Summer Projects 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had to put some of our projects on hold. The ZP schools have been closed since March when the Government of India announced the lockdown. Furthermore, there has been an extension to the lockdown since a few positive cases popped up in Mahim, Palghar in the past week. 

Initially, we were planning on supplying the students with rice and dal for three months. Iskcon Trust  used to provide a free lunch everyday as part of the government’s midday lunch program. But since the lockdown, this has been on the hold. After we spoke to a few teachers from Temki Paada and Tal Paada, we learnt the families were receiving enough free rations from the government. A major concern was the lack of studying amongst students. Although textbooks were distributed at the start of the new academic year, self-studying is difficult. The textbooks are designed in such a way that someone with a full grasp of the languages (Marathi and English) as well as maths need to guide the students to do the work. It is highly unlikely that the children’s parents will sit with them everyday to do work because they are busy working on farms and as labourers. 

Therefore, we have created workbooks for English, maths and Marathi with self-explanatory exercises such as tracing letters and words, and filling in numbers just to ensure the students don’t completely lose track of their lessons. These workbooks have been sent to be printed but it’s unclear when we will receive them due to the lockdown extension.

Another issue is the lack of personal hygiene products. As India is still under lockdown, no travel is allowed between cities so it has been difficult to buy towels and soap in bulk to distribute to the children. We are still investigating possible methods of going about this. 

If you are interested in donating funds, there is no better time than now. The pandemic has been incredibly cumbersome on everyone and any contribution, big or small, would be greatly appreciated.