Category: India

A small village that felt like it was at the end of the world: But not at all! On this day, the place was buzzing with activity, as the new millet mill was installed, connected and inaugurated. Gerhard was there at the event.

In Germany, such an event would be lost in the daily routine, but not in Samanong: Here it was a day of celebration for the whole village! ?

This is an aid project that we supported with our association as part of our Corona projects: "Processing of agricultural products in self-help groups". The villagers were trained in cultivation and processing. Cost: 570 euros/one-off!

Up until now, 3 families in Samanong have grown millet and fed it to the pigs. Processing the millet was hard work. Look at the photo: You can imagine how hard it is to move the big stone. Now there is a new, modern mill. The whole village benefits from it. There are now 20 families who grow millet and can now process it more easily and better thanks to the new mill. The grain is ground and the flour is used to make cakes, bread, etc.

And that is exactly what the villagers do: They process the millet flour, bake millet cakes in grill ovens donated by us and sell the products in the town of Jowai, where our partner association JHDS has recently opened a small shop selling regional products (including handicrafts).

A long and adventurous journey takes us over bumpy roads, if you can call these fortifications that, to the village of Khahnar.

We were able to experience the hospitality of this place on our first visit there in 2018. We learned at the time that the children here urgently needed an extension to the Upper Primary School, as it was bursting at the seams.

And now the time had come:

On February 27, 2022, Gerhard, our first chairman, was able to attend the inauguration of the new classroom, the construction of which we financed through the association, during his visit to Meghalaya. And not only that: He was allowed to cut the ribbon for the opening during the ceremonial ceremony!

The whole village was on its feet for the occasion. Solemn speeches were given, the church blessing was given, people celebrated, danced and no one could resist the good mood: It was a wonderful day and our association can be proud to support these people, parents and children of Khahnar in their development and education - to help them to help themselves so that they have a better perspective for their lives!

So that we can properly protect children from Corona, they not only receive masks, but they also receive instructions and a precise explanation of how to wear the masks. And above all: why!

The families in particular need are given food from our Corona aid project “Shopping Basket”. In addition to food such as rice, oil, spices, lentils, etc., the families receive Corona masks that were donated by a sponsor from Ebelsbach.

100 chicks plus food and instructions: Iarki's family was the first to receive a chicken coop through a donation of Khublei.

A comparison of the two photos shows that she has a real knack for chickens and that they are already well fed.

Iarki and her family have thus been given a basis for sustainable self-sufficiency. The chickens lay eggs, which complement the vegetable kitchen. Eggs that she does not use herself can be sold or exchanged for other necessary items. In the long term, she has the option of selling the animals or using them in the kitchen herself. Thanks to your donation, Iarki has regained a perspective on life.

Besides Iarki, there are many other families in Meghalaya who can be helped by the cackling, grunting or humming helpers from our Corona relief efforts.

We have received an urgent call for help from Megalaya:

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has severely affected the lives of many poor people in Northeast India.
At the beginning of the pandemic, people suffered from lockdown, leading to shortages of food and other essential commodities. The poor and daily wage earners are the most affected by the current crisis as they have no savings and cannot go to work. As a result, all groups below the poverty line are facing severe food shortages and the threat of starvation.

Wandame, 12 years old, an orphan boy from Nangbah, has it particularly hard. After his mother died, his two sisters also lost their jobs due to corona. His godparents in Bamberg are giving him hope!