As the COVID pandemic continues to spread around the world, our hearts go out to our community in India where cases have been increasing at a startling rate with more than 400,000 new cases reported last Friday and numbers still on the rise. Health care systems across the country are collapsing and families are suffering. Organizations and communities across the globe are mobilizing to help with the crisis, providing oxygen supplies, setting up apps to share vital information on available supplies and services, and delivering food and other support to those who are struggling at home.
Girl Up Club members and young leaders in India are no exception. Countless members of our movement have been stepping in to support their communities including Girl Up Abaadh who have been sharing a verified resources three times a day since April 21 with information on oxygen, beds, mental health resources, meals, and more. Similarly, Girl Up Manipur, Girl Up Bombay and Girl Up Inaara have also been sharing updated, verified resources about critical services as well as mobilizing volunteers to help during the crisis. Girl Up Neev is sharing information on how to register for the vaccine, now that the government has announced that all adults are eligible. Aanya Wig, Co-founder of Girl Up Rise co-founded ‘Covid Fighters’ (India), an online community to share resources and bridge the information gap. She has created a Discord community with more than 10,000 members and volunteers who are continuously sharing and verifying resources including information on plasma and hospital beds.
There are many organizations doing incredible work to provide health care resources in India, and we invite our global movement to join us in highlighting and supporting a few of them that take international donations:
- India Covid SOS, a volunteer group of scientists, clinicians, engineers, policy-makers and epidemiologists from the global community engaged in supporting the fight against COVID-19 in India
- Hemkunt Foundation, a nonprofit providing oxygen supplies and organizing volunteers
- Khalsa Aid, a nonprofit providing oxygen supplies and organizing volunteers
- GiveIndia #TogetherforIndia fundraiser, started by Girl Up Champion Priyanka Chopra
Mutual Aid India has also put together a list of ongoing local fundraisers, resources, and ways to support from within India as well as organizations that take international donations.
We encourage all of our Club members to take care and stay safe, in line with recommendations from major global health bodies including the WHO and the CDC as well as local and regional global health bodies. As always, the health, safety, and security of our community of girl leaders, partners, and staff are of the utmost importance to us.
We know so many of you have family, friends, and loved ones affected by the pandemic in India and around the world and stand in support and compassion with you during this difficult time.
Together,
Girl Up Team
