From the Narsinghapura Village

Translated Transcript:

• Hello, my name is Pankaj and I work as Lokamitra in Bhojiapura and Narasimhapura village. Geeta Ben is from Narsinghapura village.
• Hi, my name is Geeta Ben. My son had to undergo an operation. Immediately Pankajbhai pours out our ration card and Ayushman card. And the operation was done immediately. My boy is fine and an immediate operation was done. We didn’t even have a card, they also gave us the ration card, the election card, and other things
• Where did you get the surgery done?
• We did it at Jaideep Hospital in Naranpura.
• How is the boy now?
• Yes, he’s good

From the Village of Lilapur

Translated Transcript:

• Hello hello, I am a Lokamitra in Bharvard Vas. So how do you feel about me working as a Lokamitra in Bharvard Vas?
• Looks very nice.
• OK, and how is it with the boys at the center we work at?
• That is the best of the best
• Then everything we do for water for this yard is correct?
• Everything is good for that service. Everything that happens, happens for the best.
• Do you think anything else should be done after that?
• All this is like doing service, the boys do all the work of watering the plants, tie strings, and do everything well.
• Boys are doing a great job.
• Yes they are
• It would be better if we all get together and do it.
• Yes, it would be better if we all get together and do it

From the Waghjipura Village

Translated Transcript:

• Hello, my name is Anil, and I work as a Lokmitra in the village of Waghjipur, located in the Kapdwanj district. I would like to discuss how to store rainwater into the ground to increase the water level. I have a farmer friend named Pravinsingh Bhalu Singh, who has conducted experiments at his house. I would like to know his response:
• Hello, Anilbhai, our village friend. He approached me and mentioned that Pravinbhai has a water store project. I asked him what the benefits would be. He explained that we should collect and utilize the rainwater that falls by storing it in the ground. He suggested digging or boring a hole for this purpose. I inquired if we could use the existing borehole. He said yes we can, but he informed me that the costs of using pipes and other materials have increased. I replied saying that it’s not a problem, and if it’s beneficial, we should proceed. We took some measurements, and since my house is closer, we decided to use four to five pipes. We connected them to use the existing borehole, which was already dug up to a certain depth. Anilbhai accompanied me, and said “I will assist you in the process.” We dug a trench and laid the pipes, ensuring that the roof water flows directly into the borehole. Additionally, I installed a water tank on the roof. If the water level becomes too high, it will now flow directly into the drain. Initially, I had stopped using this borehole, but now I have started using it again, and the water supply is much higher than that of the previous borehole. After about 15 minutes, the water flow decreases briefly but then starts again. The previous borehole used to provide less water, but this new one delivers a sufficient amount in approximately 10 to 11 minutes. After it reaches full capacity, I turn it off, and if I need water again, I can simply restart it. Therefore, I have benefited from this improvement. If you share this with others, please let them know about the advantages. Within 10 to 15 minutes, I have access to an abundant water supply. If all the villagers follow the same approach, everyone will benefit.

Finally, enjoy a collection of photos from the trip and program tour!

On this trip, the group toured a women-led dairy production.

As a result of the local school being built, the girls’ drop-out ratio has decreased in the village.

The group toured an organic farm that the Lokmitras run.

SCF members observed a school lesson at a Lokmitra-supported school

Village children visit Lokmitras and are able to enjoy a meal with them.

The group visited an organic farm maintained by the Lokmitra.

The group toured a milk production line.

With the work of Lokmitras, kids have begun taking more of an interest in studying.

You can support the impactful and wide-ranging work of these Lokmitras by making a gift to the Village Upliftment Signature Program.

BECOME A PART OF THIS LASTING CHANGE

The post Updates from India: Chair Reports on Village Upliftment Program appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Watch the videos below for a small glimpse into some of the projects your support makes possible. 

Women Empowerment: Giving Women the Skills and Tools to Become Entrepreneurs

The Samridhi Saksham project empowers over 500 women from 30 rural villages by providing the training, support, and materials needed to launch their own sewing and embroidery businesses. Watch the video below to meet a few of the entrepreneurs and to see how the project trains them to create beautiful, handmade embroidery. 

Educate 2 Success: Building Digital Literacy in Rural Schools

Share & Care has sponsored the creation of digital labs throughout several states in rural India through partnership with the Y4D Foundation, giving under-resourced students access to new technologies and helping them become digitally literate. In the video below, learn how these labs equip students to thrive in our increasingly digital world. 

Educate 2 Graduate: Helping Young Women Achieve Their Dreams

Share & Care partners with the Lila Poonawalla Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting brilliant but financially challenged young women who aspire to succeed in their post-graduate studies and beyond. Watch the video below to meet some of the program’s beneficiaries and learn more about how this foundation helps these young women develop educationally, professionally, and personally. 

Village Upliftment: Improving Quality of Life For Entire Villages

Lokmitras, or “friends of the people,” work to uplift entire villages by organizing community projects and offering support to individual villagers. In this video, hear from Anil, a Lokmitra in the Waghjipur village, and Pravinsingh Bhalu Singh, a local farmer, about how they have worked together to facilitate a water storage project with the potential to benefit everyone in the area. 

English Translation

• Hello, my name is Anil, and I work as a LokMitra in the village of Waghjipur, located in Kapdwanj district. I would like to discuss how to store rainwater into the ground to increase the water level. I have a farmer friend named Pravinsingh Bhalu Singh, who has conducted experiments at his house. I would like to know his response.
• Hello, Anilbhai, our village friend. He approached me and mentioned that Pravinbhai has a water store project. I asked him what the benefits would be. He explained that we should collect and utilize the rainwater that falls by storing it in the ground. He suggested digging or boring a hole for this purpose. I inquired if we could use the existing borehole, He said yes we can but he informed me that the costs of using pipes and other materials have increased. I replied saying that it’s not a problem, and if it’s beneficial, we should proceed. We took some measurements, and since my house is closer, we decided to use 4-5 pipes. We connected them to use the existing borehole, which was already dug up to a certain depth. Anilbhai accompanied me, and said i will assist you in the process. We dug a trench and laid the pipes, ensuring that the roof water flows directly into the borehole. Additionally, I installed a water tank on the roof. If the water level becomes too high, it will now flow directly into the drain. Initially, I had stopped using this borehole, but now I have started using it again, and the water supply is much higher than that of the previous borehole. After about 15 minutes, the water flow decreases briefly but then starts again. The previous borehole used to provide less water, but this new one delivers a sufficient amount in approximately 10 to 11 minutes. After it reaches full capacity, I turn it off, and if I need water again, I can simply restart it. Therefore, I have benefited from this improvement. If you share this with others, please let them know about the advantages. Within 10 to 15 minutes, I have access to an abundant water supply. If all the villagers follow the same approach, everyone will benefit.

Healthcare 2 Unreached: Providing Medical Care in Rural Villages

Share & Care helps provide healthcare to underserved rural areas of the state of Manipur in India through mobile medical clinics, healthcare for mothers and children, and medical education within the community.

The post Reports From India: See Our Partner NGOs in Action appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Please watch the videos below to see our partner NGO’s in action.

Village Upliftment: Lokmitras Ensure Children in Village Are Cared For

Lokmitras often look out for village children like Anil and Vishnu, who are forced by circumstance to largely care for themselves and depend on the generosity of others for meals and income.

Women Empowerment: Project Launches to Empower Women in Kashmir

The “Saamartya – Power of Girls” project, supported by Share & Care, was launched in Kashmir to empower girls as community leaders. The project works to fight gender inequality and reaffirm the belief that girls can do anything.

Educate 2 Success: Supporting Highschool Students In Rural India

Share & Care empowers students in four state rural districts (Maharashtra, Madya Pradesh, Orissa & Rajasthan) by ensuring they have the supplies and support necessary to complete their education.

Healthcare 2 Unreached: Providing Medical Care in Rural Villages

Share & Care helps provide healthcare to underserved rural areas of the state of Manipur in India through mobile medical clinics, healthcare for mothers and children, and medical education within the community.

Nirmal Village Program: Lokmitras Reach Out to Communities

Lokmitras (“friends of the people”) offer relief, education, and mentorship in their villages in Gujarat. With the backing of Share & Care, they provide much-needed supplies and support.

Educate 2 Graduate: Making College Education a Reality

For some students like Manimegalai, in TamilNadu, the path to higher education is out of reach without the financial support of Share & Care. Through scholarship funding, she and students like her have a pathway to success.

The post Glimpses of Our Work in India appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Every year we set goals to better serve those in need, and 2020 was no different. We started 2020 with a plan to help 94,920 people through our lifesaving signature programs. We knew it was a big challenge, but we were up for the task.

But then, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, and we had to shift many of our plans to focus on addressing the most urgent needs facing our beneficiaries in the U.S. and India. Although 2020 was a difficult year for all of us, we are proud of what we accomplished.

In 2020 our grants of 1.5 million dollars in cash and kind helped approximately 110,000 people in our Disaster Relief, Women Empowerment, Education, Healthcare, and Village Upliftment programs.

38th Annual Gala: Over Half a Million in Funds Raised

The theme of our 38th Annual Gala — “Rising Together” — recognized the changes and challenges presented by the pandemic and honored the bonds of humanity and hope that connect communities around the world. Due to COVID-19 this was our first-ever virtual gala in which all could participate.

The evening included a short film outlining our COVID-19 disaster relief efforts and our ongoing Signature Programs. There was an outpouring of support including warm wishes from Padma Shri Ashaji Parekh and from Congressman Frank Pallone, who recalled a trip to India and thanked Share & Care for the organization’s extensive COVID-19 disaster relief efforts.

“COVID has been a big issue in India. Lots of people have died, especially poor people, because all of them cannot afford to be in the hospital. I think Share & Care has picked up this issue and I am very happy that they are doing such good work for India at this time.” — Padma Shri Ashaji Parekh

“I’ve been associated with Share & Care over the years and like the fact that it also encourages a strong partnership in its mission to bring together India and the United States. One of the unique and particularly admirable aspects of Share & Care Foundation is the grassroots effort it supports in promoting development in India.” — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.

Our first-ever virtual gala, curated by global performer Parthiv Gohil (left), also featured entertainment from Manasi Parekh-Gohil, Sudesh Bhosle, Bhoomi Trivedi, and Jahnvi Shrimankar.

Sari Collection Drive Benefits More than 12,000 Families Per Year

In early 2020, we began collecting saris and matching blouses to create 10 sari banks in Gujarat for underprivileged women. Operating like libraries, these banks allow women to borrow garments at no cost for special occasions, then return the items after dry cleaning. In total, we received more than 4,800 items valued at over $320,900.

As humans, the way we look and the clothes we wear deeply influence our self-confidence. We are honored to provide this dignity for our beneficiaries in marginalized communities. Our special thanks to all the donors for this project.

COVID-19 Disaster Relief: Turning Compassion Into Action

When the pandemic took hold, our Disaster Relief Committee jumped to action. By July 30, 2020, we had already allocated $300,000 in disaster relief funding and partnered with 16 NGOs to reach thousands of people in the U.S and India — including more than 7,500 struggling families. We distributed grocery kits to families in need, served hot meals to families and daily wage earners, distributed healthcare items such as soap and masks, and served thousands of meals to local healthcare heroes. In December 2020, we also worked with Livingston Lions Club to provide more than 5,000 food boxes for local New Jersey citizens affected by food insecurity and economic instability. In 2021, we are remaining committed to providing relief and rehabilitation to those affected by the pandemic.

Creating Opportunities Through Women Empowerment

We exceeded a pledge, made during our 37th Annual Gala in 2019, to empower 20,200 women in 2020. By November, even during difficult times, we had empowered 24,192 women through our programs which provide safety and self-defense training, gender equality education, livelihood skills, character building, and leadership workshops for marginalized women. A donation of $500 to our Women Empowerment program empowers five marginalized female students with safe lodging, education, and training for personal growth.

Village Upliftment Proves that Real Change Comes From Within

Our Village Upliftment program is empowering about 50,000 people by placing trained Lok Mitras (“friends of the people”) in 12 villages throughout India. Living alongside the people they serve, Lok Mitras provide moral support while also applying their training to create sustainable, positive change within their villages.

In response to COVID-19, they have helped to educate villagers about the virus, organized efforts to implement social distancing, set up sanitation stations, and handed out “Grocery Kits of Gratitude” to more than 1,000 families when food became scarce. A donation of $5,000 empowers one village and up to 5,000 individual villagers.

Healthcare 2 Unreached Expands Access for Remote and Underserved Communities

Share & Care continues the fight toward reversing the healthcare challenges facing today’s marginalized poor.

Key achievements in 2020 include: delivering life-saving nutrients and raising awareness to benefit 5,000 women and children in Rajasthan; addressing a shortage of health professionals and poor local governance in Gujarat; bringing a comprehensive community health program to 25 villages in Maharashtra; and helping 100 women in Tamil Nadu through a program addressing the socio-demographic factors affecting pregnancy. Lastly, in five Manipur villages, we provided ongoing essential health services to children and women. A donation of $100 to our H2U program empowers one mother and her child with pre- and post-natal care.

Women “adopted” through our H2U Pregnancy and Maternal Care project receive medical and nutritional support.

With Educate 2 Success, Learning Is Not on Lockdown

As part of our 2020 goals, we aimed to reach 4,050 students across nine village schools in Gujarat through a program designed to create an educational pathway to current and future job markets for secondary and high school students. As the coronavirus took hold, we adjusted our support, enabling our partners to identify and act on solutions to fit with the world’s challenges. To accommodate social distancing and other safety guidelines, teachers shifted to a virtual learning model, incorporating conference calls with students and home “visits” via telephone or video. A donation of $130 empowers one at-risk child under age 13 with a secondary education.

In some regions, E2S sessions were conducted effectively in their respective villages while practicing all safety norms like social distancing, wearing masks, and using sanitizer.

Young Professional Committee

The Young Professional Committee (YPC) is a group with a mission to volunteer and fundraise for the causes Share & Care supports while fostering a community of young professionals to connect.

Kids4Kids

Kids4Kids (K4K) is a committee hosted for students by students (ages 13-18), with a vision to help underprivileged children in India receive the education they deserve. Before the pandemic started, each member recruited three new members, which increased the total funds raised. These funds provided an additional 23 students in India with tuition and school supplies and raised the total number of children educated to 255. They also raised $2,900 to benefit COVID-19 relief, and pivoted their events to be social-distance friendly, hosting activities such as a virtual yoga class and a walking challenge to raise funds for those in need.

Educate 2 Graduate Continues Blazing New Beginnings for Impoverished Families

Our Educate to Graduate program fosters secure futures for brilliant students from low-income families. Seventy-three students were enrolled in the 2019-2020 school year. Although there were some delays in college opening due to COVID-19, the admission process began smoothly with several colleges now operating on a digital platform.

We are putting increased emphasis on supplementary skill development to improve job prospects upon graduation. Of the 1,614 E2G beneficiaries so far, more than 850 graduates are already employed in well-paying jobs. A donation of $1,000 empowers one bright, low-income student with a college scholarship.

Your donation makes a brighter future possible for families who come from generational cycles of poverty. They can do it, and we can help!

There Are Far, Far Better Things Ahead Than Any We Leave Behind

2020 was tough, but Share & Care made a way. We served:

• The widow with no means or education to provide for her family.
• The young girl living with sexual abuse as part of a traditional and still-tolerated patriarchal structure.
• The teen hungry for knowledge but forced into manual labor because his family knows no other path.
• The newborn at high risk of dying before her fifth birthday because of who she is and where she was born.
• Entire villages living with cultural norms that promote inequality.
• Entire families at risk of disability or death from treatable diseases due to poverty, malnutrition, and poor sanitation.
• Migrant laborers who need economic relief and rehabilitation due to COVID-19.

Our wide-ranging programs continue to thrive thanks to the support of our generous Share & Care community. If you have been inspired by our efforts and would like to create positive, lasting change for marginalized people in the U.S. and India, we encourage you to make a contribution today. Every gift is appreciated, and every dollar makes a difference.

SEND A GIFT

The post Changes Amid Challenges: ‘Share & Care 2020 Year in Review’ Featured in News India Times appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Bhupat

While preparing for the transition away from mandatory COVID-19 lockdowns and travel bans, Lilapur (Ahmedabad district, Gujarat) resident Bhupat began to worry about the livelihoods of hundreds of his fellow villagers.

With more than 1,660 COVID-19 deaths reported so far in Gujarat (third highest behind Maharashtra and Delhi), and cases on the rise in nearby Ahmedabad, Bhupat sensed the growing anxiety among the villagers. Especially the roughly 400 workers who would need to return to work at 80 local-area factories — if they wanted to keep their jobs.

The workers needed their factory jobs to support themselves and their families, but were naturally concerned. Were the factories doing what was needed to protect the health of their workers? Would returning to work mean bringing illness home to their families and ultimately, the entire village?

So one day, Bhupat visited the village chief to discuss his concerns and propose a plan to help ease the fears of the workers, and the village.

The village chief agreed to his plan, and they set up visits to 45 of the neighboring factories. The plan was to meet with factory heads and to physically assess each factory’s work environment and COVID-19 procedures to ensure it was safe for the returning workers.

Following the visits, they were able to report to the village workers that the factories were indeed prepared for their return, and were adhering to the guidelines necessary for their ongoing safety.

The visits also established positive relationships with the factories, which would surely benefit all villagers and their futures.

Bhupat was rightfully pleased with the results of his efforts for the sake of the village. But, you may be wondering why Bhupat took it upon himself to not only take charge of the issue — which was sure to lead to more problems down the road as livelihoods were threatened — but to also take charge of the solution.

Pankaj

Meanwhile, the lockdown had made it impossible for Punadara villagers in the Kheda district to replace cooking gas cylinders. Multiple households had run out and were cooking meals with chulhas, traditional cookstoves that villages had worked long and hard to move away from because of the health dangers, including asthma, pneumonia, and other respiratory and eye infections.

The nearest place to get cooking gas cylinders was more than 12 miles (20 km) from the village. A few villagers had made the long walk only to return empty-handed as the gas company struggled with supply and demand amid the chaos of the pandemic.

Punadara resident Pankaj kept a careful eye on the situation and when it was clear it was only going to get worse, he worked with local and state government authorities hoping to work out a way to deliver gas cylinders to the village. The gas company agreed — but only if they could guarantee the purchase of at least 25 cylinders.

Pankaj next set up a registration station where villagers could request gas cylinders. As it turned out, 130 households had run out of gas. With the promise of 130 cylinders, the gas company made the deliveries, while Pankaj continued registering additional households in the delivery program, which soon grew to more than 300.

By reaching out to authorities and suppliers, Pankaj had successfully ensured that villagers had access to the cleaner, healthier cooking methods, and the gas company had new customers and the revenue that came with it. Pankaj’s creative, grassroots solution improved village life from that day forward.

Again, you may be asking yourself why and how Pankaj was able to spend so much time and effort to solve the problem. Doesn’t he have work and families too?

The Answer

Bhupat and Pakaj are two of 12 Share & Care Lok Mitras currently living in 12 villages in the Kheda, Mehsana, and Ahmedabad districts of Gujarat.

This is where Lok Mitras — translated as “friends of the people” — come in. Our Village Upliftment program has partnered with ESI (Environmental Sanitation Institute), an NGO we’ve worked with in the past on sanitation and hygiene projects, to place ESI-trained Lok Mitras in villages. After conducting a thorough pilot program, including training and placing three Lok Mitras in three villages, we have established 12 Lok Mitras in 12 villages, which have a combined population of 50,000.

With Share & Care’s support, and the transformation-driven training and continuous guidance from ESI mentors, Lok Mitras have established themselves in their assigned villages and are already deeply impacting their communities.

These 12 good men and women provide moral support and care for families in their assigned villages. Living alongside the people they serve, they’re able to see through the fog of widespread apathy when it comes to existing issues, as well as identify emerging issues before they become catastrophes, and apply their training and passion to create sustainable change.

In between solving village-wide situations, they’re visiting the sick, disabled, and elderly in their homes, counseling young students struggling to stay in school, teaching children about the importance of good hygiene (and how to attain it), organizing health camps, discussing taboos (and the real science) related to menstruation with women and young girls, and addressing child abuse and familial violence in general, to name just a fraction of the positive impact they bring to their villages.

Mostly, they’re consistent, and it’s their continuous presence that makes change not only possible, but also sustainable.

Rural India and the Village Upliftment Signature Program

How widespread is the need for village upliftment? Seventy percent of India’s population live in the country’s 650,000 villages. That equates to more than 966 million people for an average village population of 1,486.

This is rural India, including all the issues that come with huge numbers of people living remotely in small clusters. The desire to maintain traditions (a.k.a. resisting change) is a common theme in rural populations, and can often conflict with the need to:

1. Preserve natural resources amid the demand for improved infrastructure.
2. Establish and maintain healthy sanitation and hygiene practices.
3. Protect water sources from sewage and farm chemical (pesticides) runoff.
4. Safeguard land threatened by overgrazing, erosion, and deforestation.
5. Provide education to all, regardless of income or social status.
6. Promote gender equality, including providing livelihood opportunities and putting an end to violence against women.
7. Educate and train for sustainable farming and animal husbandry practices, including business and business ownership skills.
8. Develop effective alcohol and substance abuse programs.

In the video below, brothers Anil and Vishnu, 10 and 12 years old, are talking to a Lok Mitra (all speaking in Gujarati). The boys’ family is among the poorest of the poor in their village. Their mother died when they were younger, and they say their alcoholic father won’t give them even one rupee, so they collect trash and separate out cardboard cartons and plastic and sell them at Rs 20/kg and Rs 10/kg, respectively. They get food from street vendors, and their meager earnings go to their father who uses it to support his addiction.

These issues are at the core of Share & Care’s new Village Upliftment Signature Program, an important addition to our core belief that the path to sustainable change is through education, health care, and equity.

Becoming a Lok Mitra

So who are these dedicated individuals?

Lok Mitras are college-educated women and men with a deep-rooted passion for community service. They are carefully chosen, then trained and supervised by seasoned ESI mentors with decades of experience in social work.

STEP ONE: 3-Day Orientation & Training
Location: Environmental Sanitation Institute, Sughad

Over three days, Lok Mitras first receive orientation and training in a serene, peaceful atmosphere. Here, the idea of village transformation merges with personal, inner transformation as they are carefully guided toward discovering their true intentions as Lok Mitras, and to bring that authenticity to the work ahead of them.

The importance of embracing zeal, punctuality, clarity of thought, and cultivation of acceptance and tolerance are lovingly demonstrated by senior ESI members, who also share their experiences and introduce them to methods and ideas for village upliftment, while inspiring them to be creative in finding new solutions.

STEP TWO: Matching Lok Mitras to Villages
Location: 12 Villages in Kheda, Mehsana, and Ahmedabad districts, Gujarat

Senior ESI team members arrange meetings between themselves, the new Lok Mitra, villagers, and village officials, including the elected village sarpanch (decision-maker) who they meet with separately to share their intentions for their work in the village, and to reinforce the importance of their mutual support.
This initial introduction also helps demonstrate to the village that the Lok Mitra love and are devoted to their work and to the villagers. (So far, the villages have responded with love and acceptance.)

STEP THREE: National Service Scheme 7-Day Camp
Location: Fulji Na Muwada village, Kheda district, Gujarat

The National Service Scheme, known as NSS, is a government program (through Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports volunteers) for the purpose of student development through community service.

Here, the Lok Mitras learn how to live in village communities by practicing small acts of love and kindness: cleaning toilets, clearing trash, visiting neighbors, caring for animals, organizing cultural events, discussing personal hygiene, and even performing in stage productions.

Local and district government officials, a few film celebrities, and 350 students from 40 colleges (including our Lok Mitras), also participated in discussions about education for girls, child marriage, organic farming, and the dangers of addiction.

Being a Lok Mitra

We are midway through our first year, and because of the hard work that went into ESI’s initial pilot program (training and placement of three Lok Mitras in three villages), and the incredible passion for community service, we are truly optimistic about the value the Lok Mitras are bringing to the 12 villages so far in 2020.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

The pandemic has played a part in everything we’ve accomplished so far in 2020. In each village, Lok Mitras continually educate the villagers as the virus situation changes. They keep them up to date on the latest findings from world authorities, and reinforce the importance of following all guidelines, including adhering to curfews.

Lok Mitras also organized groups to mark circles at grocery stores to demonstrate social distancing, set up stations and assisted in sanitizing shopper’s hands, and handed out ayurvedic drinks to help with general health and boost immunity.

When food became scarce, with the additional help of Share & Care’s COVID-19 response, they handed out “Grocery Kits of Gratitude” to more than 1,000 families and when supplies again ran low, they asked local merchants to donate grain to create additional kits for even more beneficiaries. Watch this very special video to learn more about this life-saving grocery kit program:

To help with womens’ livelihoods early in the pandemic, they provided women with the materials and instructions for making masks, and helped sell them to villagers (at very little cost).

And for the children, who were struggling with the stay-at-home orders, Lok Mitras gathered the supplies to create 50 art kits. Along with pads of paper, pens and pencils, and educational books, the art kits were a hit, and the project helped reinforce the value of creativity in life.

Even More Examples of Lok Mitras Impact For Villages

Lok Mitras created dustbins using trashed plastic containers to use for village cleanup, and organized and inspired ongoing cleanliness and maintenance practices.

The plastic trash was also a great supply for creating water bowls. Lok Mitras are highly attuned to the importance of caring for all creatures, and serve as role models for others by providing food, water, and shelter as needed for animals and all creatures living in the village, especially during the hottest seasons.

As a resource for parents to help with their children’s education, they help locate resources, fill out forms, and advocate for ongoing education.

In addition to discussing female menstrual health and hygiene, they educate and encourage good nutrition, regular doctor visits, and self-care during pregnancy.

Guddi

Lok Mitra Vinay was helping to teach a 3rd grade class in the village one day. While preparing for the class, he had placed Rs 20 in a book to mark a page he wanted to return to later.

Later that same day, Guddi, 8 years old, ran up to him and said, “Motabhai [big brother], I found this money in the book!”

Though Rs 20 meant so little to him that he readily misplaced it without a second thought, to Guddi, Rs 20 was a treasure.

Realizing this, Vinay quickly praised her before the entire class, and used the opportunity to reinforce to them the values of honesty and integrity over selfishness and desire.

You’re an inspiration, Guddi.

Many villagers rely on cattle and other farm animals for their livelihood, Lok Mitras assist with their care and support through education, working with local veterinarians, and arranging for ongoing learning opportunities.

Even more villagers rely on crops, and Lok Mitras support them through education on organic farming methods, including field trips and on-site education.

How You Can Help

Share and Care’s Village Upliftment Signature Program cultivates grassroots change within village societies. Lok Mitras, college-educated women and men with deep-rooted passions for community service, are trained and supervised by seasoned NGO mentors with decades of experience in social work.

Our Village Upliftment program is currently empowering about 50,000 people:

• $100 empowers one hundred villagers ($1/villager)
• $250 empowers one woman to stitch face masks and sell them at Rs 1 per mask.
• $500 supports one Lok Mitra to continue working on COVID-19-related activities in one village.
• $2,500 funds the placement of one Lok Mitra per village for one year.
• $5,000 uplifts one village, empowering up to 5,000 villagers.

Your donation helps bring this program — and everlasting generational change — to more villages and individuals throughout rural India.

DONATE NOW

The post Real Change Comes From Within appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.