ATISH DIPANKAR SOCIETY (ADS) is a humanitarian Buddhist organization named after the greatest Bangle (also Indian) Buddhist saint scholar monk Achariya Atisha Dipankar Srigyan (982-1052) AD. The organization wss established in 1993 to promote and preserve Buddhism, Bangle Buddhist cultures and civilization in the context of new century and services to the humanity with the collective efforts of new generation members of Bangladeshi Buddhist community. The Atish Dipankar Society is providing emergency relief aid to poor local Buddhists, as well as to people in Muslim and Hindu neighborhoods who have lost daily livelihoods and income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and government lockdown. The corona virus is spreading rapidly among Bangladesh’s dense population, where now millions are without work and food.

 

Emergency Relief Response
ATS received funds for two separate phases of emergency relief.

Phase 1 – During the first phase ADS’s emergency relief response directly benefited 2,470 persons (including 100 monks) in 12 villages of 4 districts. Households have received food – rice, potatoes, cooking oil, onions, wheat and salt, as well as soap, hand sanitizer and masks. ADS have also provided 12 hospital beds and emergency medical help (medicine and oxygen), and medical  transportation. The emergency relief response also includes sanitizing areas by helping spray inside and outside homes and other buildings.

 

Phase 2 –ADS second emergency response is for the interfaith community with the project theme ‘Promoting Interfaith Community LOVE and COMPASSION during COVID-19 pandemic period.’ Their focus is on making ‘Solidarity Visit’ with various religious leaders and actors and ‘Humanitarian Relief Aid Cooperation’ to 150 interfaith community families and 50 religious leaders and actors living in both rural Chittagong and metropolitan areas. Currently, 22 Muslin families have received relief aid, and solidarity visits have been made with 4 Muslim leaders and 2 Hindu priests. The food being distributed includes rice, salt, cooking oil, potatoes, apples and biscuits; masks; hygiene supplies of liquid soap and bar soap. ADS also printed the publication COVID Peace Appeal to distribute.

Parbatya Bouddha Mission (PBM) is a non-profit, non-government, socio-economic, humanitarian and religious (Buddhism) development organization. It was established in 1983 with the end at highlighting socio- cultural and socio-economic condition of poor peoples of Chittagong Hill Tracts and since then this organization tirelessly pursuing its mission for uplifting the conditions of Ethnic Indigenous Minorities of the region. At present PBM is mainly working in the Khagrachari & Rangamati Hill District in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Emergency Relief Response

Through PBM’s emergency relief effort 1,500 persons have received food (rice, potatoes, cooking oil, salt, and snacks), hygiene supplies of masks, and body and laundry soap.

Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University, Battambang Branch (SBUBB) provides higher education to both monastics and lay students. SBUBB has been engaged in many social work projects through its communities at the grassroots level, in addition to humanitarian projects. Staff and students are expected to help poor persons and older people.

 

Emergency Relief Response

As the worst flooding in about a decade inundates large areas of Cambodia, already reeling from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Buddhist community has been at the forefront of efforts to reach out to vulnerable communities to offer relief aid and comfort to those most affected.

SBUBB’s emergency relief activities will take place in villages of Battambang province. They expect to provide an estimated 444 persons or 89 households with food (rice, canned fish, fish sauce, soy sauce, salt, sugar and cooking oil and laundry powder.

Action India has envisioned an equitable society governed by democratic institutions since its inception in 1976. They believe that democracy, in its true sense, includes peoples’ participation, planning bottom up with continued vigilance on civil and political rights. Action India acts as a catalyst for social change, empowering women, children and youth to achieve equality, equity and the right to live with dignity and self-esteem.

 

Emergency Relief Response

Action India emergency relief effort proposed employ 30 women as food push cart vendors in 5 resettlement colonies of northeast Delhi. Action India estimates that 350 households or 2,000 persons will benefit directly from receiving nutritious food delivered to the by the food push carts.

ADECOM Network is an NGO that works to empower women in India. Based in Puducherry, ADECOM has been successfully organizing and agitating for women’s rights and children in the region for over 28 years. They collaborate in partnership with communities, civil society and government to keep women’s rights at the top of the agenda Their constant focus on create self-awareness and self-confidence, improve social, environmental and economic conditions of oppressed communities.

 

Emergency Relief Response

ADECOM’s focused their emergency relief activities in 30 villages in 3 districts of Tamil Nadu.  Funds were provided in 2 phases.

Phase 1 – During the first phase 3,000 persons received food baskets with 16 items (enough food for one week), emergency kits of health care supplies, and had access to psycho-social counseling. The baskets include rice, dal, oil, salt, wheat flour, RAVA (refined wheat), tamarind and various spices. ADECOM also raised awareness in camps and rural villages about COVID-19 with support from central and state government officials as well as about siddha and homeopathy.

 

Phase 2 – ADECOM’s second phase was in the same geographic area where their emergency relief activities reached 1,500 persons who received siddha and homeopathic medicines to strengthen their immune systems. Masks were also distributed. They conducted a mass campaign on a range of public health issues including COVID-19, water, sanitation, tuberculosis, reproductive health, psychosocial and mental health, and gender-based violence. Community leaders also were given awareness training about COVID-19. Information about COVID-19 was translated into the Tamil language and distributed.

All Manipur Buddhist Association – AMBA – is the only active Buddhist organization in northeast India’s Manipur state. AMBA advocates on behalf of minority and Buddhists in addition to spreading the teachings and philosophy of Buddhism.

 

Emergency Relief Response

AMBA’s emergency relief activities Their relief activities were focused in rural areas, 6 villages of five districts (Bishnupur, Imphal East, Kangpoki, Ukhrul and Kakching) where there are food shortages and have limited help from the Government. AMBA volunteers are coordinating with Government doctors posted in these areas and also with their local leaders. A total of 1,025 persons by received food (fermented fish, dal, onions, potatoes, cooking oil, and salt), as well as masks, soap and sanitary supplies.

EAGL Livelihood Foundation is a registered not for profit organization in India. They focus on improving education, health, creating livelihoods, reducing poverty and eradicating hunger, environmental sustainability, water conservation and disaster relief interventions.

 

Emergency Relief Response

EAGL’s emergency relief activities focused on 6 hamlets of the Shahapur block of Maharashtra’s Thane District. This area is where most the vulnerable tribal groups and communities live. A total of  661 persons received food (rice, pulses, salt, sugar, cooking oil, and vegetables).

Foundation of His Sacred Majesty – FHSM -is a registered non-profit organization which envisages to achieve social transformation, and render possible assistance. FHSM supports services to poor, deserving and needy communities without a profit motive and without any distinction of caste, creed, race, nationality, sex or religion. This social transformation that FHSM has undertaken to develop a society is based upon liberty, equality, fraternity, and social justice as envisaged by the father of India’s constitution, Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The COVID-19 Emergency Relief activities of FHSM are intended to address the needs of the most vulnerable communities of Dalits, tribal persons, nomadic communities, transgender persons and migrant workers. FHSM is also helping stranded migrant students.

 

Emergency Relief Response

FHSM received Mindful Action:  COVID-19 Emergency Relief funds to support 2 phases.

Phase 1 – During Phase One, 975 persons or 150 households in three villages of Tamil Nadu and Kerala received basic food items (rice, wheat flour, dal, edible oil, salt and sugar), and sanitary and hygiene items (masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, sanitary pads, and soap). Relief aid is distributed through relief clusters with the help of government-registered professional volunteers.

 

Phase 2 – FHSM plans to provide food to 645 persons or 120 households in Tyenampet, Central Chennai, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

KRITI, as a development research, praxis and communication team, aims to give creative expression to development thought and action. Founded in 1999, Kriti is a women’s rights and social development organisation that works on domestic violence and livelihood issues among women and resource poor communities. They also provide capacity building, documentation and programme support to small and medium size non-profits in India.

 

Emergency Relief Response

Kriti has been working with marginalised women and former street children around livelihood intervention in the village of Bhatola, Faridabad District, Haryana for more than 10 years. A total of 350 persons or 70 households received food relief including: rice, dal, wheat flour, dalia, soy protein, cooking oil, garam masala, jeera, dhania, haldi, red chili, sugar, salt and tea. Hygiene supplies: bar soap, laundry and household soap, sanitary pads, sanitizer

Nagaloka and the Nagajuna Institute are based in Nagpur which is a major centre for the revival of Buddhism in India today. The Nagarjuna Institute provides training and conference facilities for Buddhists and social activists from India and around the world. Dr. Ambedkar has inspired millions of young people to understand how Buddhism can help them transform their individual and social lives. Unfortunately, there is little effective teaching available in India. The Nagarjuna Institute was started to respond to this need.

 

Emergency Relief Response

The Nagaloka team, the alumni of the Nagarjuna Training Institute, and their partner organization, the Manuski Trust, are responding to the COVID 19 calamity, trying to help distressed people wherever possible all over India. The Nagarjuna Training Institute alumni along with the Nagaloka team identified 21 districts of India where they are working on the ground and are coordinating with private and government authorities to ensure the relief effort reaches the most needy families all over India. Their extensive network has mobilized to distribute food rations, soap, masks, and increase awareness about the crisis, as well as help provide emotional support to those who are suffering.

 

Nagaloka – Nagarjuna Training Institute received funds for two phases of emergency relief activities through INEB’s Mindful Action fund.

Phase 1 – A total of 1,493 persons or 383 households received food assistance and hygiene supplies that sustained them. The persons intended to receive the relief assistance were daily wage earners, migrant laborers, poor families, widows, vegetable sellers and poor farmers, rickshaw pullers, domestic workers, cobblers and some Scheduled cast communities living in 4 states: Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

Phase 2 – During the second phase a total of 848 persons or 208 households received food living in 5 states:  Andra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Orissa.

 

Siddhartha’s Intent Society, a registered educational society that was formed in March 2006 by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche They are deeply honored to receive the patronage of HisHoliness the Dalai Lama, who greatly appreciates the vision and the small steps already taken.Siddhartha’s Intent Society is working in collaboration with its partner Youth Buddhist Society of India (YBS) based in Uttar Pradesh, India.

 

Emergency Relief Response
Siddhartha’s Intent in collaboration with YBS’s extensive network distributed food kits (bag with rice, flour, pulses, sugar, cooking oil, salt, spices, and potatoes) and masks to families in need such as day laborers, blacksmiths, snake charmers and others. Each food kit fed one family for two weeks. The relief activities took place in Village Sikanderpur, Nagla Kua, Govind Nagar, Bhongaon, Jasrajpur (Sankisa Rajghat), Mainpuri, Uddar Pradesh, Bhusawal (Maharashtra) and Delhi, India. A total of 2,285 persons or 174 households and 1,410 individuals (some migrant workers) received food.

Kalyana Mitta Development Foundation (KMF) is a registered NGO in Myanmar working on youth empowerment and social change movements via youth leadership programs across the country since 2008. KMF has provided awareness raising, leadership and specific skills for youth based on engaged Buddhist approaches, small grants to provide local youth groups set up after trainings
(Alumni Core Groups) with opportunities to begin community development initiatives. KMF works on both peace and green programs through building partnerships for working together as good friends for the benefit of society.

 

Emergency Relief Response
KMF received funds for 2 separate emergency relief initiatives that both supported internally displaced persons (IDPs) – adults and children, living in refugee camps in Chin and Rakhine states. Both Chin and Rakhine states have the worst health care services which increases the IDPs health risks. Among the most pressing health concerns in the IDP camps during the rainy season was the increased likelihood of having diarrhea and dengue fever. KMF collaborated with local volunteer groups in both states in order for the emergency relief to reach the IDPs.

 

1. Emergency Relief for IDPs in Chin and Rakhine states – KMF prioritized supporting the most vulnerable IDPs living in Chin and Rakhine states who needed food (rice), hygiene supplies (masks, hand sanitizers and soap), thermometers, blankets and mosquito nets as well as more accurate information about COVID-19. A total of 8,005 persons directly benefited from the emergency relief effort including 746 households in Chin state and 1,091 households in Rakhine state.

 

2. Protecting IDP children’s health and well-being – The children have arrived at the camps under various conditions, including some who are on their own because their parents were lost during the fighting. The IDP children have had their lives disrupted on many levels and have multiple needs including health care, food, education and more. A total of 1,080 children received
education materials about COVID-19, story books about preventing sexual violence, and raincoats to protect them during the rainy season. An estimated 3,378 persons (parents and camp officials) in Chin and Rakhine states indirectly benefited from learning about protecting their children from sexual exploitation and gender-based violence.

Phaung Daw Oo Monastic School – Included students of all religions and ethnicities are welcomed at Phaung Daw Oo Monastic School in Mandalay, where more than 8,000 students (boys and girls) are enrolled. This “monastic” school offers a secular curriculum, as well as special classes in Buddhism and Pali for novice monks and any secular students who opt to take them. 

Some students and teachers were stranded at the Paung Daw Oo Monastic School after it closed when the COVID crisis began. Although most students and teachers have returned to their home communities, 150 students living in dormitories including novices and monks living on campus urgently needed food and hygiene supplies.

Emergency Relief Response
Paung Daw Oo Monastic School’s emergency relief activities directly supported 296 persons – students, staff, novices and monks, by providing them with food, hygiene supplies (masks, soap and laundry detergent). Their sanitation activity involved setting up hand-washing stands with basins on their campuses.

The Spirit in Education Movement – SEM, provides trainings and workshops based around themes of wellbeing and sustainable living, including subjects such as meditation and social action, conflict resolution, leadership skills, social analysis, and deep ecology. These trainings are rooted in participatory and experiential learning techniques and engaged spirituality, which build values that strengthen wellbeing of people and the environment, rather than materialistic and narrow intellectual definitions of education. SEM also initiates longer term projects in the region for empowering marginalised people and strengthening civil society. Currently, SEM is focusing on coordinating emergency relief to Burmese migrant workers who have been out of work since March 2020. Many of whom are illegal migrants and are having difficulties accessing emergency relief by the Thai government or Thai public groups. Some of them are living in very poor temporary conditions in construction sites with no health care or livelihood. They have been stranded in Thailand with no work or savings as they lived from day to day as daily wage earners.

 

Emergency Relief Response

SEM continues to coordinate with different groups, organizations and networks in the local areas and at the national level. They are providing information, connecting different individuals and organizations, including fund raising and public awareness campaigns. Local volunteers are distributing relief supplies, such as food. Raising public awareness about COVID-19 in Hua Hin District, Prachuabkirikan province and Petchaburi province of Thailand are also a priority. A total of 826 persons and 325 households from Myanmar directly benefited from the relief response.

The Chokgyur Lingpa Foundation supports: the preservation and proliferation of the dharma; monastic and secular education; providing low-cost and free healthcare; and providing emergency response relief in Nepal, such as the relief provided after the 2015 earthquake.

 

Emergency Relief Response

Now with the countrywide lockdown, daily wage workers and others are facing economic difficulties and uncertainty. The Foundation’s network in the Chapagaon area near one of their monasteries is responding to the local communities’ needs. An estimated 750 persons or 125 households living in the Godawari municipality of Lalitpur district received food (rice, dal, masala, cooking oil) and soap. The Foundation also matched funds received through INEB’s Mindful Action: COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund which extended the emergency relief by distributing food for an additional month. Their match included providing money so some persons in their network who would have been evicted from their homes.