India Partners and Engineering Ministries International collaborate to prevent island erosion for a community of 1,200 in South India

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2011

Eugene, OR, June 21, 2011 – India Partners and Engineering Ministries International (EMI) are developing a flood prevention system for a river island in Andhra Pradesh, India to protect against reoccurring floods and land erosion that threaten the community’s livelihood. The two organizations will send a joint team to the project site from June 28 to July 11, 2011 to survey the land and develop anti-erosion plans, such as constructing a sea wall or levee system.

India Partners has been serving the island and its residents for the last 12 years by providing livestock for food and income generation, a community center complete with a primary school and job training facility, as well as microloans for soil restoration, fishing boats and nets. However, cyclones, monsoons and massive floods are destroying the island’s livestock, homes, fishing boats and crops. In addition, lives have been lost and the island is eroding away.

Through its partnership with EMI, India Partners intends to provide future solutions for flooding and erosion that plague the island. The strategy is to use local, readily available materials to design a system that can be easily replicated by villagers on neighboring islands.

“The islanders are cut-off from others, the poorest of the poor, and have no other place to go,” said Brent Hample, President of India Partners. “This flood prevention system is not only crucial to sustain their community’s existence, but also to prevent deaths and raise their quality of life.”

To learn more about India Partners, please visit www.IndiaPartners.org, call toll-free 1-877-874-6342, or email us. To learn more about EMI, please visit http://emi2southasia.org/project_trips/projectprofile_8194.shtm.

About India Partners:
India Partners works alongside a broad group of indigenous, faith-based grassroots agencies in India focused on alleviating poverty and injustice. India Partners believes in helping the people of India help themselves, regardless of caste, religion, gender or creed. We seek support from others who share our passion to empower change.

Press Contact Only: Kaytie Fiedler
Tel: 503.309.4217