Youth for Seva (YFS), the India-wide volunteering movement, launched a rehabilitation program for children who have lost either of their parents due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This Pan-India initiative is being launched as part of their Vidya Chetana project in association with Sewa International.
While launched especially for children from the economically weaker sections of the society, the initiative will also provide support to a few middle-class families this year. Adding to this, YFS will extend its support to children who were orphaned during the pandemic by helping them get access to the benefits of the PM Care fund. YFS will make sure that their paperwork is done, and the funds reach them on a timely basis.
Venkatesh Murthy, Founder, Youth For Seva said, “To ensure that our efforts make the biggest impact possible, we have shared the collaterals of our initiatives with a vast network of volunteers and partner NGOs across the country to gather details of the children that need rehabilitation. Furthermore, we are taking the help of websites, social media, and media campaigns to widen our reach to the ones in need.”
The grassroots initiative will facilitate grief counselling and Satsang sessions conducted virtually for the child and the surviving parent. In addition, to ensure that the child does not get separated from the family owing to financial constraints, Vidya Chetana plans to offer all possible support to ensure that the child has a reasonable financial framework to support himself or herself until graduation.
“In these challenging times, India needs all the help it can get. Many who are close to us have been impacted, thus this is the time for all of us to come forward and give generously,” Venkatesh added.
As per the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), over 30000 children across India were affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Children from families who have suffered the loss of parents to Covid-19 are eligible to enrol in the Vidya Chetana program. The enrolment process involves filling out a google form. In addition, YFS has also introduced “Project Aalamban” which provides emotional, spiritual, and financial assistance to families who have lost close kin to the pandemic.
Venkatesh also said, “With the help of ‘Project Aalamban,’ we plan on supporting families in need, both financially and mentally, during the ongoing crisis. Our hearts go out to all of those who are suffering, and we are making our best efforts to help families achieve a level of financial peace of mind and stability at a time when everything else is uncertain.”
YFS, founded in 2007, is geared towards inspiring the youth to volunteer and provides them with meaningful opportunities to serve the community.
