Hunger in the times of Covid, grassroots organizing in Nepal 

[fusion_builder_container type=”flex” hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” min_height_medium=”” min_height_small=”” min_height=”” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” align_content=”stretch” flex_align_items=”flex-start” flex_justify_content=”flex-start” flex_column_spacing=”” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” container_tag=”div” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” status=”published” publish_date=”” class=”” id=”” spacing_medium=”” margin_top_medium=”” margin_bottom_medium=”” spacing_small=”” margin_top_small=”” margin_bottom_small=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_dimensions_medium=”” padding_top_medium=”” padding_right_medium=”” padding_bottom_medium=”” padding_left_medium=”” padding_dimensions_small=”” padding_top_small=”” padding_right_small=”” padding_bottom_small=”” padding_left_small=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” link_color=”” link_hover_color=”” border_sizes=”” border_sizes_top=”” border_sizes_right=”” border_sizes_bottom=”” border_sizes_left=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” box_shadow=”no” box_shadow_vertical=”” box_shadow_horizontal=”” box_shadow_blur=”0″ box_shadow_spread=”0″ box_shadow_color=”” box_shadow_style=”” z_index=”” overflow=”” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ background_color=”” background_image=”” skip_lazy_load=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_blend_mode=”none” video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” render_logics=”” absolute=”off” absolute_devices=”small,medium,large” sticky=”off” sticky_devices=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_background_color=”” sticky_height=”” sticky_offset=”” sticky_transition_offset=”0″ scroll_offset=”0″ animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_6″ layout=”1_6″ align_self=”auto” content_layout=”column” align_content=”flex-start” valign_content=”flex-start” content_wrap=”wrap” spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” type_medium=”” type_small=”” order_medium=”0″ order_small=”0″ dimension_spacing_medium=”” dimension_spacing_small=”” dimension_spacing=”” dimension_margin_medium=”” dimension_margin_small=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_medium=”” padding_small=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” hover_type=”none” border_sizes=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_radius=”” box_shadow=”no” dimension_box_shadow=”” box_shadow_blur=”0″ box_shadow_spread=”0″ box_shadow_color=”” box_shadow_style=”” background_type=”single” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ background_color=”” background_image=”” background_image_id=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_blend_mode=”none” render_logics=”” filter_type=”regular” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″ animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”false” border_position=”all” first=”true” spacing_right=””][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ layout=”2_3″ align_self=”auto” content_layout=”column” align_content=”flex-start” valign_content=”flex-start” content_wrap=”wrap” spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” type_medium=”” type_small=”” order_medium=”0″ order_small=”0″ dimension_spacing_medium=”” dimension_spacing_small=”” dimension_spacing=”” dimension_margin_medium=”” dimension_margin_small=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_medium=”” padding_small=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” hover_type=”none” border_sizes=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_radius=”” box_shadow=”no” dimension_box_shadow=”” box_shadow_blur=”0″ box_shadow_spread=”0″ box_shadow_color=”” box_shadow_style=”” background_type=”single” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ background_color=”” background_image=”” background_image_id=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_blend_mode=”none” render_logics=”” filter_type=”regular” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″ animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”false” border_position=”all” first=”false” spacing_right=””][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

Hunger in the times of Covid, grassroots organizing in Nepal 

by Kesang Yudron

Covid-19 has pushed the world into unprecedented times of uncertainty, disruption and chaos. As often is the case, people living in poverty and hunger suffer the most. With the spread of the second wave, Covid-19 cases skyrocketed in Nepal with daily infection of 8000-10,000 cases being reported every day and there were strict lockdowns. As of today, Nepal is a level 3, as Covid rates, thanks to Omnicron, are rising once again. 

When we initially set out to provide relief for the villages that were hit hard by Covid, we did not find any reports or broader national survey on hunger so we reconnected with our partner organizations and community leaders. We asked them, where is the greatest need where Conscious Connections Foundation (CCF) can help?   Many reported that since the lockdown began, daily wage workers lost their main source of income and families had run out of money to buy food. The Nepali government has no social protection plans to safeguard livelihoods and the country was shocked when last year,  the then prime minister K.P.Sharma Oli said “Nepalis have a natural, high immunity and people need not much worry about Covid- 19” while Nepali youth protested for better Covid testing, quarantine facilities for returning migrant workers and greater transparency from the government. With the lockdown being extended for months on end, hunger needs were immediate and immense. 

The second wave in Nepal mirrored India’s Covid surge, as hospitals reported an overwhelming number of severe cases and a similar shortage of beds, oxygen and ventilators. The second wave created more uncertainty and especially for people in poverty who had already run out of their savings from the first wave. 

During my initial research, our goal was to work with grassroots organizations focused on marginalized communities and vulnerable groups including single mothers and children, daily wage workers, disabled and vulnerable individuals, people experiencing homelessness, victims of gender-based violence and communities marginalized by systemic societal oppression. 

In May, 2021 through a referral from a friend, we got in touch with Ayushma Rana who had recently lost her husband to the second Covid wave. She had been providing food and medicine to single mothers, children and people living in slums. Once we got CCF funds in Nepal, through Ayushma 65 families and 18 new mothers were supported with food parcels containing 10 kg of rice, 5 kg of lentils, 3 packets of salt, 1 kg of sugar, 24 small packets of biscuits, and 2 packets of mixed beans. This food ration would be sufficient for 1 month but we take solace in knowing that no one has to sleep on an empty stomach for some time. 

We had previously worked with Kusum Hiteri Foundation, a passionate husband-and-wife duo who have been working relentlessly to feed homeless and day laborer families during the first lockdown.   Every day Kusum and her husband cook, pack free meals for 80-90 people in Lalitpur, Nepal. I had a brief chat with Kusum recently and she told me by now she knows all the regulars by name. The construction laborers said that, despite lockdown rules getting relaxed, there is no work for them as tourism and construction sectors have taken a hit due to Covid. One of the biggest economic sectors in Nepal is tourism which provides direct and indirect jobs to 4 million people.  She claimed that some father’s come for free meals to lessen the food load on their families so mothers and children have more food at home. 

Most daily wage workers live in the central areas of Kathmandu because these are areas where they usually gather to find work for the day. These communities mostly work in construction, plumbing, in households, as porters, and as roadside vendors. The majority of them come from villages in search of a better life for themselves and their families. These workers have families that are dependent on their income. 

Another grassroots organization we partnered with was Menz Foundation. It is run by Menaz Khan who has a working station in Thamel, a central hub of tourism in Kathmandu with 5-6 volunteers cooking, packing and managing the people who come for free meals every day. 

A month before the Covid pandemic started, Menaz Khan lost his father.  His goal was to feed people as a way to remember and celebrate his father. He continued working on feeding people and through his experience of interacting with people, he came across individuals who were drinking water and sugar to survive.  

Before the distribution begins, the volunteers call out the names of recipients to come and collect food. The volunteers said, “The people are not afraid of Covid, they are afraid of being hungry”. If people have enough food, then they can stay home and be safe, rather than in crowds seeking food.

Nilam Poudel is a trans woman who is working for the LGBTQ+ community in Nepal. She is a model for Ganesh Himal Trading and also extensive experience working as a make-up artist, fashion organizer, and she has recently volunteered with Ganesh Himal Trading’s non-profit, Conscious Connections Foundation.

Through her leadership with CCF, we have been able to distribute food rations to LGBTQ communities in rural parts of Nepal who have been hit hard by Covid. Because of prejudice and stigma, many trans people have been without food and shelter, and this only intensified from the conditions that the pandemic has created over the past few years. Through the help of CCF, Nilam begin to take overnight trips to Saptari, Ithari, Jhapa, Birgunj to distribute relief to these trans individuals. She talks about her work with the trans community and CCF in the interview below:

Continue to watch this is four-part video series with Nilam here.

It is hard to truly find words to truly express how grateful we are for your support and generosity and how communities can come together to help each other in times of need. That is truly the beauty of our human spirit. 

Please check our Facebook and website for updates as we continue our Covid Relief work. Thank you!

[/fusion_text][fusion_youtube id=”https://youtu.be/iMllLrtqrec” alignment=”center” width=”” height=”” autoplay=”false” api_params=”” title_attribute=”” video_facade=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” css_id=”” /][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

Health experts predict that Nepal will be hit by the third wave of Covid strains so we would like to request people to donate to our hunger relief. Poverty is the main cause of hunger in the world and our local groups are getting calls for help every day. 100% of your donations will go to Covid relief. 

It is hard to truly find words to truly express how grateful we are for your support and generosity and how communities can come together to help each other in times of need. That is truly the beauty of our human spirit. 

Please check our Facebook and website for updates as we continue our Covid Relief work. 

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_6″ layout=”1_6″ align_self=”auto” content_layout=”column” align_content=”flex-start” valign_content=”flex-start” content_wrap=”wrap” spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” type_medium=”” type_small=”” order_medium=”0″ order_small=”0″ dimension_spacing_medium=”” dimension_spacing_small=”” dimension_spacing=”” dimension_margin_medium=”” dimension_margin_small=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_medium=”” padding_small=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” hover_type=”none” border_sizes=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_radius=”” box_shadow=”no” dimension_box_shadow=”” box_shadow_blur=”0″ box_shadow_spread=”0″ box_shadow_color=”” box_shadow_style=”” background_type=”single” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ background_color=”” background_image=”” background_image_id=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_blend_mode=”none” render_logics=”” filter_type=”regular” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″ animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”true” border_position=”all” first=”false”][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]