This past month at Project Help India has been filled with purpose, busyness, satisfaction, and reward but with this much heartache as we observe the conditions that our students live in due to the challenges of a life of poverty, impacted by COVID-19. Take twelve year old Anisha, and her brother and sister for example.
Anisha (12 years), her brother Naveen (10 years) and little sister Aakriti (aged 8) come to school despite the terrible circumstances of their lives. All three kids are sick, hungry, malnourished and need urgent help.
Anisha lives in Village Parmawala and she attends our school (small centre) there. She lives with her two younger siblings, Naveen and Aakriti. We love these kids. They truly are remarkable given the circumstances of their lives. They diligently come to school to learn and they take their studies seriously. Their education is their only hope for a better future. School is a haven, providing a place of security and belonging. Their teacher ensures for their safety providing love, care and she speaks words of value into their lives.
Last month I received an email asking for urgent help for Anisha and her family. The children and their parents are very sick and need urgent intervention. Perhaps you can help. Here is the email written by one of our staff. It is most heartbreaking to read.
Through this mail I want to put light on a very serious and pathetic condition of a family. The family is of our three children studying in our education center of jungle village Parmawala, the child named Anisha (12 years), Aakriti (8 years) and Naveen (10 years). These children are malnutrient and remain sick continuously. They developed the weight-loss, abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea. They starve and are very weak. The family conditions are so pathetic that they don't even have money,to buy their basic needs. Their father Mr. Charan Singh he is a daily wage labour, and now due to Covid-19 the labour are not getting any work, so there is no money for the family. Their mother Mrs. Omwati, is a house wife and she also remains sick.
The life they lead is already pitiable because of drunk father and his domestic violence to the family. Moreover, they don't have proper cloths and food. Earlier they had a raw hut but that too got destroyed this monsoon. They starve for days and the only food they get is from Project Help.
I request you to draw your attention towards the pitiful conditions of the family. I hope they will get some help soon as their only hope is Project Help.
Can you help?
I am writing to ask for your financial support. We require a minimum of $500AUD for Project Help India to provide the following;
- a trip to the city doctor for each member of the family
- food supplies
- necessary medications
- counselling for the mother
- support for the father
- repairs to their damaged home
- some toys for the children
- ongoing materials and stationery for the children’s school
Our Schools
To give you some context, our schools are filled with kids whose lives and circumstances are very much the same as Anisha’s. In total we have 9 school centres. Currently we have 230 children from Kotdwara slums and jungle villages, and 40 children from a slum area in Bijnor. Recently we have expanded to provide help to another 150 children in 2 locations in the city of Chandīgarh.
Due to the government social distancing requirements, our schools are currently operating with only 20% of students attending each day. Our incredible teachers work face to face, daily with one fifth of their students, and provide worksheets for all of the children to complete across the other 4 days of the week. The children’s lessons include Hindi, English, spelling, maths, art, poetry writing, drama, games, environmental care, body parts and body safety, COVID-19 awareness, hygiene and safety.
Our staff and teachers are also doing many home visits, and doing outdoor games and activities with the children.
Go to the OUR SETTING page on this website to learn about some of our schools.
October and September at our schools.
View the gallery below to see some images of day to day life and learning.
COVID is causing extreme poverty
The impact of COVID-19 is worsening in India, with about 2000 people a day diagnosed in the state of Uttarakhand. We fear that ongoing lockdown measures will be seen for a very long time. This directly impacts people living in poverty, because lockdown takes away their ability to work and earn an income. COVID is making poverty worse, and increasing the number of people who are living in extreme poverty.
Ration packs delivered with with love
Every week, Project Help continues to provide ration packs to our many very needy families. These ration packs provide essential commodities including of wheat flour, rice, spices, cooking oil, salt etc. We have now been doing this for 8 months and there is no end in sight.
Thank you for your generous help and support
Please do not underestimate the SIGNIFICANT difference that you are making in these people’s lives. Poverty is a cruel and vicious beast. You can make a tax deductible donation simply by clicking one of the DONATE buttons on this website. Thank you.