Administrative office of the Trivandrum Fuller Center for Housing!

The administrative office of the Trivandrum Fuller Center for Housing, India was blessed by Fr Joseph Machery at 3.30 pm on December 23, 2016. The TFCH has attained a professional face with the opening of this office on the 7th Floor of Carmel Towers, Vazhuthacaud, Trivandrum - 695 014, which is about three miles away from its registered office housed at Mangalath, KRRA-294, Kesavadev Road, Poojappura Post, Trivandrum - 695 012. The formal inauguration of the admin office is deferred for the presence and participation of David Snell, president of the FCFH and Fr Mathew Thundathil, vice chair of the TFCH. A couple of the photographs taken on the occasion are here.

Fr Machery with Board members during the blessing ceremony

The participants: (From left) Mrs Lawrence, Mrs Alexander, Mr C K Alexander (Board Member), Sr Josmin (Joint Secretary), Fr Joseph Machery (Manager of Carmel Towers), Midhun Mathew Lawrence (Grandson of Adv T H Lawrence), Adv T H Lawrence (Chairman), Mr K Johnson (Secretary), Mr Abraham Mathew (Treasurer) and Mr R Jayadas (Manager)

The Board Members

HOMEOWNERS' BIENNIAL MEET - 2015

The third biennial meeting of the TFCH homeowners was held at Carmel Monastery from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm on December 23, 2015. About 15 homeowners as well as the personnel of the TFCH were present. The vice chair gave an overview of the Center and welcomed the gathering. The chairman, who presided over the function, appreciated the homeowners for making regular repayments. When he asked them to render their sweat equity to other needy families, they readily agreed. The meeting was also addressed by all the other Board members and a couple of the homeowners. Fr Mathew Thundathil, the vice chair, arranged for a Christmas cake which was jointly cut by two homeowners. Small gifts were also given away to all the participants. 

A view of the gathering

Fr Mathew Thundathil welcomes

A homeowner acknowledges her gratitude 

The secretary with the cake-snack tray


Sr Erasma gives away the gift to a homeowner

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.