It’s difficult to know where to start when there is so much to tell you. Perhaps it’s a reflection of the times with such rapid change, so much need and so much to do. We all feel the same at the moment, with the uncertainty of these days, not quite knowing what lies ahead. I have always adhered to the saying ‘never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today’…this for me is truer than ever. With so many of the situations we are dealing with at the moment, there is no choice but to do most things straight away. The needs are great and who knows what tomorrow might look like. When people are desperate for help, tomorrow can’t often wait.
This past couple of weeks have been like a whirlwind in Kotdwara, India. With COVID-19 the needs are immediate, urgent and great.
When people are dying of starvation and they have no access to food we must act immediately.
When a community in Chandigarh in the state of Punjab cries out to us for help, we believed that we had no choice but to listen and respond.
For the team at Project Help India, much of what we are currently doing is one step of faith after another. This rapid change is stretching our resources and sadly there is not enough to go around. But thankfully, the generosity of our friends and supporters in Australia has been wonderful, and like the miracle of the fishes and the loaves, it’s quite incredible how much help, love and support we are able to provide to so many people …thank you for being part of this small miracle in the middle of a remote part of India.
So, where do I start with what to tell you about these fast paced, recent couple of weeks; Here are four snippets of action
‘The Hope Society’
When your donation is transferred to India, it first makes its way into a holding account, which for us is ‘The Hope Society’. Project Help India auspices with HOPE (website), which is another NGO that works in 4 states across Northern India. 7% of our funds remain with HOPE. This is a federal government requirement, necessary to ensure that there is transparency around foreign funds coming into the country, particularly to ensure against money laundering, terrorism or human trafficking. The funds are accounted and audited frequently and it is necessary that we pass many stringent compliance checks. If not, our projects could be shut down immediately.
Just recently due to COVID, Hope has faced the difficulty of their regular donations almost all drying up. Hope has been like a friend to Project Help and has guided and helped us since our early days. We cannot just ignore their situation. We have been asked to essentially take over the operations of this NGO. They have cried out for help from us, as the entire team have not been paid for months and families and suffering. Because people are in need, our Board has agreed to pay the next 3 months of salaries to HOPE. During this time, the entire NGO (and also us) must make some weighty decisions about the their future work and ministry. One of Hope’s projects, an entire school of 97 children looks like it will close (no pressure hey!). The children who attend are from a very poor farming and labouring community where their parents earn less than $4 a day. The cost to continue this school is a little of $1100 a month. We must make decisions about expanding to a new location, but we must be realistic about doing so, considering the long-term commitment that will be required.
Perhaps, you are reading this, and have an interest to know more.
Might you or your business consider making a tax deductible donation of $15 000 per year to sponsor and support this worthwhile project?
As a benefactor we would be committed to providing you with frequent communications and updates, to provide you with an important connection and partnership.
The lockdown continues in the slums
Check out this 2-minute video created by our team on the ground. Look at what happens when the slum is literally barricaded by the local municipal government, with no way of getting in or out. I think the video brilliantly captures the current situation, and is well worth watching.
A Significant Honour
Our work in Kotdwara has not gone unnoticed. This week, the government honoured our efforts by awarding some of our staff certificates of appreciation for their work in the community during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Long Live India
Yesterday 15th August we celebrated Indian Independence Day 2020. This is what Gipsa, one of our team members had to say about the occasion;
To celebrate our National pride all the office staff of Project Help gathered in the office with social distancing and followed all the guidelines given by government to keep the Corona Virus spread at bay. The day started with flag hoisting by Mr. Amit Samuel, followed by National Anthem sung by all staff members. After that we prayed for our nation. Words of motivation were said by Mrs. Daisy Samuel.
The day was celebrated with a twist by our specially-abled children, they painted the papers with tri-colour and made flags of their own, and waved them with the slogans “Long Live India. For our students of our education centres, stationery (pencil, rubber, sharpener, copies of flag) and chocolates were distributed by our respective teachers. This day gives us a lot of lessons to learn, may each one of us learn the lesson and make the nation proud. May our Nation get the blessings of God and may it be precious for the world.
The crazy thing is that there is so much more to tell you. I am both proud and humbled by the fact that our projects are connecting with so many people. We are helping and feeding the poor and needy, and bringing the love of God to their lives and circumstances. These are the greatest of needs in these present days. We can never put off until tomorrow, when we can do it today.
We are so grateful to you. Thank you for reading, and thank you for your generosity which is making all of this possible. Together, we are the Project Help India story. What we are doing…
“is about learning how to love others. When we wonder about people, grieve with them, and chose to fight with and for them, we can build the kind of solidarity the world needs.”
‘See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love’ By Valerie Kaur