Following the Tsunami in December 2004, ESAF undertook emergency relief for families affected by the disaster through provision of food, household items, temporary shelter, medicines and also livelihood support, special education and counseling. Emergency relief was provided and the same became an entry point for planning rehabilitation interventions for the affected families. The project was implemented under the name of Pratheeksha Kiran – A ray of hope to develop the social and economic scenario that had become vulnerable after the Tsunami, to a more sustainable and prepared community. Pratheeksha Kiran Project was born out of the partnership between the Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF) and TEAR Fund UK. During the period 2006 to 2008, the project addressed issues related to livelihood and disaster preparedness in the coastal villages of Kanyakumari District. The major focus areas of intervention were

1.Microfinance – Women’s self help groups were formed to provide financial services and strengthen them financially and empower socially by helping them realize their potential as a human being.

2.Livelihood Promotion – Women managed entrepreneurial units for fish products, coir and coconut extraction were established to enhance and develop their livelihood options thus reduce their vulnerability to be affected by disasters or economic crisis. Loans were provided to women’s enterprises to start and develop their enterprises. A microbiological laboratory was started for testing of the products made by the women’s entrepreneurial units.

3.Disaster Preparedness – Common facility centers were established which are being managed by the community persons for learning and information dissemination. Disaster preparedness initiatives were undertaken like training, disaster committees being formed and regular discussions and meetings being organized to share information while staying alert to disseminated information on any warning of disaster or danger.

Currently WAVE – Women’s Action for Village Empowerment, a consortium registered as Sub- Trust of ESAF, has been formed with the women from the entrepreneurial units to take over the functioning and implementation of the different units efficiently and smoothly with ESAF providing the hand holding through capacity building and strengthening initiatives.

The project addresses the core issues of economical and disaster prone vulnerability in a comprehensive and integrated manner hence is a unique initiative.