Covid-19 Response in India
All our lives have been changed forever by the COVID19 virus entering our global world. I was definitely struck by the similarities of experience at home in Boone, NC, USA, and Nuapali, Odisha, India, in responding to staying at home, washing our hands, and social distancing until an undetermined time frame. At present, the lockdown in India is proposed until May 3, 2020.
Women in the local villages are making masks and the school is purchasing them to distribute to the locals. The boys and girls are giving the masks away for free to the villagers.
Girls are studying at home during lockdown due to Covid-19
Initially, I was concerned about our girl’s school and how they were coping with the virus in India. I contacted staff and some students through Whatsapp messaging service. They were on lockdown, all events have been canceled, all educational institutions are closed, no mass transportation is operating, most students have returned to their home villages. I wondered if the girls had access to food and clean water as some villages do not have running water in their homes. I was assured by the staff, and some of the students I contacted, that the government is providing some basic food supplies and clean drinking water, too. Here are some pictures of the girls studying at their homes and making the best of this unplanned situation.
I am thankful for technology that allows me to stay connected to the girls, their teachers, and staff as we all navigate this new normal with living with this virus’s uncertainty.
A letter from our founder, Christine Sita Dave`
Namaste everyone,
The person in me honors the person in you.
I had the opportunity to make my third annual visit to the girls school in Odisha, India. I traveled to India in November 2019 with plans to return to the US in late February 2020. When I was preparing to return to the US, I had read some information about the coronavirus erupting in China in December. I thought about it, but did not feel it posed a concern to my travels at that point so I continued with my plans to travel home to Boone, NC, which also coincided with my 57th birthday, February 24th. Although, I would not actually be in Boone until March 2 due to another birthday gift of travel to see Oprah Winfrey in Los Angeles on February 29, 2020. Once I returned home, again, I was planning for another venture with my children and grandchildren to go on a planned family vacation cruise from March 9-13. We decided to go on the cruise as things were not yet very clear as to protocols regarding this very contagious virus. I am thankful beyond measure for the privilege to create memories with my family. I have great gratitude for the universe protecting me and my family during this pandemic. Once we finally returned to Boone, on March 14, we self-quarantined for two weeks and I have been at home since that day. I was thankful to be at home and relished not having to go anywhere for a while. I only ventured out one day, April 20, wearing a mask and gloves, to mail some packages. I continue to have gratitude from my family, friends, local community and global family as we move through this challenging time. Like many of you, I miss not being able to see each other in person and I know this time has many lessons to teach me about myself.
My Visit to the School
I do have new wonderful memories of my recent, third annual, visit with our girls to share with you. I traveled back and forth to see the girls and be with my father during December 2019 through February 2020. For the first time, my partner, Dinesh, came with me to visit the boy’s and girl’s schools. He fulfilled his desire to teach the girls some basic Tae Kwon Do techniques for self-defense purposes. He had shared with me that his skills as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do were one way he wanted to contribute to the self-empowerment of these rural village girls. The girls were elated and so interested in learning these self-help moves that they could apply to their daily lives. I also had the pleasure of meeting an 18 years of age student from Germany, Nane, visiting the schools, who would go on to train the girls, for over four weeks, in the Tae Kwon Do methods. She had been at the schools since October 2019 and was planning on staying there until August of 2020. Due to the virus conditions, she had to leave to return to Germany in March 2020. Her tremendous contributions to sharing the programs, needs, and information about the schools have been invaluable. She has spent hours documenting the schools through photos, interviews, and videos. We have become strong allies to bring the stories of these children for awareness and education. I am so grateful for her special heart and thankful to be connected to her as well.
While on my visit with the girls and their teachers, I was able to determine what needs we could focus on, support, and fund, as well. I distributed our first Amazon self-published book to twenty-one girls who were portrayed in this book. Our girls were pleasantly surprised to see their story, photo, and drawings in this first book, Be on the Cutting Edge. The girl’s families appreciated how honorably the girls were depicted in this book. This book documented the girl’s history, gave voice to their thoughts on why they are pursuing their education as well as what they hope to accomplish with their educational efforts. We are thankful to have the resources to share the important stories of these determined girls from their village communities.
EDGE was able to purchase an Epson projector in India for the girls to use in their classrooms for various educational needs. We were able to initially review photos and recent videos Nane had collected to share with the girls. In the future, the teachers are interested in connecting their personal cell phones to the projector to have other access to educational material online as well. We realize technology access is a great equalizer for these rural village girls to be equipped and educated.
My spouse and I contributed to funding several needs I observed while continuing my visit with the girl’s school. We had an additional school uniform and new Tae Kwon Do uniforms made for each of the girls. The girls wore these uniforms during the annual function performance days on February 8th and 9th. They did a splendid job on sharing their Tae Kwon Do techniques with the local village community audience. We funded an electric keyboard for the girls to learn how to play music. The girls are very eager to learn how to create music with this new instrument. The creative arts is an area that the girls and their teachers are very interested in, which supports the holistic development of these rural village girls. We purchased a volleyball and a net so the girls could have access to ongoing daily physical activity and a fun way to de-stress after annual exams were completed. This activity seems so simple yet has a profound impact on the well-being of these precious girls. In order to enhance their English language curriculum, we purchased a book, Spoken English Guru, suggested by a staff member, which also has access to numerous Youtube specific videos on English pronunciation as well. The girl’s teachers were highly impressed with this program and were excited to have access to this type of technology to teach these girls. I am very grateful we can serve the needs of these girls so they can become productive members of their society.
I have a special story connected to the first book that was given to one of the girls who is now enrolled in a college about two hours away from her village. This student contacted me on March 15 through Whatsapp messaging service. She shared she was at her college and was sharing her book with her friends who asked her why would I, Sita Maa, want to help her get an education? This student then went on to tell the students the story of my mother, Rautee, and how she was not allowed to go to school as a child while living in Trinidad because she was to do all the cooking, cleaning, and care for her half-siblings. I was emotionally touched by this student’s sharing of my mother’s hardship. At that moment, I realized the ripple effect of this first book and how this student is taking ownership of this book and her own stories, too. This student invited me to come and visit her college and meet her principal on my next visit to India. She was concerned that the principal does not yet understand the value of the school education she received while at Navaprabhat Kanya Gurukul. I did ask her to share the book with the principal too and she agreed to do so. I can envision many of the girls creating their own stories and continued connections to this first book of their own history.
EDGE continues to support the growth of the female teachers as well. Sagarikaji is in the second year of her Master of Arts degree in English. She expressed much gratitude for our nonprofit supporting her educational pursuits. Ahalyaji continues to challenge the girls to strive for their best in their academic pursuits as well as in the development of their holistic inner self. Both teachers motivate their students to do the things they thought they could not accomplish. I also had an opportunity to mentor the older girls to stretch the limits of their capabilities for preparing for their annual 10th-grade exams as well as participating in performances for their school’s annual function. There was some resistance from these particular girls yet, in the end, they realized they were more capable than they thought possible. I am their second mother, Sita Maa, and this honorable role enables me to guide them as my own daughters.
As we move forward to complete our third year of EDGE being founded, I reflect on the power of changing the world, one girl at a time. Each young woman has her own voice, her own dreams, her own unique way of being in her world. I am privileged to witness the amazing growth of each of these determined girls for these last three years while in India. I am immensely appreciative of our board member’s continued collective vision to serve the educational development of these young women. We are women serving globally to make positive changes in the lives of these rural village girls.
Thank you for your ongoing support. We welcome your suggestions and feedback on our website. I wish everyone continued good health at this time and stay well.
Namaste
Construction Update
Christine Sita Dave` had the opportunity to visit with Bhagaban Dev, Head of the School, get a tour of the campus and learn of his vision for the school. Enjoy this video as you learn about the school.
Construction continues on the new residential campus for the girl’s school. The first floor of the dorm rooms have been constructed and they are planning for door and window installations as funds are available. Due to the coronavirus delays are expected since funding from several of their sources domestically and internationally will be greatly reduced. The projection is for this new campus to possibly open July of 2021 when their new academic year begins. This new school will be a much-needed asset to the rural villages surrounding this area as many more girls will be encouraged to go to school and become educated young women. This is a major step to empower young rural village girls to pursue their own dreams.
A special thanks to German student, Nane, for her videography and photography skills.
Your support allows EDGE to Equip, Empower, and Educate these rural village girls so they can go on to live productive lives and be a positive influence on those around them.
We understand that each of you are coping with Covid-19 in your community and family. We hope you are well and understand if your financial situation will not allow you to give at this time, but wanted you to be aware of one of the educational needs for the school.
Educational Need
Sagarikaji, one of the girl’s teachers, voiced the need for additional technology to better serve the educational needs of the girls. This is a project EDGE would like to focus on as this aligns with the need for access to technology in this rural area. We invite you to join our story to educate, equip, and empower these girls from Navaprabhat Kanya Gurukul, Nauapali, Odisha, India, so they can live their own productive lives. Your belief in these girls is what sustains them to continue to do their best and to make positive contributions to their society.
News From School
The girls were excited to receive an electronic keyboard and a volleyball and net as gifts from Christine & Dinesh Dave`. The goal is for the girls to have a well-rounded education, to include music and physical activity.
Some of the girls standing in front of the one of the buildings being constructed on the girls campus.
The girls were happy to see their stories portrayed in our first book. Be on the lookout for Volume 2, which will be an e-book, to be released soon!
During his visit to the school, Dr. Dinesh Dave`, taught the girls Tae Kwon Do and Nane continued teaching the girls after Dr. Dave` departed. The girls are wearing their Tae Kwon Do uniforms in these photos.
Christine Sita Dave` and her father, along with some visitors to the school.
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