For the past three weeks, like so much of the world, I have been in relative isolation due to COVID-19. A freelancer working in the arts meant my work has effectively stopped. I'm fortunate enough to have some savings, a stable home and relationships to help me through, and also living in Australia and eligible for financial support.
I know I'm lucky.
I realise in Australia we are in a position of privilege and I am talking about an experience I can in no way truly relate to. This is important to acknowledge; and our involvement with I-India is one based on deep respect and admiration for their resilience and capacity to care.
Over the last five years I have been visiting Jaipur and building a relationship with the founders of I-India, a not-for-profit foundation implementing a holistic approach to solving human rights issues at a grassroots level. They provide aid to over 3000 women and children daily, rescuing the vulnerable from poverty, homelessness, abandonment, child labour and sexual abuse.
In January of last year, my sister Madonna and I visited their headquarters in Jaipur and also their rural school. This school picks up over 750 children daily from surrounding slum villages, provides free onsite education for grades 1-12 and nutritious meals every day. Seventy five of those children live onsite permanently after being removed from extreme situations, and where all other rehabilitation measures have been exhausted.
The foundation was started by Abha and Prabhakar Goswami over 20 years ago and now run by their son Charu Goswami.
I touched base with Charu last week and was given the current rundown of their situation:
"Hi, we are facing a very hard situation. People on the street and slums are badly affected. As of now we are doing relief work with our general unrestricted funds and asking other people to donate. Everyone is facing the same situation and it is so sad to witness this struggle and challenges.
At a time when the entire country is facing the daunting task of tackling the coronavirus, the local women's group at our vocational training project at Jhag Children’s village, have organised a mask distribution drive in village localities in an initial phase targeting the elderly population. Masks are being produced through our women's groups with cotton fabric.
We are also supporting families of daily wage workers, homeless, families of migrant labourers and the poor in Jhag and surrounding villages by providing them necessary food supplies, protective masks and packets of dry rations for their survival. Evidently, most of their sole breadwinners are currently stuck in other cities and out of work. In the first phase we are looking at 100 - 150 families being supported per week.
Charu Goswawi”
The last couple of months have really highlighted the fortunate environment that most Australians are living in. We not only are able to safely isolate ourselves in our homes, neighbourhoods and cities, due to low densities, but more importantly we receive a high level of government assistance and support. We have a world class health care system and an adequate welfare system that does not discriminate. India does not offer such luxuries to each of its citizens, and generally this assistance comes from charity.
After our goals have been met, funds will be donated and I-India will then purchase food packages to distribute to the families of daily wage workers who are now unemployed and/or at risk of infection of COVID-19.
I-India is supporting approximately 150 families every week, and with your help, together we can cover this expense for a whole month.
$8000 is our must reach amount. The COVID crisis will extend far beyond 1 month so we are aiming higher with this as our bottom line.
We understand many people throughout the world have compromised financial situations. For those of us that have the capacity, a donation of $13 goes a long way and can feed a whole family for a week. Otherwise, please help I-India out by simply sharing this on your social platforms.
Thank you,
Lissie, Madonna and I-India.
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