In light of the rapidly evolving challenges of coronavirus (COVID-19), the American India Foundation’s Circle of Hope initiative is taking the health and well-being of women, girls, and young children in India very seriously.

AIF’s Chicago Circle of Hope has raised funds towards immediate response in Haridwar, India. The proceeds are going to provide 1050 prevention kits to frontline health workers including ASHAs, Asha Supervisor, ANM, and the staff of Community Health Centres (CHCs) in Narsan and Bhagwanpur blocks of Haridwar. Covering 150 villages, they are assigned with the additional responsibility of creating awareness in rural and remote communities on Covid-19.  As these frontline workers are connecting with the communities they serve on a daily basis, they need preventive kits to protect themselves and stay safe from infection. Led by Masha Sajdeh, Jasma Ghai, and Rumki Dutta in Chicago, this Circle of women philanthropists is working on enhancing their funding for Covid-19 relief.

The Chicago Circle is also running a fundraiser led by Mira Bhatia and her team to garner additional support that will enable essential relief for young mothers and prevention kits for the upper remote villages of Uttarakhand, more details on this fundraiser are available here.

The 22 members of  New England Circle of Hope has raised funds towards supporting educational kits to ensure that migrant children at the highest risk of learning loss do not fall behind as they battle this crisis in a very uncertain time. A Mobile library will visit villages in Kalahandi district of Odisha and circulate 1500 kits containing a storybooks, educational puzzles, and crayons. Through this initiative, over 3000 children will be encouraged to develop the habit of reading and writing and also improve their general knowledge. The Circle trying to fund-raise for more kits as they realize the need is large and urgent.

Members from the Circle of Hope have come together in the times of Covid-19 to address those issues on women and children that are traditionally underfunded. Joining a Circle meant that they could have greater impact together, than they might otherwise have been able to do alone. AIF is so proud of its Circle of Hope members who will continue to care for one another during this public health crisis, and are more importantly focusing in particular on the most vulnerable women and children in India.

|