I know what you're thinking! 2020 was a terrible year in so many ways and we're all happy to see the back of it. But what if we looked at it differently? What if we saw the lessons it taught us and reframed 2020 as one with a 'silver lining’...?
Here’s what we learned in lockdown …
1. Even children from leprosy colonies can learn online
The world's children were removed from schools in 2020 and shunted into 'home online learning' creating challenges for both parents and teachers globally. But how do you compare the plight of first world children to those forced to do the same in rural West Bengal - in a leprosy colony? Firstly there is no supervision. Parents need to work to survive, so children are left to their own devices at home and in communities which creates all sorts of challenges. And then how do they get online to learn? Firstly hats off to the Udayan Vidyalaya staff who regrouped and found a way to deliver online classes via zoom to students huddled around mobile phones - many borrowed or on loan. But it happened. And whilst you can hardly say Udayan is at the forefront of technology, somehow we found a way to ensure our kids were learning.
2. Our staff are our greatest asset
Many of our staff are from the
leprosy colonies themselves, which gives us an automatic entry point and point
of contact in these remote communities to mobilize when the need arises.
And there were multiple needs in 2020. Firstly, as the lockdown extended
and people were struggling to make ends meet, our team hit the ground running
to quickly distribute rations to those in need. Management was in
negotiation with donors, old and new, to make sure money was available for this
'new found need' and our team transformed into outreach workers making things
happen on the ground swiftly and safely. Ive never been so proud of our
incredible people ...
3. Even a Cyclone, in a Pandemic cannot stop us
Just when we thought things couldn't
get any worse, the tropical, seasonal and brutal weather of the Bay of Bengal
lashed out and Cyclone Amphan unleashed its force on Kolkata - and Udayan did
not escape unscathed. Whilst we were fortunate to escape with minimal
damage to the campus, it was still a tough blow in already trying times!
Our Barrackpore based staff quickly assessed the damage and rolled up their
sleeves to start the clean up. Our UK supporters picked up the phone and
were quick to move funds into action to rebuild the vast security wall that had
collapsed in the storm. Sometimes you can be beaten down, but the Udayan
spirit prevails and slowly, but surely, we recovered ...
4. Sometimes you have to buck the trend to do what's right
Whilst the schools remained closed during the lockdown, as an organization we began to worry about the safety of our
children as COVID-19 swept through West Bengal at a rapid pace. Living in
poor conditions, with limited nutrition at home, it was only a matter of time
before the virus hit the colonies and our kids became vulnerable. Our
Governing Body and Management made the difficult decision to bring children
back, in what was a complicated exercise in logistics, as we felt they would be
far safer in Udayan and we could more proactively support their continued
studies. Whilst so many NGOs and organizations 'played it safe' and
stayed closed, we mobilized, followed safety protocols, and brought our kids
back into the safe confines of Udayan.
5. One must always be ready to 'pivot'
At Udayan we run a home and our
expertise is in education, health, and livelihoods. But in these exceptional
circumstances, we had to 'pivot' and become outreach workers, operating and
providing 'disaster relief' in risky times. This to me, highlights the
strength and qualities of our management and people who are not, after all,
pigeonholed into one type of social work ... but show us all that they are
willing and able to do so much more. This agility is a great quality that
I hope we take forward as we spread our wings in the coming years.
2020 was a challenge that helped us unite, strengthen our resolve, and overcome. As we move into 2021 I feel confident that, with the strength of the Udayan spirit, we can handle anything that the universe chooses to throw at us!
Warm Regards for a Safe &
Prosperous New Year
EMILY R MENON
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