The St Vincent de Paul Twinnage Committee has instigated the first educational scholarship programme for tsunami orphans in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. As the largest project of its kind, the scheme aims to aid the five thousand children who have already applied to the SVP in India for help.

Terry Brown, SVP Twinnage Co-ordinator, states that following the SVP National Council of India’s emergency appeal in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami: “we have worked tirelessly with the Indian government and other aid agencies to relieve the immediate suffering of the victims.”

More than six months on, the question is no longer one of short-term emergency aid but long-term sustainable support for the survivors of the disaster. SVP Twinnage, already present for many years in India, will play an important role in this regeneration process.

Many children lost one or both of their parents when the tidal wave struck. Without support, the future looks bleak for these young people who find themselves homeless, alone and without financial support. The SVP Twinnage Committee is appealing for support with the scholarship programme. Asking for a five-year commitment from sponsors, at a cost of just over £4 a month for older students, David Wiles believes: “what appears to be a small sum of money to us will make an immeasurable difference to a young person’s future.”

Anyone interested in supporting this scholarship scheme can find more information and sponsorship forms at www.svp.org.uk or by contacting SVP National Office on 0207 4074644.