LETTER: Launching the Computer Center

I am writing to update you on my tsunami relief project in Great Nicobar with United Sikhs. I spent three months in Great Nicobar and returned to California in March, where I have continued the work from afar. I am proud to tell you that we have established a computer learning center for the children of Great Nicobar. We chose this as the most effective way to secure a promising future for the children of those families devastated by the disaster. The children will receive certificates once they go through the program, which gives them a fighting chance for careers in computer science and beyond. This project would not have been possible without your support. You kept my spirits high with your letters and phone calls, and your financial support has brought hope to hundreds of children on the island. I am excited to give you this update.

THE COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER

The computer learning center is off to a great start. The response has been more than we ever anticipated. We launched the center with three old computers and brought in seven new computers in June this year. We had repaired the old computers after they were badly damaged by the earthquake that caused the tidal wave. (You have to remember this island was only about 100 km, about 60 miles, from the epicenter of the tsunami quake. I can barely imagine being that close to a 7.9 Earthquake let alone the ensuing Tsunami.) By July 15, we had 240 student sign up for classes! And we presently have 280 children taking 11 shifts with two students per computer. So with only ten computers, we effectively enrolled 280 students from all over the populated area of Great Nicobar. Talk about overcrowded schools. The center opens at 6:30 am and closes at 8:30 pm.

We are now financing the ongoing expenses of running the center, thanks to the hard work of students and parents on the Island and to the generous support of people in the United States. A school district, including Island School, near Lemoore raised nearly $4,000 for the center. And other individuals like Dr. Prem Singh and his family have contributed to our grassroots effort. We are still in the process of setting up communications between the Island and the US. Phone communication is now operating better then before due to some upgrading after the disaster. I have been in contact with John Robert Babu, our head master for the center, by phone. He always sounds upbeat and always asks me when he will get more equipment.

NEXT STEPS

We plan to expand the center by bringing in ten more computers and equipment for video-conferencing. We also need a LCD projector that would make it easier to teach using a big screen, but we need more funds. We have purchased a laptop for John Robert Babu and hope to have money to buy the LCD projector. I’ll be taking this equipment to him personally on my next trip scheduled in January 2006. It is difficult to ship expensive material to the island due to governmental corruption and high duty fees, so carrying these items myself will be the safest and cheapest to get them where they are needed. It will have been one year in January since I made my first trip.

I have been speaking at local Rotary Clubs in the Fresno area and have had some success in raising more funds. But due to new disasters leaving people in as serious or worse condition, it has become more difficult to fundraise. I heard that Esher Singh, who was with us in Great Nicobar, is now in Pakistan working on saving the victims of the recent earthquake. Although I wish I could be with him, I will stay focused on what we have started in Great Nicobar and keep working to complete our project for these children. My next presentations are at the Woodward Park Rotary on November 15, 2005 and then at the Clovis Rotary on November 18, 2005.

THE ISLAND

In other news, when I left Great Nicobar in late March this year, the entire island had sunk into the ocean by 1.5 meters. Now I am told that it has sunk an additional 2.5 meters make the total subsidence equal to 4 meters or about 13 feet. All low-lying ground has now become useless, which further damages the recovery effort. The good news is that it seems to have stopped sinking, at least for now. You may have heard about the 7.1 earthquake a few months ago at Great Nicobar in the national news. Luckily it did not create a tsunami. I called John Robert just after it occurred and he said everything was alright except that the children were very frightened. I can imagine how frightened they must have felt after all that has happened to them and the Island. We should and will not forget them in their continued time of need.

Thank you so much for your support.

Judge Singh Brar