Three words, desperation, love and hope are central to the story of being human. At times we may feel like we have nothing left, desperate, with no sense that things can get better …at this point a hand reaches to help and provide, to touch and show that you are loved and there is hope.
At Project Help India we are working incredibly hard to be that hand that reaches to help, intervening with love at times when people are most desperate. Unfortunately, with COVID, too many people are desperate and we just can’t help everyone. This is why we are asking for your continued financial support during these most desperate of days.
It took more than five months for India to reach the bleak milestone of a million cases of the novel coronavirus. The next million came in just 21 days. The third million was faster still: 16 days. The increase in cases is unlikely to ebb any time soon, experts say, as a galloping outbreak spreads to new parts of the country and political leaders continue to reopen the economy. Last week, India recorded the highest one-day jump in new cases – more than 77,000 – anywhere in the world since the pandemic began. The virus has now spread throughout India, the world’s second most populous country, reaching even isolated indigenous tribes. The pandemic has also crippled economic activity – experts believe the economy contracted by 20 per cent in the three months to June – with only faint signs of recovery.
So, what can a small charity like Project Help do in such a huge country? We provide love and hope to desperate people, that’s what we do. We extend our hands to connect with people’s lives, connecting with their story. We show them love by helping them.
Here are three powerful stories from this week;
Project Help has intervened to help a community of people in Chandigarh, in the state of Punjab. Thanks to the generosity of a wonderful family in Sydney, an entire school community of 97 children and 4 teachers have been given a lifeline. Their school has been saved and the children continue to be educated and fed, at a time when their very poor parents who are suffering daily with minimal opportunities for work, are unable to provide for their family.
Happier days before COVID - The new school community that we are supporting at Village Singha Devi, Chandigarh, Punjab. Partnering with the Hope Society.
In Kotdwara we receive calls from desperate people on a daily basis. Due to positive COVID cases, areas within Kotdwara have been completely shut off from the rest of the town. Our Project worker writes about two women who we have recently helped;
This lady is Mrs. Hazrati (below left), she lives in Lakdi Padao that has been sealed since last 24 days. Her husband committed suicide due to the lockdown and depression he was facing due to the loses he faced during this COVID-19. Now this lady goes to other houses to do some domestic chores and get some money but now due to the area seal that is also not possible. So she informed us and Project Help team went to her locality and distributed her the essential food supplies. She broke into tears after receiving the help.
Today Mrs. Urmila (below right)came crying to our office of Project Help asking for some help, she said that they had nothing to eat as her husband have no work and she too, has no earning source. Due to Corona Virus spread people are not allowing the domestic help to come to their house and therefore they have no earnings and hence nothing to eat. Urmila is of 30 yrs. Urmila is wife of Mr. Kishanpal (38 years), he is a daily wage labour. Urmila is mother of 2 children Abhishek (12 years) and Aditya (11 years). Urmila’s life is full of challenges. Her elder son Abhishek is a polio sufferer. He is helpless from his right hand. He is poor in studies too. Urmila says she is ignored by her in laws family because of Abhishek, as her family thinks Abhishek’s condition is a result of some curse. Urmila is living in conditions that could hardly be called liveable. She lives in a dirty slum in a rented single room where there is no proper electricity facility. Urmila is now provided with food supplies and other necessities. She broke into tears after receiving the packets, she was so happy that she started praising Project Help.
When you look closely at our logo, you will see our hand, your hand (thank you), reaching with love and bringing hope to the desperate circumstances of beautiful people.
Let’s never forget that all of this is a two way transaction. We too are blessed when we give and connect with another human …family, friends, neighbours, strangers and those you may never meet in some remote part of India.