Jacqueline Fernandez builds homes in Chennai for flood affected victims

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 23, 2016)

Jacqueline Fernandez who has been busy shooting for Rohit Dhawan's July release, Dishoom, along with co-stars Varun Dhawan and John Abraham, is now channeling her energies towards a cause. Come April 9, the Sri Lankan beauty will fly down to Chennai to flag off 'Jacqueline Builds', an initiative to rehabilitate the flood-affected in the Tamil Nadu capital.

"The floods have affected more than 17 lakh people, of which many lost their homes. I was thinking of ways to help out in the relief work when I met Joseph Scaria (of the NGO 'Habitat for Humanity') and we struck upon the idea of the initiative," the actress informs.

How is she working towards the rehabilitation work? "I'm helping out by raising funds to build homes through various avenues including my own crowd-funding page on Give2Habitat, where donors can contribute. I am also urging my co-stars and crew members to contribute. Meanwhile, the NGO is working in tandem with schools and corporate to raise funds. I'll also visit contributing schools," Jackie explains, adding that her industry friends have been very supportive in helping out.

"They have donated with money or signed bricks, which I can auction. I will be in Chennai on April 9, and begin work on building homes with 200 volunteers from schools, colleges and some of India's finest corporate executives at Padappai, near Chennai," she reveals.