EDUCATION MEETING AT CSI DIOCESE

The Dalit Wing of the South Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India (CSI) has come forward to partner with the Trivandrum Fuller Center for Housing (TFCH). The Christian Dalits are a poor community that does not get as much governmental support as their non Christian counterparts in the country though they also form the economically and socially weaker section of society. The church has been trying to ameliorate their living conditions by all possible means. Poverty housing or homelessness is rampant among them. Hearing about the unique service of the Fuller Center for Housing, the CSI diocese representative held talks with the chairman of the TFCH and requested that a group of prospective beneficiaries be educated on the philosophy of the Fuller Center ministry. Accordingly an education meeting was held at the diocese premises from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm today, August 08, 2015. More than 25 people attended the meeting which was ably coordinated by Mr Rajadas, Dalit Wing Secretary and inaugurated with blessings by the bishop of the CSI diocese, His Excellency Rt Rev A Dharmaraj Rasalam. The chairman, vice chairman, treasurer and the manager of the TFCH, who were present on the occasion, led the education meeting successfully.

Mr Rajadas, Dalit Wing secretary welcomes 

A view of the gathering of prospective beneficiaries

TFCH CHAIRMAN VISITS FCFH IN THE US

Chairman Adv T H Lawrence of the Trivandrum Fuller Center for Housing (TFCH), India completed an eventful visit to the Fuller Center for Housing (FCFH), USA from June 17 to 19, 2015. He took time to make it during his stay in San Francisco with his son and family. President David Snell received him at the Atlanta airport and accommodated him in Quality Inn, a good hotel in Americus. The chairman met with all the staff of the FCH and held talks with President David, Director Ryan and Co-founder Linda (who also found time to lunch with him). Ryan took him round places of organizational and historical significance such as the FCFH Office, Koinonia Farm (where Millard Fuller had founded Habitat for Humanity with Clarence Jordan and built the first partnership house), Clarence's Shack (where Clarence used to rest and reflect), Koinonia Community Center (where resident volunteers are trained), Global Village & Discovery Center (where models of Habitat houses built in various countries in the Latin American/Caribbean, African/Middle East and Asia/Pacific regions are erected), Plains, (which is home of President Jimmy Carter), Jimmy Carter National Historic Site (Museum and Visitor Center) and Habitat for Humanity Headquarters open premises. Meanwhile, Lawrence also had the privilege of dining with the Davids and the Ryans. On completion of the tour the TFCH chairman was seen off at the Atlanta airport by Global Builders Coordinator Allen Slabaugh. 

In front of the doorway to the FCFH HQ

With President David Snell in his office

With David and some of his team

With Director Ryan

With Ryan and Jison at the coffee house

Lunch with Linda, David and Ryan

In front of the first Habitat for Humanity house

Ryan with the second Habitat for Humanity homeowner

At the Koinonia Farm

Where Clarence Jordan used to rest and reflect

Lunch at Koinonia Farm

Dinner with the Davids and the Ryans

In front of the Habitat for Humanity HQ

With David, Linda and Ryan at the FCFH HQ

With Allen before return to San Francisco via Atlanta

The hotel where accommodation was provided

 Flanked by Quality Inn Receptionist and its Owner 

The Singaporean Global Build Team leaves for home

The Singaporean team left for home after a very successful Global Build with the TFCH from 13 to 21 December 2014. They were seen off at the airport by the chairman, the treasurer and the manager a couple of hours ago today December 21, 2014. They are believed to be carrying cherishable memories of their intimate association with all that they came into contact with during the short stay. 

Earlier in the afternoon the team and the Center had a farewell get-together with Prof Natalie of Mercer University as special invitee following the traditional Kerala lunch. Certificates of Participation with mementos were presented to the team members. The team leader was swaddled by the vice chairman as a mark of respect to him. 

We feel nostalgic of their absence as they have made their presence felt from arrival to departure. 

THE EIGHT-MEMBER SINGAPOREAN GB TEAM

The hosts and the guests at the Kerala lunch 

The leader with the swaddled shawl

A memento to the team 

The Certificate of Participation

The Team with the Board before departure at the airport

The team at the TFCH office

The team at hard work

The team members enjoy the tender coconut drink

David Lee with a wheel barrow full of metal for the RCC

DEDICATION OF ANOTHER HOUSE

The TFCH dedicated another Fuller Home at 4.30 pm today. The ceremony was attended, among others, by the eight-member Singaporean GB team led by Raymond Chew. The visiting guests (all in yellow T-Shirts), the  homeowner family and the TFCH Board members posed for a photograph (right in front of the newly built house) after the dedication. 

FOURTH GLOBAL BUILDERS FROM SINGAPORE

An eight-member Global Builders' team from Singapore led by Raymond Chew arrived in Trivandrum at 10 last night. The team was received at the airport by the chairman, treasurer and manager of the Trivandrum Fuller Center for Housing. The members of the team looked very dynamic and cheerful. They were picked up and dropped at the Pushpakam homestay where their accommodation had been booked. The team was accorded a cordial welcome by the hosts. The chairman left after they had dinner at the homestay. Raymond said he was happy about the arrangements made by the TFCH. Two pictures taken on their arrival are inserted below.

The TFCH and the Team at the airport

The team at the Pushpakam Homestay

On December 18 the team visited the TFCH office and became curious to know the functioning of the Center. They were taken through the whole procedure from Education to Selection of homeowners and from construction to dedication of the houses. Some of them raised pertinent questions on various aspects and got them fully clarified. The team appreciated the transparency being displayed by the TFCH all along. How the administrative cost is kept at the minimum was also explained to them. The team visited the Lawrences at their residence. 

The whole team in the TFCH office

The team with the chairman and his wife

SECOND HOMEOWNERS' MEET - 2013

The second Homeowners' Meet of the Center was held at Carmel Monastery, Trivandrum on December 23, 2013. The 15 families who are in and around Trivandrum attended the meeting. The chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer and Board member Sr Erasma represented the TFCH. The meeting was presided over by chairman Adv T H Lawrence. One of the homeowners said the prayer, another welcomed the gathering, four of them offered felicitations and the manager proposed vote of thanks. Small gifts were presented to each homeowner family. A high tea was hosted by the vice chair. All the Board members spoke on the occasion. The chairman expressed satisfaction at the 100% repayment being made by the homeowners and asked them to maintain it so as to sustain the ministry by recycling the repayments to the benefit of those homeless brethren. The vice chair appealed to them to find more pleasure in giving rather than receiving. The homeowners felt so proud of the service of the TFCH Board that they offered to render their sweat equity to those who were still poorer. Arrangements had also been made for the receipt of repayments to be remitted by the homeowners.

The spouses of the chair and the treasurer were also present as invitees. 

Some of the pictures taken on the occasion are inserted below.

A view of the gathering

Joy, the first homeowner felicitates

Varghese, the second homeowner, felicitates

The vice chair presents the gift to Varghese

The treasurer presents the gift to Susan

Sr Erasma presents the gift to Sheeba

The secretary presents the gift to Mrs Maniyan

The manager receives the repayments