In the weeks and months since a tsunami ravaged the coasts of South Asia, NetAid led an emergency campaign to inform students, teachers and concerned citizens about the disaster and help them respond to it.

People around the world showed tremendous generosity in responding, contributing over $120,000 to NetAid's Asian Earthquake Crisis Fund in less than three months. The donations continue to support the relief efforts of two NetAid's World Schoolhouse partners: the Sanghamitra Service Society and the Center for Social Reconstruction. Beyond meeting emergency humanitarian needs, these organizations are working for the long-term rehabilitation of survivors in affected areas. 

When, at the beginning of April, donations reached the maximum amount that our partners could effectively manage, NetAid closed the Crisis Fund.

Here are some snapshots of the work our World Schoolhouse partners are undertaking in India:

• Sanghamitra has been providing food and water for over 1,700 children in 16 of the hardest-hit villages in the coastal state of Andhra Pradesh. Beyond meeting immediate needs, the Crisis Fund continues to support survivors' counseling, temporary educational centers and the renovation of damaged clinics.
• In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the Center for Social Reconstruction is leading relief and rehabilitation efforts in five severely affected villages. NetAid contributions are supporting emergency shelter, clothing, medical check-ups and psychological counseling for over 2,500 people, 750 of whom are children.

Young people were particularly innovative in responding to the disaster.  Inspired by NetAid's "Student-to-Student Challenge," young people organized events from yoga-thons to talent shows to mobilize support and funds for tsunami survivors.  Thousands of students also participated in NetAid lesson plans about the tsunami, its connection to poverty, and actions take by the U.S. after the crisis.

It will take years to rebuild the communities destroyed by the tsunami, but the Asian Earthquake Crisis Fund and the actions of NetAid’s Network will help our partners stay the course in assisting survivors.