by Michael | Aug 12, 2020 | Current Projects, Donors, News and Stories, Trip Updates, Well Projects
There may not be a lot of good news in the media, but I have cause to celebrate!
COVID may still be occupying most of the headlines worldwide and resultantly negatively affecting the economy as well as the hopes and dreams of countless others, yet I have a reason to get up and dance. Reason being that within the last few weeks I’ve funded 17 projects in 3 different states. 
You might not think that’s celebration worthy but considering donations have fallen off dramatically since COVID first hit and its now August, and yet I’m still able to drill wells; well that’s cause for me to say “raise the roof”. I would also bet that for the 17 villages, schools and/or communities which will have access to these new projects, representing thousands of lives.
I read an article the other day which spoke of the spread of COVID in India and how it’s producing large numbers of positive cases in the rural populations of 10 states and many think India soon will surpass the US in total number of cases and in deaths. What happens in the future with COVID remains to be seen, interestingly though is that all of our work is within 7 of the 10 states that are experiencing the most number of positive cases. What I take from this fact is simple; we’re at work in rural areas which are impacted significantly by COVID. This creates an opportunity for me to not shrink from the challenge but embrace it and look for opportunities to make a difference.
When these projects are completed, we will have brought water to 43 new places in 2020 and hopefully another 10 to 20 projects will happen before the year closes out.
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. |
You might not think that’s celebration worthy but considering donations have fallen off dramatically since COVID first hit and its now August, and yet I’m still able to drill wells; well that’s cause for me to say “raise the roof”. I would also bet that for the 17 villages, schools and/or communities which will have access to these new projects, representing thousands of lives.
When these projects are completed, we will have brought water to 43 new places in 2020 and hopefully another 10 to 20 projects will happen before the year closes out.