Author: Ayana Mathew

Relief work during Covid- 19

Posted on by Ayana Mathew

In Odisha, the most affected group was the daily wage workers. Since we are working with the rickshaw pullers, the most vulnerable group among the daily wage workers, we realized that their life was going bad to the worst during this time of Pandemic. Many of them had no savings and they could not find any work outside. Around 15 families of the Rickshaw pullers approached us for the grocery and helped them. One of the rickshaw pullers with 4 small children asked us to help him to pay his house rent. He told us that if he doesn’t pay the house owner will not allow him to stay anymore. He was in helpless situation so we decided to help him through the donor.

Distribution of the Masks and Soap: We realized in our area local people were not very serious about the covid-19. We decided to distribute protective material such as Masks and Soaps. Srs. Celine and Jacklin went to meet the Deputy Commissioner and they gave us the permission for the same.  We distributed around 900 masks and soaps to the people of Orampara. As we have Tailoring Centre it was easy to stitch the masks. So we called some of the students and the two teachers to stitch the masks. The whole community too was involved in stitching and distributing Masks and Soaps. in different areas of Orampara. We got an order to stitch 310 masks for the workers in the Post Office at Rourkela.

We have distributed Masks and Soaps to the people some do wear but others are not taking much care. The number in of people who are affected is increasing. At present the number of people affected are 1, 950/-.  Nearly 5 lakhs Migrants from Odisha are coming back to their respective places and some of them have walked for several days on foot without much food and drinking water. Since they are retuning back, the number has been increasing.

Sr. Jacklin Ghonsalves

Snehadhara Community – Odisha

The COVID 19: Effects on the tribal communities

Posted on by Ayana Mathew

As we are well aware, The COVID 19 has left the whole world suspended on normal life style, livelihood and have turned poor countries into poorer as it has hit very badly the world economy. The tribal communities of Roha, has faced the brunt to its extremes as they are left jobless, hungry, with poor health and above all with no money for anything. The people who were migrated were stranded in their destinations. The pregnant women, the infants and the elderly and others who fell sick remained without receiving the medical assistance as the administration and the hospitals are remained cautioned with the spread of COVID 19.

The COVID 19 relief intervention by Snehavardhini Social Trust, Roha Community: As the COVID 19 hit Mumbai and Raigad we decided to focus on dry ration distribution, catering to the needs of the migrants such as repatriating them, providing them rations, monitoring the quarantine period along with the local government bodies, PDS monitoring, distributing preventive health kits, enhancing livelihood programmes and crisis interventional accompaniments in removing the social stigma. We have reached out not only to tribal communities but also to widows, handicapped, migrants, elderly, daily wage earners irrespective of caste, creed, language or religion.   The following is a summary of the services and sustainable programmes organised by our social centre in Roha, Pen and Mahad Talukas:

Dry Ration kits: Snehavardhini Social Trust distributed 4370 dry ration kits in 47 villages in Roha, Pen and Mahad Taluka which is divided as follows:

  • 2800 kits costing Rs.500/-
  • 250 kits costing Rs.650/-
  • 550 kits costing Rs.725/-
  • 300 kits costing Rs.850/-
  • 460 Kits costing Rs.3250/-

The Kits which priced from Rs.500/- to 850/-contained Rice, 2-3 types of serials, spices, oil, sugar, tea powder, salt, biscuits, onion, potato, soaps, etc which will help the families to survive for 15 days, while the ration kits which costed Rs.3250/- was consisted of Rice, wheat flower,2-3 types of serials, spices, oil, sugar , tea powder, salt, biscuits, onion, potato, soaps, cleaning articles , sanitizers, masks, toiletries etc which could help the family survive for nearly two months. We distributed the same soon after the Nisarga Cyclone as the people were devastated after they lost everything in the cyclone. The total cost of the dry ration which we have distributed is amounted up to Rs. 3,710,750/- in which 1,500,000/-materials were directly given by the network funding agencies, Rs. 1,00,000/- was contributed from the Region of India and Rs.2,110,750/- was raised in cash and kind by the sisters of Snehavardhini in collaboration with other Handmaids, friends and well-wishers.

Repatriating and reuniting the migrants from different states: Snehavardhini Social Trust in Collaboration with the local government administration and people of the villages reunited 284 families who were stranded in other states and in distant parts of Maharashtra. We submitted the application to the Tahsil office and assisted them in bringing people back, provided dry ration for 15 days which was their quarantine period, monitored the health check-up and stay facilities as they had to stay out of their villages.

Health prevention Kits: Snehavardhini Social Trust distributed in collaboration with HPT (health promotion Trust ) 2000 health prevention kits which included hand sanitizers, Soaps and  masks etc to health workers, Primary Health Care centres, Police, Government administrative offices, 10 villages etc . The centre also plans to distribute CELIN, a vitamin C tablets to 300 families in collaboration with Elppe Company PVT LTD.

Livelihood programmes:It is always important to teach people fishing than providing them fish. Snehavardhini Social Trust firmly believes in the sustainable development programs.   In collaboration with ELPPE CHEMICALS PVT LTD

  • We have given 12 types of Vegetables seeds for kitchen garden for 550 families in 28 villages
  • Nachni seeds for 37 families
  • Pea nuts for 43 families
  • Saffron seeds for 14 Self Help Groups(SHGs) and 4 individuals
  •  We are on the process of assisting an SHG which represents 10 families for goat rearing (since the COVID 19 wave have increased in our area the movements are curtailed. We will be giving the same immediately after the COVID waves slow down)
  • Helping the 17 women for Vegetable selling, Dry fish, vada pav small scale business etc
  • Connecting villagers and youth for the daily wage work with various contractors of the industries

Educational materials:The COVID 19 has left the tribals penniless and hence the possibilities of dropping out from the schools are very high for their children as they have no money to buy the educational materials or to pay their fees. The social centre has tirelessly worked to promote the education in the tribal communities. Drop out at this stage will signify, nullifying the efforts of all that is done till now. The centre will be providing all the educational materials for 600 students in 25 villages and will sponsor 20 deserving students for their studies this year.

Mediating to give four batteries for the COVID ward at Roha PHC: As expressed by the doctors of Roha PHC, the centre was a mediator in giving four batteries with the generosity of ELPPE CHEMICALS PVT LTD Roha to the COVID 19 ward at Roha PHC

Advocacy: Snehavardhini Social Trust have taken active part in advocacy in COVID 19 relief works with the local government administration such as collector’s office, Tahsil office, Police, PHCs, Gram panchayath, and with other networking bodies both at local, taluka and district level. We have made an outstanding contribution in collaborative works with regard to forming strategies for the crisis management of COVID 19 with GOs and other NGOs.

Collaboration with Tahsil and District offices for repatriating the Migrants / Monitoring the PDS in the tribal hamlets and for the migrant persons:We have actively collaborated with the government system in order to repatriate the tribal and non-tribal migrants to their own destinations. At the arrival of the migrants back to their villages, we have taken great care in giving food, dry ration for 15 days, monitoring their health system during quarantine period along with the local leaders and PHCs. We had taken an active participation in monitoring the PDS (Public Distribution System) in the tribal hamlets.

Awareness on preventive methods: The centre have given awareness to the tribal communities on preventive measures for COVID 19

Networking: During this process of reaching out to people we have net worked with:

  • A lot of individuals who were very sensitive and generous
  • Region Of India
  • Centre for Social Action Mumbai
  • Health promotion Trust, Mumbai
  • LBSS and United Way Mumbai
  • ELPPE CHEMICALS PVT LTD, Roha
  •  Religious Congregations, Local NGOs, Police, Tahsil office andGOs.

We are happy to join hands with so many people of good will and agencies that reach out in help in order to enhance and secure a society free of COVID 19, to assist the citizens of Raigad to be repatriated to their own land, to provide food security through dry ration and monitoring the PDS system, assist the livelihood programmes for the families and above all to create an atmosphere where all can live with security and dignity. We are grateful to God for giving us this opportunity to be His face goodness and mercy. We thank each and every hand that lends services through us in order to bring down the panic and disastrous situation and preventing people from dying of hunger.  We continue our relief works with the desire of contributing our best to the people who have been entrusted to us.

Snehavardhini Community, Roha.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

Posted on by Ayana Mathew

It was an unexpected tragedy which hit the world. At the end of March according to the government law the Lock Down took place because of the Novel Corona Virus Pandemic, that time the ACI family was pooling up some donations from the group for a woman who had Kidney transplantation and as they were busy recruiting funds it was Fr. Walter D’mello who gave an idea to the ACI Family president to take initiative in distributing some grocery to the needy who were affected by covid-19 lockdown. The ACI family members collected Rs. 14,000 from the group and gave it to the sick patient called Margaret. Later on, they took the advice of Fr. Walter seriously and with the encouragement of sisters started to collect the fund from the groups as well as from some of their family members and relatives. 

Mangalore in generalis an area with well to do people as well as middle class, but because of the lockdown many middle classes people were suffering, many were jobless and had no money to meet the basic necessitates. This was realised by the sisters and the members.So, we were thinking to reach out to these needy people without knowing what to do and how to do because of the strict order by the government and the fear of the COVID-19.Then the core group met together and decided to distribute some food items to who are really in need. The fund was provided by the ACI family members.On 13th April we were able reach out to 13 families with rice, coconuts, oil, tea powder, rava, dal, bath soap coriander, chilly and washing soap. 

We posted the photos and send appeal to all our ACI family members. For our surprise we were able to collect Rs.29,000/- from the ACI family members and their relatives.Again, we were able to reach out to 28 families on 25th April and we distributed hamper with16 items per family.

We have a tailor in the ACI Family, the sisters provided the material and with his help we could also stich Mask and distribute to many people, that too was a great help for the people.

Mr. Rajesh the ACI Family president contacted one of his friend who was in touch with St. Aloysius collage which is run by the Jesuits and a well know collage in the city, they had distributed groceries for more than 60000 people so Mr.Rajesh Requested His friend to help us out in getting some hampers since our funds were not sufficient, so Mr. Jith the friend of Mr. Rajesh got 58 hampers of grocery along with the 2 Jesuit scholastics of St. Aloysius collage. Sr. Suvarna also contacted some of the parishnors who were not part of ACI Family and collected some more funds also, through the influence of Fr. Walter Sr. Suvarna got 150K.G. Rice, 25.K.G. Potatoes, 25. K.G. Onions and 25.K.G. Dal from the social centre of the Diocese and the 3rd round we distributed for 85 families. On the 14th of May which was a significant day as Pope Francis had declared it as a day of Fast, Prayer and Charity. While distributing as part of awareness and following the rules we also kept sanitizer and social distance before they could collect the hamper from us.

We felt happy that we could reach out to the need through generous donors and through our ACI Family who is young and dynamic. All the 3 times that we distributed, we never kept any barriers between cast and religion, we gave to Hindus, Christians, and also some migrants of North India.

Suvarna Fernandes ACI

Mangalore.

ACI Family Day Celebrations 2020

Posted on by Ayana Mathew

On March 2nd ACI Family Day has been celebrated in the different communities of our Region.

In Dilkhush Community, we had the Eucharist celebrated by Fr.John Cyriac sj, during which 25 of the members renewed their commitment. This was followed by games and fellowship meal which was prepared by the members itself.

In Mangalore Community, we had our 1st ACI family day celebration along with 25 members and their families. There were around 70 people. One of the member composed a song on St. Raphaela in Konkani and the members sang it today which was very beautiful. We all enjoyed the celebration with Eucharist, cultural programs, games and meal.  

Forging New Links of Love

Posted on by Ayana Mathew

 

Bournemouth ACI Family, ‘Links of Love’ recently welcomed a group from the Paris ACI Family. The group arrived in England on Monday 23rd April and spent two days visiting the Handmaids at St Edmunds Terrace, London and touring the sights of London before arriving in Bournemouth on the morning of Wednesday 25th April.  The group of 7 were led by Sr Angeles, who accompanied the Paris ACI Family and who had organised the trip.

After booking into a local hotel the group were taken for lunch at Harry Ramsden’s, a restaurant with beautiful views of the sea, for the traditional British fish and chips before walking along the prom and pier and visiting other sights of Bournemouth. From the first moments of our meeting we felt a connection with each other which over the two days grew to a bond.  There was much happiness in the time we spent together.

Later, we gathered for adoration at the Convent in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Our prayers were both in French and English and we felt a great unity between us as we gave thanks to God for our day and reflected on the words of St Rafaela. Afterwards 16 of us dined at Marco Polo Restaurant nearby and it was a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other more deeply.  As both groups shared the spirituality of the Handmaids we had much to talk about and share with each other.

The next day we gathered at Corpus Christi Church, and before the celebration of the Eucharist began, the group were shown our St Rafaela’s altar. Here they could see the photograph of the canonization of St Rafaela which took place in the Vatican in 1977.

Our opening hymn was  ‘Sing of the Lords Goodness’ and we sang  in thanksgiving for all that we had received and for all that we were about to receive as we shared Eucharist together. For the Offertory Procession Sr Angeles and Jo Henwood led members from both ACI Family groups in taking up the gifts.

After Mass many Members of the parish accepted the invitation to have coffee with the Sisters and ACI Family and guests in our Memorial Room. There was much happiness and joy as people got to know each other and more new friendships were forged with our parish members.

We had time before lunch to stroll to the sea by walking through Woodland Walk, full of spring wildflowers and trees beginning to green. Everyone was so appreciative of a day without rain and the sea sparkling in the sunshine once again.

Our final gathering together was over lunch at the Convent prepared by the Sisters and ACI Family. We had much to share with each other but we knew the time had come to part and we were to go our separate ways.  One of our visitors said “we came as strangers but we leave as friends’ and that expresses well how our two days together was a real gift to all of us.

We look forward to our next encounter …………