SUCCESS! Education in Kodai Project Update

SUCCESS! Education in Kodai Project Update

Dear KIS Alumni and Friends,
We want to express our deep appreciation to all of you who joined us in our recent Kodai Friends International (KFI) Leadership Matching Gift Challenge. 
Thanks to the generosity of those who donated, KFI met – and in fact exceeded – our goal and raised $110,072 by the end of June to support two important and worthwhile projects at KIS and in the Kodaikanal community, both of which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Education in Kodai Project (EKP), initiated by KIS students, will improve the educational outcomes for many children in Kodaikanal and surrounding villages that have suffered from the pandemic. Corey Stixrud, KIS Principal, in expressing appreciation for your support, writes:
 
“On behalf of all of us here at KIS, please accept our gratitude. Your contributions have been essential during an extremely difficult time for the people of Kodai. The vast majority of young people in our town have simply not had access to school, even virtually, for over 16 months. Your generosity has allowed us to supply learning materials for students, build classroom and IT infrastructure in local government and government-aided schools, and conduct professional development sessions for over 200 teachers so far. The principal of one of our partner schools put it best:KIS and the Education in Kodai Project has been a godsend to the community. You have provided many things, but the best thing you have provided the students and teachers of Kodaikanal is hope for a brighter future.”
Photos were taken during the inauguration ceremony of the Education in Kodai Project
at the CSI Middle School in Packiapuram where a computer lab, art room, spoken English room (with projector and screen), and waste management bins have been
installed.
KFI has already transferred all funds raised as of the end of June to KIS where they can be immediately put to use to meet the needs of the school and the community in these challenging times.
Scholarships for KIS students continue to be an urgent need at KIS as many KIS families have faced economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it difficult to continue their KIS education without financial assistance. 
 
While the Leadership Matching Gift Challenge has ended, you can still support the KIS COVID-19 Relief Fund by donating online at https://www.kfi-us.org/donate-kfi/ or by sending a check to KFI at the address listed below.
With appreciation for the difference you have made in the lives of students in Kodai and at KIS through your support.
Stan Kuruvilla                       Jane Cummings
President, KFI                       KFI Board Member
Emotional Wellbeing Teacher Training
Eco-Club and Teacher Training on Waste Management
David and Nancy Piet’s Van Allen Hospital Equipment Update

David and Nancy Piet’s Van Allen Hospital Equipment Update

KFI Grant to Van Allen Hospital, Kodaikanal
Submitted by David and Nancy Piet
March 15, 2020

March 12, 2020 was a fortuitous day for P.H.K., a new patient at Van Allen Hospital in Kodaikanal. After living with a disabling compound fracture of the thigh bone (femur) in his left leg for two years, and spending all his meager resources on traditional healing methods in his village, he was brought by two friends to Van Allen seeking help from the hospital’s orthopedic surgeon and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Senthil Kumar Ganesen. After a seven-hour operation, using orthopedic implants (plates and screws) from a kit (picture on the left) donated by Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach and shipped/transported to Kodai through a grant from KFI’s Fund a Need fund, Dr. Senthil was able to repair his leg.

          

According to Dr. Senthil this morning, March 15, the patient will return home tomorrow, the 16th. He will  need to remain on crutches for six weeks and keep weight off the leg. However, since he lives in an interior village halfway between Kodaikanal and Batlagundu, it seems doubtful that he will be able to avail himself of Van Allen’s physical therapy department. Along with Dr. Senthil we met P.H.K. the day after the operation and he was most grateful to Dr. Senthil and the hospital staff. Because of their intervention, and that of his two friends, he believes he will again be able to live a more normal life.

While working at KIS for six weeks in early 2020, we intended to document various KFI-funded projects including the use of the equipment and supplies donated to the Van Allen Hospital through the leadership of Dr. Jeetu Nanda, the former Chairman of Kodai Friends International (KFI). A concerted effort had been made in recent years to get Van Allen Hospital back into shape after some rough years; new doctors were hired, but the equipment was sadly out of date. In 2017, Dr. Nanda contacted a group called Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, a medical surplus recovery organization which collects, repairs, packages, and distributes medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics around the world. The Van Allen Hospital was not able, however, to cover the cost of shipping in order to receive these supplies and equipment.

In May 2018, KFI approved a Grant Proposal Request submitted by KIS for $10,247.78 to pay for the transport of these supplies from the United States to Kodaikanal “to significantly update the medical equipment at Van Allen Hospital.” The 20-foot container left the US in June of 2018 and arrived in Kodai in September. KIS students helped to unload it over a long weekend.

Dr. Senthil, along with a nurse (Sister) and the physical therapist, graciously showed us around the hospital’s wards/departments showing off what was now in use or in the supply rooms for future use. As stated in the brief report submitted to KFI (dated June 11, 2019): “Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, in the latter half of 2018, had sent a container of assorted materials for use at the Van Allen Hospital. The Alumni of the Kodai International School (KIS) was instrumental in organizing this humanitarian gesture. The consignment contained an assortment of over 700 items: i.e., instruments for general clinical, surgical, Orthopedic and Ob-Gyn procedures, consumables and linen appropriate for general and surgical processes, Furniture, stationery, equipment, and electrical items. These excellent materials meet both the general and clinical needs of the hospital as well as the needs of the poorer section of the community. Surgical materials were extensively used including suture materials, orthopedic implants, disposal surgical gowns and drapes, scrubs and pack procedures (extremities, obstetrics and shoulder).” [1]

This brief report focuses on the utilization of the equipment and the benefit to the wider Kodai community. As the pictures show, the equipment and supplies included the orthopedic implant kit used in P.H.K’s surgery, lamps for the delivery and maternity wards, the autoclave, sheets and pillow covers, blowup mattress for those with bed sores, supplies for the NICU including a warming bed, and other life-saving equipment.

P.H.K. now has an opportunity to lead a fuller life thanks to the skill of his surgeon, staff and the generous donations through KFI. His is but one example of the many services provided by the physicians, nurses, and staff at Van Allen to the wider Kodai community.

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[1] Brief report on the use of the hospital support supplies facilitated by Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach (HSMO) to Van Allen Hospital Kodaikanal, India

          

          

          

          

     

The Van Allen Hospital’s medical equipment shipment was supported through KFI’s Fund a Need fund.

For Non-US/Canada
and PayPal Donors:

Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary Survey – June, 2019

Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary Survey – June, 2019

In May of 2017 KFI approved a grant to be paid over two years to the Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning in Puducherry, India. The goal is to estimate the abundance and distribution of mammals and birds in an effort to establish a baseline for future monitoring of wildlife in the Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary.

Click here for the second progress report received in June of 2019: Progress Report 2 – KWS Mammal Survey_June2019

The first report from the survey can be found on this website by clicking “Partner with KFI,” then “Projects Update.”

The Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary Survey is supported through KFI’s “Fund a Need” Fund.

 

Update on Environment Education Center

Update on Environment Education Center

We thank you very much for the $8,000 KFI sent last fall to promote environment issues, enabling hiring Dr. Rajamanikam and his wife Lekshmi R. during the Spring Semester this year. They were given an office, worked with the Maintenance Deparment, participated in recycling and other activities, and presented in some classes and assemblies, etc., a big contribution to our functioning as a “Green School.”

As regards extension activities in Kodaikanal community, we had listed some expected quantifiable achievements, and we hereby report on them. Dr Rajamanikam spent full-time as follows:

1)      Number of schools, hotels, others, that installed recycle bins and conducted good use training
We have installed sustainable solid waste management systems in 18 schools, 11 hotels, and 3 gated communities in and around Kodaikanal, by June 2018, which are functioning OK.

 2)      Number of schools, hotels, others, which invited presentations about recycling, showing interest
22 schools, 3 higher education institutes, 13 hotels, 4 NGOs, and 8 gated communities invited our presentations and outreach demonstrations, which were done. These have to be followed up

3)      Number of wards or household areas in town that have begun recycling waste
We have been working informally with several individual households; 3 wards of Kodaikanal town are interested in working with us. This should be done through proper channel so Kodaikanal Municipality has to give government order for working with these wards; but as elections have been long delayed (because of death of the previous Chief Minister), there is still no elected Municipal Council Chairman nor ward members.

4)      Quantity of recyclables collected and processed, and its estimated percentage of all town waste
Around 27 tonnes of dry-waste has been recovered through KIS initiative from these schools and hotels in Kodaikanal, which is only some 2% annual waste generation rate. But the Municipality still has no policy or budget for separating recyclables from trash. We are awaiting elections for the Municipal Council to be elected, and meanwhile we deal with the state-appointed Commissioner. Fortunately,  he has assigned an old building and location where recyclables are now sorted by an agreed agent working with us. 

5)      List of environment-related projects undertaken by KIS students with advice of these experts
–  Composting bins on the campuses now where they can bring home and dorm organic trash
– Sorting of recyclables in the 2 Recycle Centers—many students do this for their service hours
– Cleaning up around different parts of Kodaikanal
– Distribution and sale of cloth shopping bags to replace plastic
– Asking tourists in vehicles to give over their throw-away plastic junk
– At school student functions, use of drinking fountains or good bottles instead of disposable cups
– All students now have good water bottles, and throw-away plastic bottles are banned on campus

6)      Number of KIS classes or groups in which the 2 experts made presentations and advised
Frequently worked with Grade 5 to 12 students on solid waste management and biodiversity conservation.

7)      NGOs and other civic organizations in which KIS and the experts made substantial contribution
Worked frequently with Kodaikanal Rotary Club, Kodaikanal United Christian Youth Federation, PCK Women’s group, Kodai Smile Group, and Palani Hills Conservation Council

Ms Lekshmi R. was assigned by the Principal to write environment curricula for grades 6 through 10, which has taken considerable research and consultation. This now has to be integrated into the already busy Middle Years IB program and other activities. Also, Ms Lekshmi has been working to generate overall ideas about Environment for KIS, as requested. And lately she has worked on identifying laboratories, greenhouse, landscaping, etc for the proposed Environment Education Center.

This school year Dr Rajamanikam and Lekshi are regular KIS salaried staff, and the new KFI funds requested and sent are for helping to set up educational aspects of the new Environment Education Center.

Budget:
KFI gave $8,000 for Dr Rajamanikam and Lekshmi for last semester. Lekshmi has been working to finish her PhD in Pondy University so was absent for some time, so there is a balance, which has been added to the new KFI funding for this semester:

New KFI fund for Environment Center etc   ($12,050)                      Rs. 808,675
Balance from KFI fund for last semester                                                     96,558
Total for Environment Center this semester                                  Rs. 905,233

Clarence Maloney
KIS Volunteer for Environment
August, 2018

 

 

 

 

UPDATE – Medical Supplies for Van Allen Hospital

UPDATE – Medical Supplies for Van Allen Hospital

After two and a half months at sea, a trip across the plains and 7,000 feet up the ghat, the 20’ container of donated medical equipment finally arrived at Van Allen Hospital on Sunday, September 2, 2018.

The jammed-packed container was unloaded with the help of KIS students; and now the hospital staff has the huge-but-enviable task of unpacking and distributing the supplies and equipment.  The packing list is beyond extensive – everything from knee braces to medical reference books to orthopedic screwdrivers to infant warmers/oxygen masks to voltage converters.  KIS students, staff, and the entire Kodai community will benefit from this project for years and years to come.

Many thanks to all of those whose vision and hard work made this happen, most notably Dr. Jeetu Nanda, past KIS Council Member and past KFI President; Corey Stixrud, KIS Principal and Interim Chair, Van Allen Hospital; Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach; Kodai Friends International; and Mr. Jayachandran, Dr. Senthil Kumar and Mr. Biju Mathews at Van Allen Hospital.  This was truly team-work at its best.


The Van Allen has undergone some rough times recently, but a concerted effort is under way to get it back into shape.  New doctors have been hired, but the equipment is sadly out of date.  Dr. Jeetu Nanda, Past President of KFI, got in contact with a group called Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, a medical surplus recovery organization which collects, repairs, packages, and distributes medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics around the world.  The Van Allen Hospital was not able, however, to cover the cost of shipping in order to receive these supplies and equipment.

A grant request to fund the shipping was made to Kodai Friends International, which was accepted by the KFI Board in May of this year. In mid-June a 20’ shipping container filled with donated medical supplies and equipment was shipped to Chennai, from there making its way up the ghat to the gates of the Van Allen Hospital, thanks to the generous donations of many of you throughout the years to KFI.  The ship is scheduled to dock in Chennai on August 19, 2018.  Hopefully we will receive some pictures when the container arrives in Kodai, which we will happily post.

The Van Allen Hospital Equipment Donation is supported through KFI’s “Fund a Need” Fund.



Recycling and Waste Management

Recycling and Waste Management

KIS began recycling in 2014 and now has two active Recycle Centers, better overall waste management, and a separate account for Recycling and related activities.  The outreach to the town is a natural and much-needed extension of this to the Kodai community. Dr Rajamanikam has provided expertise first for KIS, and as a member of the Social and Environment Experience Department (SEED, formerly SOEX), has spoken in all the SEED classes, but spends most of his time in outreach, usually accompanied by Mr William in Maintenance, Iti Maloney, Dr. Clarence Maloney, or others interested.  Some KIS students have also participated, and some students from other schools have visited our Recycling Centers.

Among the 23 schools in and around Kodaikanal, 18 have been visited repeatedly with presentations and demonstrations, and have adopted campus solid waste management system by installing labeled bins and segregating at source.  This includes government and private high schools, elementary schools, those having Tamil or English language medium, and some in nearby villages as Vilpatti, Perumalmalai, Pallangi, and Poombari.  Four more schools are interested, have received consultation from us, and are taking the next required steps to start the process.

In all these schools there have been extended public sessions for all students on sustainable waste management and recyclables sorting, with support of the Administrations.  Then they have also experienced hands-on training on source segregation, recycling, and composting. The schools have been informed about the rate they will get for selling recyclables (flat paper Rs. 10 a kilo, iron Rs. 16 a kilo, etc), and encouraged to set a goal ultimately of “Zero Waste Campus”.

Building allocated by Municipality for KIS outreach for storing/sorting recyclables from hotels, schools, institutions on main road just below lake (needs roof!)

Collection of recyclables is not just by students,  Along with the students, teachers and staff are asked to bring recyclables from their houses, as well as teaching family and neighbors; so the schools can be the focus of local community action for this.

Overall in 22 schools, we have repeatedly reached around 5000 students and 300 teachers. All of them are oriented to and have experienced demonstrations of sustainable solid waste management. Some schools could buy the bins, for which we have helped make and attach big labels, and for poorer schools, we persuaded Rotary Club and some local resorts to donate costs.

As for pick-up of recyclables, we have found a responsible agent, a scrap dealer, who is making his business from collecting what the schools and hotels set out for him. He also makes special trips when requested. However, the school students in poor communities have little that is recyclable so the cost of pick-up is not covered. The agent is depending more on pick-up from hotels, and expects his business to gradually increase.

As for the Municipality, it has no budget, personnel, vehicles, or provision of bins for dealing with recyclables. Many of us have been taking our recyclables for sale to private junk dealers in Munjikal, but there is only trash collection by the Municipality, and all goes to the huge dump below Prakasapuram. Some NGOs have proposed working with us by organizing groups in each of the 25 electoral Wards in town, though so far this is inactive. However, the Central and State Governments now require towns to do it (their planned categories are “wet waste” later sorted for compostables, and “dry waste” then sorted for recyclables!). However, the town Commissioner has been supportive, and has allotted a run-down building (without much roof) in a convenient location where our agent keeps and sorts the recyclables which he then sells to factories on the plains.

Higher education institutions
We have been working with 3 higher education institutes: 1) Mother Theresa University, 2) Kodaikanal Christian College, and 3) Mother Theresa Women’s College. Administrations of all three have arranged for our presentations and practical demonstration, and have procured bins, and started solid waste management on their campuses. Thereafter, they have become willing participants, and students and staff have taken up recycling and better overall waste management.

C Maloney and Rajamanikam demonstrating sorting recyclables for maintenance staff at Holiday Home Resorts

Hotels
Recently because of this Project, five hotels in town have taken up segregation of recyclables, and three of them are doing it very well, and surprisingly, have achieved some 70% recycling of solid waste. They realize that they can get some income from selling it to the agent working with us, and also can advertise that they are environment-conscious and “green” hotels.

In Kodaikanal, about 60% solid waste that goes to the huge town dump is said to be generated by the hospitality industry. There are 120 hotels registered and members of the local Hotels Association, but there are some 4000 hotels and “guest houses” in and around this touristy town. As we cannot approach so many directly, or provide orientation or training of staff, we started to work with a few influential hotels which can be a model for others.

Women’s Club at Convent School starting composting

Local NGOs, offices, and groups
We have been collaborating with five local NGOs/community organizations, including a youth group wanting to stop tourists throwing plastic, and a women’s group doing composting. We have had many discussions and contacts with the Municipality, though there are internal “problems” and it will take time for reforms. But they have given us the place for storing and sorting, which we will have to repair. A revised Town Plan is expected. There has been no Chairman or Council for a year, but when the TN Gov’t gets finally re-organized (after the death of “Amma”), and holds elections, we hope to help extend recycling and maybe composting to all two Wards in town.

The Forest Department is also keenly interested in waste management and how to deal with tourists about this, and has initiated some meetings with us.

Visit to Auroville
Using some of the KFI fund, a group of five involved in KIS recycling and this outreach (including William in Maintenance, and Iti Maloney) spent 3 days in Auroville, an international innovative community near Pondicherry. They saw the work of several innovative persons and organizations regarding recycling, processing of recyclables, composting, novel construction materials, etc, and are giving a Presentation to KIS Maintenance. Also, one of the KIS Maintenance officers participated in a 5-day training program about waste and recycling, held by the Centre for Science an Environment (puts out the excellent environment magazine Down to Earth) in New Delhi.

To read interesting descriptions and see photos of the trip submitted by Iti Maloney and William Gynanaraj, click here: Auroville Trip Report.

This Spring Semester
We will continue all this during the Spring Semester, 2018. On February 19th Rajamanikam is  organizing a one-day workshop for the Kodai hospitality industry. We expect at least 50 hotels to participate. This workshop is aimed at empowering the hospitality and food industry to implement their own sustainable waste management programs, through interactive lectures, hands-on training, and demonstrations to help move towards “Zero Waste Hotels” in India.

Report submitted by Dr. Rajamanikam, edited by Clarence Maloney, 28 January, 2018

KIS Outreach for Recycling and Waste Management is supported through KFI’s Social and Environmental Learning Fund.