My dear awesome friends,

On November 6th until December 10th, I will be assisting survivors of the 7.9 earthquake which rocked Western Sumatra on 30 September, 2009 with Hands On Disaster Response (HODR) The earthquake damaged over 200,000 homes and survivors now struggle to remove rubble and erect shelter as the rainy season quickly approaches.

HODR is a US-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization, that provides hands-on assistance to survivors of natural disasters around the world, with maximum impact and minimum bureaucracy. By supporting volunteers with housing, meals, tools, and organized work at no charge they are able to provide free and effective response services to communities in need. Their programs are directed by the needs of each community in which we work, ensuring a timely, relevant, and culturally sensitive response. You can find out more about them at www.hodr.org. Also if you would like to see photos of Project Sungai Geringging, you can go have a peek here: http://tinyurl.com/sungai.

I have wanted to become involved with HODR ever since I heard of them through a friend who has worked with them previously, whom I met doing peace-related work in Romania in 2005. I am so thankful that I have finally found the time and opportunity to do so now. I am especially excited that I have such crazy and supportive (and also unemployed) friends as I will be joined by Lucy from London and Alison from Calgary! :)

This project is especially important to my family and I as we lived in Jakarta for three years and as such Indonesia holds a very special place in our hearts. I am so appreciative and surprised by all the messages of support that I have been receiving from all of you. It really means a lot to me.

So, if you are feeling generous and have a couple spare pennies, please think about making a donation.

Thank you and with the warmest wishes,

Tara

PS. Firstgiving is not letting me change the image...so please excuse the balloons!