Six months after people around the world took part in the Kolkata Covid Challenge sponsored, 17 projects are underway in Kolkata helping those hardest hit by the pandemic.
The event in July saw more than 130 people walking in seven countries and, with match-funding provided by Barclays, they raised an astonishing £120,000 (Euros 134,000/ 1,17,24,884 rupees!)
Here are some of the ways that the money is now being used to support people who don’t have enough food, need access to education, have lost their jobs or are vulnerable to severe Covid and need special support:
A school bus has been converted into a classroom for 4 to 6 years olds. Calcutta Rescue is bringing face-to-face fun learning for youngsters in the slums to get them ready to start at school whenever they reopen. A second bus is being purchased to cover more slum communities.
Internet data plans have been purchased for more than 300 students so they can access the internet and take part in online lessons.
A training centre has been created and sewing machines purchased so people who don’t have a job can be trained to make handicrafts by members of CR’s expert handicraft team. CR Ten women have already started training and the aim is to train 100 people this year.
CR has identified and is paying for vocational training courses like Computer Hardware technician, office and internet, smartphone repairing etc. The plan is to train 100 people over the next 12 months.
High risk patients are being given flu vaccinations to ensure they don’t get it at the same time as Covid. So far 200 patients have been protected. Influenza vaccination has started.
Because so many people in the slums can’t afford to eat properly since the Covid crisis began CR has increased the amount of nutrition it provides by adding roasted groundnuts to its food parcels. It has also increased the nutritional benefit of food given to particularly vulnerable patients.
It is providing a small financial incentive to ensure mums take their children to be vaccinated against the most dangerous diseases
It is employing more women as community health workers in the slums where they live
It is about to begin a detailed survey of the impact of Covid in the slums of Kolkata – so it can understand the impact and target measures effectively
We aim to keep you briefed on the progress of these projects and other ones that may come on stream in the coming months.
Calcutta Rescue CEO Jaydeep Chakraborty says, “Huge thanks to all who supported us through the Kolkata Covid Challenge. You have motivated us to really rise to the challenge of the pandemic and your donations are funding all of this work. These are exciting and challenging times ahead for the entire world. For CR’s service users, even more so. But with your help, our work, and their indomitable resilience, I am confident we can do much good in a tough environment. Now we are truly “creating opportunities and transforming lives”.”
