During the COVID-19 crisis, people worldwide are helping each other in so many ways, one of which is to make a donation on #GivingTuesdayNow, May 5, 2020, to a group which is reaching out in an unprecedented way to help those who are suffering from the effects of the pandemic.

TRAS has learned that the lockdown in India has drastically affected the poorest people in the Himalayan villages which we support through the Voice of Children (VOC) education projects. Without the minimal day wages earned by the marginalised labour force on farms, construction sites and through street hawking, many poor families and the homeless are facing drastic loss of income, leading to severe hunger and possible starvation.

The Voice of Children educational projects which our partners AMAN and Vimarsh normally run, are all on hold. So the staff and volunteers, working from the towns of Almora and Nainital, in the foothills of the Himalaya, turned their energies to helping out with food deliveries to the most remote villages. They received permission from the local administration to leave their personal lockdowns in order to purchase supplies of dry foods, soaps and sanitary supplies and to deliver these to 200 families and 400 teenage girls. At the same time they would educate the isolated villagers in best practices to avoid catching and spreading the virus.

Then they asked TRAS for help. $5,000 was needed to buy supplies for one month. We quickly agreed to support this wonderful gesture.

In ONE WEEK, the plan was hatched, the needy families identified, TRAS gave the go-ahead, the supplies were purchased and the deliveries are being made, often on foot, to the remote villages. We are so impressed with the initiative and dedication of the staff and volunteers of these two NGOs!

Members of the local government administration were also impressed with the kindness of these volunteers who put themselves at risk travelling around, and In Nainital, one administrator offered a truck to get the goods as far as possible by road and actually joined in the relief effort. Officially the government is providing rice rations, but such schemes rarely reach the isolated villages for a variety of reasons. The Nainital administration has also sought the help of Vimarsh staff and volunteers to deliver much needed food to the urban homeless and to the migrant workers who are trapped in the town by the lockdown and not able to return to their own villages.

We know you, our friends and supporters here in Canada, are also suffering the effects of this virus in many difficult and tragic ways, but if you would like to support this emergency response project, please send a donation to TRAS on #GivingTuesdayNow, May 5, 2020.

The need: $5,000 to cover the food and essential supplies for 200 families and 400 young women.

$20 provides food for a family for 1 month, or sanitary and disinfectant supplies for 11 households.

$100 provides food for five families for 1 month.

Thank you in advance for your continued support. Below you will find a letter from Raghu Tewari, the director of AMAN, and photos of the emergency response action.

April 30, 2020

Dear TRAS

Greetings from VOC!

We are gratefully thankful for your solidarity and kind generosity at the time of great need. AMAN and Vimarsh completed the emergency relief according to the plan.

On 24^th April 2020 Vimarsh has provided the Ration kit to 100 families and Hygiene kit to 200 adolescent girls.

On 27^th April 2020 AMAN distributed the Ration kit to 100 families and Hygiene kit to 200 adolescent girls.

Both Organisations distributed the relief material to Voice of Children Project area with the support of Volunteers and VOC team.

Though the magnitude of the crisis is so big, we have focused on the people in dire need. We are thrilled to have your timely support to accomplish the relief work. 

Our community and VOC team express the gratitude to TRAS Board Members and Team.

With Regards

Raghu Tewari

For

VOC

Dear TRAS members,

The Rinchen Zangpo Society has just published its winter newsletter for 2019/20, where you can read about Spiti Valley news and updates on the Munsel-ling School. Please visit the Rinchen Zangpo Society website www.rinchenzangpo.org or click here to be taken directly to their newsletter.

READI Nepal Education Project

Summary

With generous support from TRAS, READI continued to implement the education project during the reporting period. Every effort was made to make it participatory and sustainable. All 20 children were supported with quality education and residential support services. The10 reintegrated children were also monitored and provided support on an in-need basis. Parents were proactive and provided guidance to READI as and when necessary. The Humla Delights Café continued to grow its business and use its net profit to co-fund the hostel.

Brief highlights during the reporting period

1. READI Home -The hostel provides quality food, clean accommodation and educational guidance to all 20 children. Parents have also supported in kind as per their capacity.  There was more interaction with the parents and the children who were re-integrated.

2. Educational Activities– Balmandir Secondary school, which is providing academic support, has been doing a great job in educating READI students. We have an excellent relationship with the teachers and principal. READI also supported the school last year with 2 laptop computers which were well appreciated by the school. In every extra-curricular activities, our children have been given due priority to participate. The READI library is in full operation. This has been very useful as the teachers and students are using it daily. The READI library promotes good reading habits and behaviours.

3. READI’s New School – We now have around 6 ropani of land (3000 square meters) to build a READI owned school. In September 2019, we have signed a MoU with the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu for a grant of 13.5 million Nepalese rupees under their GGP scheme.  The embassy staff visited our project in June 2019 and were very pleased with our work. The building construction will start in December 2019 with a completion date in December 2020. Thanks to TRAS for providing a recommendation letter for this.  All our hard work and continued hunt for this opportunity is finally going to pay off.

4. Health Activities –This year we held an Eye Camp with the District Health Office at the READI hostel to do a vision and eye check of all the students and their parents. A few students did have eye problems due to the cold and dust.  Eye drops and some opticals were provided to the parents with support from DHO. The litter Doctor of READI did a great volunteering work to organise the camp.

5. Income Generation Activities – READI continued training the parents and children in vocational activities. There is regular monitoring with the existing parents who are doing apple farming, carpentry shop and a small lodge. The Humla Delight Café continued to be the training centre for learning how to operate a small lodge or tea house.

Name:  Samjhana Rawal

Hobbies:  Drawing, Volleyball, Dancing, Singing

Aim: Government Employee

Family Size: 2 brothers and 2 sisters, Father, Mother and Granny

Family Status: Father runs a farm and raises cattle in Chhipra. He sells vegetables in Simikot and stores millet, buckwheat, porso-millet, wheat, barley, etc. for the winter.  Her father is the only source of income. They harvest the wheat and all sorts of edible food.  Her sister, ThirthaPuri (studying at 5th grade) supports the family with household work.  One brother studies in the village and also supports the family.

What does their family say:  Happy and aspire to work hard and move forward. Motivated and active participates in both practical work (house work) as well as academic performance.

School Background: Studies at Balmandir H.S School. Inspired and encouraged by her teachers and is a favourite student in her class.

Hostel Field: Seniors are inspiring and motivating them to work hard and help them with their school work.

After 10 what? Prepare for higher studies and possibly government jobs (public service commission Nepal). To engage in any occupation related to her family business.

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Name: Lok Raj Shahi

Hobbies:  Drawing, Football, Quiz, Volleyball

Aim: Engineering

Family Size: 2 brothers and 2 sisters, Father, Mother and Granny and one uncle

Family Status: There are two people who work in the family (a brother and a sister). The other sister is married. Farming, raising cattle and selling goats is the only  source of income along with selling vegetables in Simikot. During the winter they have a reserve of  food known as millet, buckwheat, porso-millet, wheat, etc.

What does their family say: They are happy and inspire their children to work hard at their academic aspects. The children are not  pressured to work in the field.  They say they are blessed with giving this kind of opportunity to their children and support the hostel by sending some of their food to the hostel.

School Background: Studies at Balmandir H.S. School.  He finds the teachers are very co-operative, inspire the weak and ask them to do better next time.

Hostel Field:  If supported, I will study further. Junior in his grade and is hard working. They help each other and the newly brought technology has provided an opportunity to learn something via laptop.

After 10 what? If support is given I will go on to further studies.

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Name: Santosh Upadhaya

Hobbies: Drawing, Football, Volleyball, Dancing, Singing

Aim:  Bank Manager- Interest in computer

Family Size: 1 sister and 2 brothers, Father, Mother

Family Status: Father works at Humla Delights Bakery at Simikot.  Also farming, raising cattle and selling vegetables in Simikot.  They store kodo millet, buckwheat, porso-millet, wheat, and so on for the winter time. Father is the only source of income. One brother studies in the village and helps support the family along with his sister.

What does their family say:  Happy and inspire them to work hard and move forward. Motivate and actively participate in both practical work (House work) as well as academic performance.

School Background: Studies at Balmandir. Inspires and encourages me and is a favourite student of his class. Keep the pride of school and work harder.

Hostel Field: Seniors are inspiring and motivating them to work hard and help them with their school work.

After 10 what?  If possible, will take Computer Courses.  Will help family and engage in family business via bakery.