January: Sangha was conceptualized after the traumatic events of the tsunami 

February: Sangha was incorporated as a 501c3

April: Sangha’s first fundraiser “Cigars and Salsa” successfully raising $24,000

August: Members of Sangha, utilizing their own money, made a needs assessment trip to India and Nepal. While in India, they provided much needed medical and rehabilitative services on the Andaman Islands. Sangha was able to forge relationships with multiple organizations including Aids Healthcare Foundation, Naz Foundation, P.A.C.T. India, CARE, UNICEF, West Bengal Voluntary Health Association, Andaman and Nicobar Multiple Rehabilitation Centre, SEEDS India, EHA-Health, Indicorps, and Manav Sadhna. Sangha held a workshop with West Bengal Voluntary Health Association and Self Help Groups made up of women affected by the tsunami who were being taught livelihood skills and public/primary health care. This workshop was very successful and the women who were previously housewives displayed an amazing passion to be independent and self sustaining. At the Multiple Rehabilitation Centre, the staff were personally motivated to have the best growing environment for the children and the children were open and smiling. There was a clear need for expertise and additional help. Leana and Beronika Tirkey were two children living at the center whose artistry was inspiring. Sangha has both of these groups’ talents on display via the Sangha holiday cards. All proceeds will go directly back to them.

September: Sangha worked in conjunction with the Children’s Health Fund and Operation Assist to provide medical services for children and adults in the Biloxi/Gulfport area in Mississippi.

October: Sangha decides to pursue two projects for 2006. One will be an annual Pediatric HIV conference detailing an International discussion on the state of Pediatric HIV, its rate of growth, prevention tactics and successes/failures and treatment recommendations. We will also have individual workshops with local physicians and have the visiting American lecturers see patients in clinics. This will promote ongoing dialogue, open up access for patients to be able to participate in international research protocols so that they will receive treatment they would not otherwise be able to afford. Sangha will also be devising a tool by which to objectively measure the effectiveness of the conference.

Second will be to develop and expert panel for the Andaman and Nicobar Multiple Rehabilitaion Centre. This panel will consist of pediatricians, neurologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, nutritionists, social work and speech therapists. This panel will be accessible via the web and hopefully as technology permits via telemedicine.

November: Sangha returned to Mississippi with the Children’s Health Fund.