Thankfully, things are starting to become more normal in Helping Point’s communities. By the grace of God, COVID cases remained comparatively low locally during the second wave, despite the devastating toll in other areas of India. We are so thankful to say that there have been very few COVID-related deaths in the communities, and we are hopeful that projects and programs can resume usual activities soon.
Challenges remain, however. Many families still can’t find work, which has increased hardship and food insecurity. Helping Point's team in India has found new ways of continuing to work and to demonstrate God’s love in action. Below are updates on what Helping Point has been doing - and will continue to do - to serve people in need as the community recovers from the impact of the pandemic.
COVID-19 Response
Throughout the second wave in India when it wasn’t possible to travel, Helping Point staff stayed in touch with local pastors and other community leaders to help identify and support those in need.
As COVID cases in the community remained low, the needs were different than anticipated. Rather than needing oxygen, the bigger need was for COVID testing, general medication like painkillers, masks and hand sanitizer. Helping Point provided these items, helped connect people with government-run testing centres, and arranged transportation to take people to hospitals if they were really ill. Emergency grocery supplies were also given to families that needed them. Additionally, Helping Point reached out to a local medical centre and is planning to explore ways of working with them in the future.
Currently, the team is planning another major food distribution program to provide food for 700 families that are still finding it difficult to secure enough work and income.
St Simon’s School
St Simon's School is now open for the older pupils (aged 14+). 80+ children are now back, preparing for their important high school exams while following physical distancing and health protocols. Younger pupils are not yet permitted to return, but we are hopeful that restrictions will loosen soon.
The pandemic lockdown meant that the teachers had to find innovative ways of keeping the students’ education going and checking on their welfare. This has been a challenge as pupils are from a wide area and generally have no access to computers/internet at home. Every day, 5-6 St Simon's teachers have been phoning the pupils that can’t attend school, helping them work through educational materials the school has given them.
One silver lining of the pandemic closures has been that the school has been able to undertake the following major building projects:
Building a new block comprising multipurpose classrooms, offices, a science lab, library, and a new highly secure girls' dormitory with modern facilities. Helping Point repurposed building materials from the old classroom block, minimizing wastage and cost.
Converting the previous girls' dorm in the other dormitory block into a larger dorm for boys, while turning the ground floor into a multipurpose dining and worship hall.
After the completion of the new block, we are thrilled to say that the entire school buildings will be cyclone proof, meeting all government safety requirements.
Helping Point’s Churches, Jhola and the Wider Community
The day care centres in Andhra Pradesh recently reopened, and have been providing evening meals for the children thanks to the generosity of our supporters. During the closures Helping Point kept in touch with families and continued to help the most needy with food to supplement food provided by the government.
Helping Point's churches are also open! There is still a lot of fear of COVID in the communities, as well as some vaccine hesitancy, and the churches are encouraging their congregations to get vaccinated and praying for them for God’s peace and protection.
At Jhola Children’s Home, the older children (around 20 kids) are now back, although the younger children can’t yet return due to pandemic restrictions. The younger kids are currently living with their family/guardians but it is hoped that they will be able to return to Jhola in November. On a happy note, the construction of a new building is currently underway!