by Michael | Apr 2, 2021 | Current Projects, Donors, News and Stories, Uncategorized, Well Projects
A year of COVID is behind us and yet many of us are still working from home and carrying out work via Teams or Zoom calls and were wondering when we can get rid of our masks and go back in public without fear of risking our health or that of others. No easy answers on this one, other many a viable vaccine or herd immunity.
India continues to experience its fair share of problems related to COVID and for me, her borders are still closed. Due to COVID, many restrictions have come into place with one of them being the cancellation of all previously issued Visas. I have since applied for a new Visa and was granted a 1-year Visa with 3 visits starting in June and extending to May of 2022. Not ideal for me but I will have to make it work.
Thankfully much of what Wells for Life accomplishes is carried out in India independent of my presence. In fact, COVID has shown me that our partners are more than competent and have done a fantastic job in carrying on and seeing our mission of providing clean, safe water accomplished in 60 new places last year. That is right! 60 places received clean, safe drinking water despite COVID and despite a 30% drop in giving.
I can only imagine once the economy starts picking up and people feel the freedom to give, what we will be able to accomplish.
There is no lack of villages to touch with clean water, so when you are ready to give, we are ready to receive your gift and make the most out of it.
To give and support our work in 2021, visit Donate | Wells for Life
Stay safe and let us believe together that better days are ahead!!
by Michael | May 19, 2020 | Donors, News and Stories, Trip Updates
 What’s going on?
Rural India is struggling.
I read stories from NDTV (think Indian version of CNN) along with what is shared on Facebook from my partners and most isn’t good. Over a month ago the government stopped all travel in hopes that it would prevent the spread of the virus. Many villages took matters a step further by blocking roads with large sticks or poles so that outsiders couldn’t get in.
Still today the lockdown is in force and I’m hearing more stories of desperation and hopelessness. You certainly feel for these people as they don’t have the same opportunities to access food, medicines or supplies as their city dwelling counterparts.
What can be done with all these restrictions in place is a question many are asking and thankfully there are those who are responding in small ways with outreach. Certain state governments have taken proactive approaches to get aid to their people yet again in the rural and tribal areas the situation is much different. These people operate on a cash basis; they don’t have accounts that the government can deposit money in, they don’t have access to markets or medical facilities. They are essentially cut off, left alone to cope and survive and sadly there are those who don’t.
At this point, what can we do? We can give so that our partners can do what they do best; make a difference. Difference making looks like this, pretty simple really, nothing more than gather resources, purchase supplies, get the necessary permits and then go out and distribute to those in need.
Yes, it is just a drop in the a very large bucket of need, but sometimes all you need is a drop to start the flow. |
A year of COVID is behind us and yet many of us are still working from home and carrying out work via Teams or Zoom calls and were wondering when we can get rid of our masks and go back in public without fear of risking our health or that of others. No easy answers on this one, other many a viable vaccine or herd immunity.
