COVID-19 Bringing Hope and Help

Our Project Director, Mrs Daisy Samuel (right) presenting a Coronavirus Awareness Seminar to the slum community.

Dear Friends and Supporters

This blog is posted with both sadness and hope for what we are all experiencing at present. Our prayers are with you in whatever situation you find yourself in. We pray that you are fully aware of the presence and peace of God.

In India, the entire country began a 2-week nationwide lockdown over the weekend. Everything is ‘extreme’ in India – just imagine 1.3billion people forced into their houses with limited access to the marketplace and essential services. Just yesterday, Sunday, at 5pm, the entire nation rang bells, bang drums, clapped, banged on pots and pans and sang national songs, in solidarity and unity to support emergency workers. Such a powerful moment!

Last week we made the decision to not go ahead with SHINE last week. Our amended plans initially were to see our local team running the conference. However, the size of the gathering and the projection of how Covid-19 would be looking by mid-April, meant that it was not feasible or sensible. There is understandable disappointment, but we are confident that future opportunities will arise. Unfortunately, we have lost some money on this, but thankfully some final payments for the venue, catering and accommodation had not been paid.

Last week, our Kotdwara team, embarked on a Covid-19 Awareness Program in the slums and villages. We will continue to work closely with the slum people, as they are highly vulnerable and at risk of significant impact, should the virus spread as anticipated. A strategy is being developed for how we provide meals and medical support for this poor community. Our schools will be closed while the Indian lockdown is in operation.

We urgently seek your continued financial support. Our donation base has significantly reduced over the past two months. Doug revised the budget with our Project Director, and our challenge is that mostly every line of the budget (with the exception of rents and jeep repayments) directly helps people. It is going to be very tough for us to take away the help that they so desperately need. Please consider if you can help us. If everyone who receives this email could donate $5 a week, we would cover our immediate expenses.

You can make a donation by clicking any of the DONATE buttons located here on our website

God bless you and thank you for your support and help.

Aasma – disabled, a fighter, and determined for her daughters to be educated.

Aasma is 39 years old. She is handicapped, she can’t walk properly. Aasma is wife of Mr. Shehzad, he is a tailor, what all he earns he spends all his money in gambling. He gives her nothing from his earning. Aasma works as a dry cleaner and she irons clothes. She earns a very little amount of money but still she arranged for her children’s education. Aasma is mother of 4 children. Her elder daughter Farah (19 years) is mentally handicapped. Alisa (17 years), Manisha (14 years), Armaan (10 years). Aasma wants all her kids to get educated.

Aasma says she has faced a lot of hardships in her life. She have to manage everything for the family needs by herself. Her in-laws have thrown her out of their home for having girl child for the third time. She belongs to a poor muslim family. Her in-laws are so orthodox that they don’t want any of the girl to go to school, but Aasma fought for her children and now she lives alone in Kotdwara slum in a single rented room. 

 For SHINE Conference Aasma says last year she joined in with the dancing. It was the first time that she had ever been on a stage. She says SHINE is like a festival for her. Because of the conference she was able to make her daughters understand about their personal hygiene and health.

Najmeen - A woman with a beautiful spirit, strength and dignity

Najmmen’s story is heartbreaking yet full of hope. Here she is with two of her 5 children.

Najmmen is 40 years old. She is a single mother with 5 children. After her husband died of heart disease 12 years ago, Najmeen had to sell her home and her jewellery and possessions to pay off the many medical bills. Her 5 young children were hungry and homeless. Her seven year old son (12 years at the time) had to become a vegetable seller. Najmeen worked hard as a house maid. She also had to endure epilepsy. Her illness is now so bad, she cannot work. Her son’s work and look after their mother. All 6 family members live in a small rented room. Najmeen loved attending SHINE last year and she cannot wait for this year’s conference. She loved the sense of equality with no discrimination. She loved the freedom and joy of dancing where she forgot about all of her sorrows and troubles.,

Najmeen is 40 years old. She is mother of 5 children. Juned (21yrs) Jamshed (19 years) Shaqib (17 years) Mariyam (14 years) and Maaz Aalam (12 yrs). Najmeen is a widow. Her husband passed away twelve years ago. He was a vegetable seller, he passed away due to his heart disease. Najmeen says she sold her home and all her belongings like jewellery for the treatment of her husband. After the death of her husband her life became miserable. Her children were small and she was uneducated. She suffered a lot. She worked as house maid in various homes. She gets epileptic fits. One day her husband’s friend came to visit them and said that her elder son can come to the market to sell vegetables and he will help him. So from the next day Juned started selling vegetables. So the necessities of home runs through the daily wages of Najmeen and Juned. Juned had to leave his studies to earn money. 

 Now the family of 6 lives in a small rented room. Shaqib and Juned now sells vegetables and Jamshed drives a rented auto rikshaw. Due to the disease of epilepsy Najmeen have to left her work. Now three of her sons run the home and take care of their mother’s medication. Mariyam and Maaz Aalam goes to a government school as they can’t afford a private school.

The family is thankful to ‘Project Help’ that they have admitted Mariyam to their center, due to which she have proper meal and education. She now teaches her younger brother too. 

For Shine Conference Najmeen says she loves the conference as there is no discrimination, she loves the freedom of dancing and enjoys what she learns and experineces at the conference. She loves the sessions and enjoys them. She takes the knowledge and spreads it into the community.

Asha's Story – A Warrior Mother and Community Leader

Asha's Story

Asha is 36 yrs old. Asha is wife of Mr. Sher Singh, he is a utensil seller. Asha is mother of five children. Her children are Aman, Karan, Sandhya, Vivek and Sahil. Asha says ‘Project Help’ has had a significant role in her life. Asha is a heart patient, she was suffering from heart disease when ‘Project Help’ took the responsibility of curing her disease. She had an operation and all the expenses were paid for by Project Help. She was cook in our slums center but due to her disease she was not able to continue her job. Earlier she also used to do the work of door to door cosmetic seller, earning Rs 30 to Rs50 (60c to $1AUS) per day, but because of her disease she couldn’t continue this too. She says Aman was born with a lot of medical problems that his doctor told them that he would not live more than 14 yrs. But ‘Project Help’ has given Aman the best best treatment possible, now he is 20 years old and living a fit and healthy life. She further says that her life was full of hardships her husband was an alcoholic but through the counselling by ‘Project Help’ he stopped drinking. Asha says that her children were facing lot of problems in eduction and malnutrition but these problems have been solved by ‘Project Help’. Now three of her children are getting education in our slums center. One of her brother Rajesh was also suffering from some severe medical problems he was also cured with the help of ‘Project Help’. There are numerous stories of her hardships. Once her hut’s thatched roof was destroyed in the monsoon and that too was mended by ‘Project Help’. 

 Asha says that she is very happy by attending Shine Conference as it gives her value, this program tells women their purpose of living. She says that this is the only time when they get rest. She says they never had time to see the mirror but this Shine Conference gives them the time when they could take care of their selves. They get knowledge about themselves and understand their hygiene and health. She says that she have seen a sanitary napkin for the first time that was given to them at Shine Conference. The best thing she says that Shine Conference taught them to live happily in whatever conditions they are in. The lady should know her value, her purpose of life and her strength.

Prakashi - A woman who now believes in herself and now values her daughters

After attending SHINE, Prakashi now believes in herself. She used to think bad things about being the mother of two daughters, but now she sends them to school with her son. Shine has equipped all three women to understand their inner value and self worth.

In April the Thomas Family and a team of other Aussies will be heading to Kotdwara in North India for Project Help India’s third Women's SHINE Conference. This conference is an important aspect of the 'Project Help India' vision, and we are asking for your help to make this possible. Most of the Conference delegates are women who live in slums or jungle villages, in terrible poverty. These women can't afford to pay, so we are not charging them. We want to bless them and give them an experience they will never forget. Teenage girls, mothers, grandmothers, our teachers and community leaders will be attending. Our aim is to empower all women in all spheres of life.

Might you be able to sponsor one woman for $10, five women for $50 or ten women for $100, to be able to attend SHINE Conference You will be changing their lives in a significant way.

Prakashi’s Story

This story is of Prakashi Devi. She is of 42 years years old. Prakashi is wife of Mr. Arun (44yrs) he is an auto driver who earns 3000 rupees ($65AUS) per month. Prakashi is mother of 3 children. Akash (20 years), Kajal (16 years) and Khusboo (14 years). She works as a domestic helper and earns 1500 rupees ($32AUS) per month. 

Prakashi says she has suffered from many hardships in her life. Once her son Akash suffered from tuberculosis, and during his recovery her husband got the same infection. She says after some time her son get rid of the disease but her husband must still take the medicines. She further says that there was a time when they had just had to eat chapatis (bread) with water as they couldn’t afford any vegetables. She says that ever since her children got admission in the ‘Project Help’ Center they never slept hungry because of the meals they received at the centre. 

Prakashi says that she once thought ill things about her girls but since she attended Shine Conference she now feels she is proud of being a mother of daughters. Now she sends her daughters to the same school where her son is studying. She does more hard work to send all three of her children to a private school. She says she is now more aware of girls or lady’s health and hygiene. She adds that the best part of the SHINE Conference was when she danced on stage because she thinks she could have never got the chance to face such a crowd from a stage. SHINE has made her famous in her community. Prakashi regrets that if she would have studied as a young girl, she could have done something big in her life. She wishes that she was taught from a young age that girls are valued and important. She would have believed in herself.

For Shine Conference she says the best thing is that it is a conference of women from all ages, cultures and backgrounds, they are bound by love and unity. She has never experienced this before in her life. Prakashi cannot wait for SHINE 2020. It will be the highlight of her year.

(Report written by Project Help Field Officer)

Please keep Prakashi, and her 2 daughters in your thoughts and prayers. They are ready to SHINE some more.

If you could make a tax-deductible donation to support our work, we would really appreciate this. Click the donation button on our website.

Please also spread the word by sharing this blog if you might know people who might be passionate about women’s empowerment, human justice, anti-human trafficking, and who might be stirred to make a donation to this incredible cause (we need some help as the cost all adds up and is budgeted at $7500). Please also share Prakashi’s story with people you know whose business or company might like to support this wonderful cause. It’s tax deductible for businesses too.

SHINE 2020 - Stronger women for a Stronger India

stronger individuals

stronger families

stronger communities

and a stronger India

Raju – A Woman of Strength and Fierce Determination

After attending SHINE Conference Raju learnt about her inner strength. She has an inspiring story of fierce determination for her four sons, especially Nikhil who has a hearing disability.

In April the Thomas Family and a team of other Aussies will be heading to Kotdwara in North India for Project Help India’s third Women's SHINE Conference. This conference is an important aspect of the 'Project Help India' vision, and we can't quite believe that another year has come around.

Most of the Conference delegates are women who live in slums or jungle villages, in terrible poverty. These women can't afford to pay, so we are not charging them. We want to bless them and give them an experience they will never forget. Teenage girls, mothers, grandmothers, our teachers and community leaders will be attending. Our aim is to empower all women in all spheres of life.

Raju’s Story

This is the story of Raju. Raju is 35 years old. She is mother of 4 children, named Rajni (17 years), Ajay (16 years), Nikhil (14 years) and Ankur (10 years). She is wife of Mr. Vijenda who is a groundnut seller. He sells groundnuts by going door to door with a hand cart. Raju says she had suffered from many hardships. Earlier, her family would scrounge for food and money almost on daily basis. They would beg from their neighbours and take on odd jobs in order to just make ends meet. Her son Nikhil, a student at our city centre school is suffering from severe pain in his ears they use to bleed with puss very often. Raju says she took Nikhil to hospital but the doctors prescribed him with an operation of both ears. They say both of his eardrums have been melted and they need to be transplanted. She says one of his operation will cost 80 thousand rupees ($1800AUS), and if Nikhil will remain in this condition he will lose his listening power. When Raju was narrating this she was crying for her son as she is not able to afford such a costly operation. She has only one hope for her son and that is Project Help.

For Shine Conference Raju says after attending last year, she came to know about her strength, then she decided she will also work. After the conference she also started to sell groundnuts from her home so that she could arrange some money for his son’s operation. After listening to the experiences of the powerful ladies in the Shine Conference, she came to know about self- worth, relationships and community. Now she wants all four of her children to get educated and do some jobs, so that they could be rid of the pitiful conditions that they must endure. (Report written by Project Help Field Officer)

Raju is ready to SHINE. Please keep Raju, and many other women like her, in your thoughts and prayers.

If you could make a tax-deductible donation to support our work, we would really appreciate this. Please spread the word by sharing this blog, if you might know people who might be passionate about human rights, human justice, anti-human trafficking, and who might be stirred to make a donation to this worthwhile cause (we need some help as the cost all adds up and is budgeted at $7500). Please also share Raju’s story with people you know whose business or company might like to support this wonderful cause…it’s tax deductible for them too.

SHINE 2020 - Stronger Women for a Stronger India

stronger individuals

stronger families

stronger communities

and a stronger India.

5 Boys Rescued

It’s early days for these boys as they recover from the trauma of being trafficked. Yet we have a great sense of hope and optimism for their future as they transition back into family, school and community.

The faces of these children each represents an inspiring story of lives rescued over these past 2 weeks. Five boys have been saved from an unimaginable circumstance of fear and exploitation. As an organisation, 'Project Help India' is proud to share with with you this wonderful news. We rejoice that Vihaan (aged 13), his brother Arjun (aged 11), Mohd (aged 14), Aditya (aged 12) and Aarav *, (aged 12) have been rescued, and we thank you, for your part in this good news story. 

The work of ‘Project Help India’ has continued to expand, with us partnering with local police authorities in anti-human trafficking. ‘Operation Smile’ is a taskforce that follows information given to police detectives about missing children in Kotdwara. Grave concerns exist for the welfare of a number of slum children, and it is highly likely that they have been kidnapped, stolen, or perhaps sold by parents, lured into false hopes of a good job and a promising life, only to be forced to work in factories, or as domestic or agricultural workers, have forced organ removal, join criminal gangs, enter into forced marriage or to work in the sex industry. Usually this is caused by desperate family circumstances where the children’s parents live in poverty and have alcohol or substance abuse addictions. 

It really is so sad to think that an innocent child can be subjected to such exploitation in this day and age. The reality is that it occurs much more than we would dare think. 

Small Steps, Big Purpose with 'Operation Smile'

The local Kotdwara police have asked that Project Director Amit Samuel helps them with ‘Operation Smile’. This work can be at times dangerous, and it involves travelling long distances to cities in other states of India, following leads to locate and rescue trafficked children. Amit’s role is to provide counselling to the children once they are rescued, and to assist with the the process of transitioning these kids back into their homes and community. Ongoing monitoring and support will continue into the future once the children are reunited with their family. 

Our involvement ultimately has been made possible because of your financial donation to our work. You have assisted us to have a part in freeing these five young boys and to help them to start what will be a very long process of restoration. Pray for them - they need so much love and ongoing help. 

We ask that you might donate to ‘Project Help India’ so that we will continue to have the resources that are required to help Vihaan, Arjun, Mohd, Aditya and Aarav as well as so many other kids like them, who live in the Kotdwara slums where we work. As well as our schools, our community development programs provide parent workshops, drug education programs and crisis counselling support and interventions, which target the root causes of child slavery and trafficking. Click the DONATE button on our website.

And some more good news …the police have arrested and charged certain individuals responsible for this alleged crime.

With love and thanks from the ‘Project Help’ team.

*Boys’s names have been changed

2020 - a year of kindness, compassion, hope and love

Aavej had a really tough 2019 but thanks to ‘Project Help’ he is looking forward to the new year with determination and positivity, surrounded by the love and care of his teachers, friends and classmates.

As we head into this new year, we are delighted to share with you some of the things our team has been doing in Kotdwara over these first few weeks in January. Our mission is to help the poor, and I write today to encourage our supporters, so that you know that your donation is directly helping the poorest of the poor. 

Aavej's Story

Aavej is twelve years old. He lives in a slum area in the middle of Kotdwara. He belongs to a muslim family. His father Mr. Abdul Gaffar is a tailor and he earns about 1500 to 2000 rupees per month, which  is just $30-40 Australian dollars, and way below what’s needed for him to being provide for his family's basic needs. Aavej’s mother Mrs Ruksana, is a house wife. Aavej goes to a government school which provides less than a satisfactory education. Aavej takes his study seriously which is why he also attends our City Slum Centre every afternoon. He also enjoys the healthy meal he receives every day at our centre, which gives him far more than he would ever eat at home. 

Aavej has high ambitions for his life and we have been delighted to support him in achieving his goals. His life last year however, was completely turned upside when his elder sister committed suicide. Aavej was very close to her and he was grief stricken and in a state of depression for many months. He withdrew from his friends and lost his appetite. Thankfully through our City Centre, Aavej received some counselling. As well as being kept busy with his learning he has also had the opportunity to participate in different activities and sports. He danced at our functions, and importantly he socialised and played with his friends and classmates. Through all of this he is now well and is overcoming his depression. Aavej is now a happy kid again. He is studying and eating well. He also once again started talking to others and he is now preparing for his annual exams with renewed determination and positivity.

Aavej’s mother is also getting help from our Project Help Team. She is now more open to talk about the challenges she is facing. She is getting some parenting help for supporting Aavej, and she is becoming more confident to leave the house (in her community, Muslim women are not encouraged to leave the house), and to talk with other women. 

Kindness, compassion, hope and love are at the heart of this Aavej’s story which is just one of so many wonderful things that are happening at ‘Project Help’ with 270 children attending our 7 centres each week. 

The weather is also going crazy in India!

Our work over the past few weeks as also extended into the local community reaching out to many impacted by some crazy winter weather. It has been freezing in Kotdwara and huge unseasonal rainstorms have also hit the area. ‘Project Help’ has been delivering blankets to street people and the kids in our centres have also been seeking up small chai tables, giving out hot tea to those who need who be warmed up. We are thankful for our Directors and staff team who have responded to the needs that they see around them. Our actions are both challenging and changing the way people in the community respond to the needs of others, by providing a model of compassion, care and kindness. It’s incredibly powerful when we see people who have nothing, give and make sacrifices to help others who are in desperate need. 

Be part of our story in 2020

Together, let’s make kindness, compassion, hope and love our key drivers for all we do in 2020. It’s all about being part of a community that authentically cares for one another. We are seeing this in Australia at the moment, as we rally around the many people who have been devastated by the fires.

So if you’re still reflecting on how you would like 2020 to look for you, can I ask you to consider joining the ‘Project Help India’ story. Your regular donation will be used by us to help the poor and, as I hope you have seen, we are making a difference in such a powerful way.

We are hoping that 10 people who read this blog will commit to making a $40 a month (= $10 a week) donation across 2020. The combined donations of 10 people will pay approximately the annual salary of Aavej’s teacher, the cook and meals for all 40 kids at our City Slum Centre. This small amount makes big things possible. Please let me know of you would be able to do this, so that we can set up regular payments.

With love and thanks from the ‘Project Help India’ team.