Coronavirus: Rebuild Lives in India and Nepal

This support means that we can continue getting urgent food and health supplies to the most marginalised communities affected by the coronavirus crisis.

To add to the worsening situation, you will have also read about the devastation caused by Cyclone Amphan to communities across West Bengal. The image here is of a woman clearing debris from her home that was taken by one of our community leaders.

One of our flagship projects outside Kolkata, Nishtha, has suffered significant building and flood damage. Electricity and phones are out, roads are blocked by fallen trees and many homes, particularly those of the poorest, have been demolished, like the one pictured. It's hard to imagine the chaos that natural disasters like these will cause those already suffering a difficult lockdown. We are acting fast to support them as new information gets to us and you will be receiving information on an appeal for this project shortly. Despite these difficulties, there are still stories of hope emerging from this crisis in India and Nepal.

In Nepal for example, Lalita, 11, has been supported by the Karuna Strong Girls project which aims to keep girls in school. The project has come up with an innovative solution to ensure these girls don't miss out on their education during the lockdown.

The project has started broadcasting an educational radio programme and supplies radios for girls living in remote villages who do not have access to one so they can continue their learning at home.

This means that the dreams that girls like Lalita have are still in reach. 

“I feel bad for girls that marry young. I want to study and learn more so I can become a nurse and help people like my mother,” Lalita (pictured below) tells us.

In India, one of our project managers, Amitayus, and his team have worked hard to make sure the supplies raised by the crisis appeal are reaching the right people.

“We have created an outdoor distribution centre with social distancing markers to prevent overcrowding," Amitayus says.

"People are registered and given a coupon. They then visit the centre where there is hand sanitiser and a temperature check. A good number of team members means people are available for guidance or to answer questions. People can take up to 11 items of their choice; this personal choice helps contribute to people retaining a sense of dignity. The City authority has praised the way we have set this centre up.”
 

To see a video Amitayus and his team operating this outdoor centre, click here. 
 

None of this is possible without your donation. Thank you for what you've given and continue to give. 

If you haven't had the opportunity to donate yet, please do so below. While we are only beginning to scratch the surface of how we can provide support, for those we do reach, that support is everything.

Thank you. 

Ciaran Maguire
CEO