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Who we are
Hand in Hand is an international
and non profitable organization (NPO) with three main targets:
to bring aid to victims of natural catastrophes
to provide medical treatment and health care to the needy
to offer education in areas lacking the necessary infrastructures
Orissa is the poorest State of India.
Devastating
weather catastrophes occurred in this State.
Hand in Hand was established in 2000 in response
to the devastation of a large area in Orissa, a state in
the north eastern part of India, caused by a cyclone and
by a tsunami. Later the same region was also afflicted by
drought and famine as well as by floods.
Due to the high demand of humanitarian aid after the first
catastrophes, which killed thousands of people and left millions
homeless without any local infrastructures, an independent
group of people of different nationalities and beliefs created
the organisation Hand in Hand.
We now have branches of our organisation in Switzerland, Germany
and, recently, also in Holland. In these countries, contrary
to Austria, donations are tax deductible. The head office
of the charitable, state independent and non profitable organisation
(NGO, NPO) Hand in Hand is in Vienna, Austria. Peter van
Breukelen is the President.
What
we do
The non-denominational and politically independent charity
organisation Hand in Hand assists the poorest
of the poor in the underdeveloped regions of India. Many
needy people receive not only medical primary health care
free of charge, but also access to educational institutions.
Local welfare organisations guarantee through their intervention
the continuity of long term projects initiated and financed
by Hand in Hand.
Prajnana Mission in Cuttuck, India is
our local partner.
In order to receive our funding and support these local organisations
have to be active in the following areas: school education, professional
training, social service, health care including preventive medical
check-ups and programs for the well being of children, youngsters
and families, as well as arrangements for the care of the elderly,
the sick and the disabled.
One of the first projects of Hand
in Hand was the construction (
in 2001
) of 20 houses for the victims of the huge floods in Orissa,
India. We now have created, with the help of the local organisation
Prajnana Mission, some
Health Centers
and a
Residential School
for disadvantaged and destitute children.
How
we work
The Board of Hand in Hand consists of nine members who meet
regularly. Apart from the Board members who hold honorary
positions, many volunteers together with the generous donations
of our supporters, enable us to give many underprivileged
people a better life. It is not important how much time or
how much money is donated to Hand in Hand -
even the smallest drop makes a difference!
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