Responding to the Pandemic
BE Change and our partner schools are busier than ever this month, as the COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for all of us to overcome. We’re now raising funds to support a new school in need, a BE Change meal program is feeding students and their families during this difficult time, and one of our co-founders is using innovative technology to connect students with new friends around the world. We’re excited to bring you more information about each of these important developments below.
BE Change Partners with Bhavishya Me to Provide Support During the Pandemic and Beyond
Students, teachers and school administrators are pictured outside Bhavishya Me in September 2019.
We’re pleased to announce that BE Change has officially partnered with Bhavishya Me Free Education School, a free primary school in rural Bihar, India! We invite you to learn more about Bhavishya Me here. This school operates entirely on donations in order to survive, and its finances have been hit hard by the worldwide economic downturn. We’re now working to fill funding gaps created by the pandemic so that Bhavishya Me can open stronger than ever when life returns to normal and classes resume.
We’re currently working to fund teacher salaries and the purchase of school supplies at Bhavishya Me to help ensure that the school does not have to keep its doors shut for long. We hope you’ll join us in helping the children that count on Bhavishya Me for their education by donating today.
A Bhavishya Me teacher helps students with an exercise in September 2019.
A Bhavishya Me teacher grades papers in December 2018.
BE Change Meal Program Feeds Students and Families During Pandemic
As schools across Bihar remain closed due to ongoing lockdown measures, BE Change partner school Prema Metta Orphanage School Trust has found a way to use its BE Change-funded school meal program to continue serving the local community. As many of the school’s students depend on the program for a nutritious daily meal, Prema Metta founder Anup Kumar is sending home nonperishable foods to continue supporting these children and their families during this difficult time.
Each of the school’s 65 students and their families will receive packages of dried rice, dried lentils, potatoes, cooking oil and antibacterial hand soap. Prema Metta has even been able to raise additional funds to distribute food to other families in the local community—in all, the school will distribute 100 packages of food over several days.
In order to protect the community, the school has implemented social distancing measures throughout the distribution process. School staff have established queues according to local guidelines and are limiting the number of recipients that may attend at one time.
BE Change is proud to sponsor the meal program at Prema Metta, and we applaud Mr. Kumar and his staff for their extraordinary efforts to support their students and the local community during this difficult time.
BE Change Co-founder Organizes Global Virtual Meetup for Young Students
On April 11th, four students from Prema Metta joined “Kids Meeting Kids AROUND THE WORLD”, an international virtual meetup organized by BE Change co-founder Michelle Bos-Lun to help youth in isolation due to worldwide school closures. Students from age six to 18 dialed in from Iraq, Japan, the United States, Nepal, the Palestinian Territories and India to connect, share their stories and learn from one another. The students from around the world conversed with each other in English, and the four students from Prema Metta were able to communicate clearly and effectively while meeting and greeting their new online friends. The meetup has proven to be an exciting new experience for the students that fosters a unique cross-cultural understanding among the participants.
Donations made this program possible: Prema Metta had no internet access just a few years ago, but has since been able to provide a reliable internet connection for its students with contributions from generous donors. The Kids Meeting Kids program has given Prema Metta students their first ever experience with Zoom, and a chance to practice their English while learning about other cultures.
We believe school staff, administrators and students in rural Bihar have the talent, motivation and skills needed to overcome whatever challenges they may face at any time, including during the current crisis. The principal need at these schools, which rely entirely on donations to survive, is a reliable source of funding. Unfortunately, the economic downturn has made it even more difficult for these schools to operate. Your donations to BE Change will help fill funding gaps and ensure these schools can continue to serve the needs of their students during this difficult time and beyond.