During the first wave of COVID-19, the staff, children, and families of Bethania Kids have remained healthy, as we have been thankful to report. Now India is in the midst of the second wave of COVID-19, and a third, more brutal wave is expected. The government has imposed a complete lockdown, making life especially difficult for day laborers and other low income people. Many Bethania Kids families are now in dire straits. The virus strain in India is extremely contagious, and the death-toll continues to rise. The Director of the Dayavu Home for Boys in Kannivadi, Eduman Isaac, recently died of complications from COVID-19. The entire country is in need of substantial help from around the world. We want to provide as much protection from the virus, aid during the pandemic, and recovery post-pandemic for our Bethania Kids family as we possibly can. 

Your help is urgently needed!

Your generous gifts will assist us to expedite relief for the Bethania Kids and their families.

Vaccinations are the first priority for Bethania Kids staff, our children, their families, and those in our Women’s Empowerment Programs. The need includes transportation to vaccination sites. We pray that all Bethania Kids staff and families will be vaccinated, as well as our children when vaccines are available for children. 

1000 vaccinations @ $5 = $5,000

Masks are needed at all Bethania Kids ministry sites, including for children, staff, women in our programs, and their families. Many of the masks will be sewn in our Women’s Empowerment Programs. Masks may be required for a long time to come in India. 

1000 boxes of masks @ $7 = $7,000

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all Bethania staff, including personal protective clothing, hygiene soaps, gloves, sanitizers, mass sanitizing of all facilities, surface cleaning, and other expenses to maintain a safe environment at all our sites. 

1000 PPE units @ $9 = $9,000

Food Supplements for families at Bethania Kids who have lost jobs, including those in nearby communities in great need and Bethania Kids alumni and their families. 

20 families for 6 months @ $100 per family per month = $12,000

Nutritional Supplements and enhanced food programs as children return to Bethania Kids residence homes will be needed to restore them to full health.

4 residence homes for 6 months @ $150 per home per month = $3,600

Emergency Hospitalization including transportation, in-patient care, special needs and family support when required.

50 instances @ $200 = $10,000

 

EDUCATION SUPPORT, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATIONS

Bethania Kids children can continue their studies during the pandemic via television or internet, but few families in villages have access to wi-fi or televisions or even to books or other resources. Our children now in secondary or advanced education are attending classes on-line when and if they have laptops and access to the internet. Staff are also now serving as community social workers, coordinating and assisting with food distribution when possible. These circumstances have dramatically increased the need for cell phones, laptops, projectors, and smartscreens in order to facilitate all these ministry activities. 

Laptop Computer and Web Access for staff and children to support education and community outreach.

20 laptops @ $700 = $14,000

Projectors and Smartscreens to supplement education and community outreach from both residence homes and care centers. 

15 devices @ $800 = $12,000

Educational Software will further supplement learning in homes and care centers, both for regular education and for Sunday School. It will continue to be used as children return to our homes and care centers. 

160 copies of software @ $20 = $3,200

Cell Phones and Service are needed to facilitate communication with our children, their families, and the community.  

20 cell phones for 6 months @ $80 per phone per month = $9,600

 

POST PANDEMIC RESTART IN BETHANIA KIDS HOMES AND CARE CENTERS

The COVID virus is explosive in India. The needs are great, and the danger of further spread is very real. The number of virus deaths is substantial, and the number of orphans resulting from the death of parents and guardians of Indian children will continue to grow. Bethania Kids is in contact with local Child Welfare Regulators to apprise them of our availability to offer homes to orphans from the pandemic. Unlike the tsunami of 2004, when the government was happy for us to accept large numbers of children, the present Indian government will control the placement of orphans. We are positioned now to assist these most needy children.

We also have children returning to us who have lost a year of education, nurturing, and emotional development. After the pandemic subsides, the children in our Bethania Kids programs will need to be evaluated for educational, spiritual, physical, medical and psychological needs. This funding will provide additional professional help to assess both the returning children and those new to Bethania Kids, all of whom may have suffered the loss of loved ones and other traumatic experiences. 

Psychologist: assessment of the mental health of returning children for 6 months. $6,000 will be required for the first month and $800 for each of the next 5 months. We have divided the amounts into 100 units to allow multiple gifts of reasonable amounts.

100 assessment units @ $100 = $10,000

Educational Assessment: assessment of knowledge and aptitude for both returning and new children in homes and care centers.

60 assessment units @ $100 = $6,000

Medical Evaluations: additional medical support to assess the health of both returning and new children and adults in homes, care centers, Women's Empowerment Programs, and special schools. The need is for the first 6 months of the children’s return. 

100 evaluation units @ $60 = $6,000

 

ACCEPTING NEW ORPHANS AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC

Bethania Foundation, India has been diligent in contacting local District Child Protection Offices and Child Welfare Committee heads regarding inviting new orphans to Bethania Kids. We have also contacted local pastors to bring orphans or semi-orphans to Bethania Kids. In 2004, when we took in many orphans as a result of the tsunami, the government was very open to having charities take children in and raise them. Times have changed, and the government will regulate the new wave of orphans more closely. Preparation is in place for Bethania Kids to receive children, and written and verbal communications are ongoing expressing our desire to assist. Whereas the extent is not well defined at this point, we must be well prepared and ready to accept new children in Bethania Kids residence homes. 

20 children @ $500 = $10,000

You can help with these desperately needed projects! 
Please give generously to COVID-19 relief for
Bethania Kids children and their families.
 

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