St. Paul's Lutheran church, Ernakulam is actively involved in the Island ministry. The church has extended the ministry in  an island called "Thanthonni Thuruth". In another island called Kakathuruth the ministry has just started. The living condition of the people dwelling in the various islands are pathetic. Due to the geographical separation they are devoid of the even basic amenities

 

THANTHONNI THURUTH is an island inhabited with 75 Hindu fishermen families. Children are forced to travel across backwaters to another island called "Ponnarimangalam" for schooling. Every family owns a canoe and  men, women and children are adept at rowing to their destination. There is no shop, market, dispensary, school etc. Despite being surrounded by water they do not have a drop to drink. They do not have newspaper and postal facility. Most of the house yard are full of shrines of relics for homage and worship. There is temple consisting of deities called yakshiyamma, ellathamma, bhuvaneswary devi, sree rudhiramala bhagavathy, sree murugan, ganapathy, siva and so on. There is a president, secretary and treasurer for the temple. Due to lack of timely medical treatments there is lot of deaths in this island. Deaths are also caused by drowning as the island is the engulfed by backwaters and also by boat mishaps.

Medical camps are arranged with the assistants of the District Medical Officer and the Superintendent of General Hospital, Ernakulam. Rotary Club members and other well wishers are also cooperated for this camp.

Availing of Medicine   

Arrangements are made to avail medicine by presenting the visiting cards of the pastor and medicine prescription of the doctor from two medical stores. Optical are also provided in the same line.

Patients from this island are taken to the Government Hospital for proper treatment. Pregnant women are also taken to the Govt. Hospital for antenatal treatment.

Awareness classes are conducted each month on various topics such as immunization, diarrhea, mother and child care., leprosy, AIDS & HIV, alcoholism ,drug addiction, personal hygiene etc. 

            Each month classes on various topics like nurturing of children, breast-feeding, cooking etc are conducted with demonstration for the women with the help of the experts of each topic.

Freebies such as soap, tooth paste, tooth brush, talcum powder, tea powder, curry powder, green peas, vermicelli, Basmati rice, Sugar free, pen, pencil, shoe polish etc are collected from the Times of India and distributed to the desired people of the slum.

Availing Loan 

Neighbour Hood Groups (NHGs) having 10 women in each group are formulated. Every Saturday Rs 10/- per member are collected by the group leaders of each group  and deposited in the bank. Loans   for self employment are given from both the bank and Neighbour Hood Group deposit.

The used clothes  collected from the quarters of Central Excise & Customs, Cochin Shipyard, Cochin Port trust, Cochin Refinery and Southern Railways are supplied to the community at Vathuruthy.

Food materials received from the well-wishers being their tithe contribution are given to the destitute families of widows.

For more details regarding this ministry please contact : missiondirector@lkmission.

1.	Encircle  the island on the boat.
2.	Roam the island and observe the surroundings.
3.	Collect  information about the area from the local leaders, government officials and political leaders.
4.	Discuss the details with concerned government authorities.
5.	Conduct a community survey to highlight needs and wants.
6.	Obtain benefits from the government on the basis of the survey.

1.	Empowering women by formation of ladies society.
2	Neighbour hood groups formation.
3	Small saving schemes.
4	Self employment  schemes.
5	Tap out available resources from governmental and non governmental agencies.
6	Providing shelter, medical aids, financial help for the poor.
7	Providing education for children.
8	Conducting picnics for slum dwellers.
9	Providing uniform for children with the help of local textiles.
10	Arranging classes for creating awareness of insurance and providing insurance policy of Life Insurance Corporation of India.
11	Providing food materials in the rainy season to cope up with there lack of livelihood.