Covid update - May 2020

As the lockdown continues for our partner communities, our work has focused on spreading accurate messaging, reducing fear and stigma, and promoting healthy behaviors to reduce the spread of COVID.

In India, districts are being categorized based on active COVID risk. Darjeeling has been identified as a potential hotspot and will remain in a lockdown state for at least another two weeks. 

As the lockdown continues for our partner communities, our work has focused on spreading accurate messaging, reducing fear and stigma, and promoting healthy behaviors to reduce the spread of COVID.

WhatsApp, a digital communication platform, is the most common method of messaging in the Darjeeling Hills. Through this platform, we have seen:

• Teachers sharing educational materials with families
• Family members texting to stay in contact with one another
• Our Darjeeling-based team promoting accurate messaging to communities
• Our US-based team staying in daily contact with our teams in India

At the heart of our work is the School Health Activist (SHA). These community-level employees are respected and looked to for advice around health and education. Currently, the five SHAs are working with young family members to create videos that are helping kids and adults take action.

Here is one example video. Not only does this video show handwashing in the local context for kids and families, but it also helps to bring a smile to the faces of community members during these difficult times.

We hope this brings a smile to your face as well.