Although the past few months have been very difficult in light of COVID-19, we are thankful to say that cases are currently decreasing in Helping Point’s communities.
A large number of local families were ill with symptoms of COVID-19, especially in April and May, but most have recovered. We are very relieved to say that there have been no deaths among Helping Point’s staff and among immediate community members, although there have been many deaths in the wider community and over 120,000 deaths across India.
Being as agile as possible, Helping Point has continually sought to help wherever it has been feasible amid the rapidly changing situation. The latest phase of the emergency food distribution program took place in mid-October, and around 1,000 families have been helped. Helping Point will continue to assist those most in need who come forward for grocery supplies and other aid.
Helping Point churches
The churches were initially closed due to the coronavirus lockdown, but during that time they acted as essential centres to provide support to the community. Official food distribution programs have been run by the pastors from the Lo Penta and Liviri church buildings, and grocery supplies have been held at other Helping Point churches so that everyone in the congregation has access to emergency food. Where possible, pastors have been phoning their congregations, or visiting people outside their homes when lockdown loosened if speaking on the phone is not an option.
Four of Helping Point’s churches have now reopened, with physical distancing protocols in place. Services are limited to 30-minutes maximum, with one song, one short Bible reading and sermon, and one prayer. The congregation has to wear masks, and these are provided to those who do not have them, along with hand sanitizer.
Daycare Centres
The Daycare Centres closed in March at the beginning of lockdown. During this time, we have been able to provide food to some of the children and their families via Helping Point’s emergency food distribution program.
Where possible, daycare centre staff have also been phoning children to check that they are OK and to ask whether they have groceries at home. If not, the staff members let Helping Point know and the charity has been dropping food at children’s homes. They have also ensured that the children received the schoolbooks provided by the government.
We’re pleased to say that the daycare centres should soon be able to reopen, with safety protocols in place. When Helping Point has permission from the government, the new evening meals program will restart, funded by your generous donations last Christmas. The program launched as a pilot in some locations at the start of 2020 and was feeding 150 children aged between 5-12 years old with cooked evening meals on weekdays. The plan had been to roll out the program to all the daycare centres in April 2020. Although the roll out has not been possible so far this year, we are thrilled that the program should be able to start again soon.
Jhola Children’s Home
Jhola Children’s Home also had to close just before lockdown. The 48 children are still staying with family members or other guardians. The Warden has been calling the children daily to check their health and to provide assistance wherever possible and currently all is well.
The Jhola children have unfortunately not been able to attend online classes as neither their school nor most of their families or guardians have access to the internet. Helping Point has ensured that they all have the correct textbooks, however, so that they can follow some of the curriculum from home. We are waiting to hear when the children’s home can reopen again.
The return of the children is happily likely to coincide with the completion of the girls’ dormitory block which is currently under construction. It is expected that the roof will go on very soon, and that the building will be completed this month.
