicate some damage to property but no loss of life.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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