Local Volunteer Team to Travel to India
A team of local volunteers, sponsored by the Eugene-based relief and development organization, India Partners, will be traveling to India for 17 days to conduct free dental and optical clinics; provide first-aid training (child CPR); and perform children's puppet shows at schools and orphanages in numerous impoverished communities across three states.
The team of seven will leave Portland on January 28, 2004, carrying with them tens of thousands of dollars worth of donated medical supplies and toys. Team members are: Brent Hample, Executive Director of India Partners; Dale Beam, an Emergency Medical Technician from Springfield; Diane Caisse, a homemaker from Eugene; Jeffrey Leach, a Georgia-Pacific warehouse worker from Lebanon; Dr. Les Osborne, dentist and owner of Santiam Dental Group of Lebanon; Pam Osborne, a dental assistant at Santiam Dental Group of Lebanon; and Ryan Salisbury, owner of Salisbury Construction of Cottage Grove.
The team will first travel to Tamil Nadu state in order to serve physically disabled students at a vocational training center. Then the volunteers will travel 300 miles to an orphanage and school in the state of Andhra Pradesh that serves over 600 needy children. From there, they will travel to a remote island village of "Untouchables," where electricity, running water and protection from the elements is non-existent. Last, the team will travel to and visit tribal villages in the remote jungles of Orissa state.
Five of the team members will return to Portland on February 14, 2003. Dr. and Mrs. Osborne will remain in India until March 11 to work alongside award-winning medical missionary, Dr. Iris Paul. Dr. Paul, in partnership with India Partners, is building a hospital that will serve over 500,000 tribal villagers in Orissa, and the Osbornes will set up a dental room in the hospital.
Since 1984, faith-based charity India Partners has been working in partnership with indigenous agencies in India in the areas of education, literacy, vocational training, child sponsorship, relief, agricultural development and health care. Projects in India help all in need, regardless of gender, religion, caste or creed.
