Soap making day to protect tribal communities

The COVID-19 virus is a huge risk to all, and even more for ethnic minorities. Tribals comprise a substantial minority population of India, making up 8.6% of India‘s population, or 104.2 million people, according to the 2011 census. One of the most impactful activities to combat infections is soap and hygiene practices. But soap is…

News from the ground about life in India and the kantharis today

Let me share with you today some news from the “ground“. My friends Paul and Sabriye, who lead the kanthari center in South India, where they help social and impact entrepreneurs to grow, have sent me the following information and newsletter: “The world as we knew it, surely has changed. In these challenging days we…

Soap for life – situation in our MMH areas

On 24 March Prime Minister Modi declared the immediate lockdown for the next 3 weeks. For 1.3 billion people.In many parts of the country, in the slums, but also in rural areas and our tribal areas in the South of India where the poor live. A lockdown means also no informal job any more, no…

How social distancing (does not) work in poor surroundings

Social distancing – a horror scenario for the poor? (Citation of article mentioned below): As many of us are painfully aware, social distancing is an impossibility for much of India (and a lot of other regions). Measures such as hand-washing, keeping oneself at home if symptomatic, working from home can be followed without any major…

Water testing in our schools

Health means also to have access to high quality of drinking water. The number of diseases caused by infected water for human beings and animals is still very high. Much too high – also in our Making More Health project area in rural South India. That’s why in our MMH areas close to Coimbatore, in…