The betel palm is known as a plant that in many parts of Asia and East Africa delivers betel, a dangerous drug that when it is chewed helps against the feeling of hunger and tiredness. Did you know? In Asia, unripe betel nuts are chopped up with betel cutters. Usually these are rolled in leaves…
Tag: poverty
Staying with scavenger families in India
During our visit at Vizhuthugal, one of our NGO partners close to Coimbatore, we met the whole team and many volunteers. Vizhuthugal engages on a daily basis for scavenger families and human rights. In the past two years of the Covid 19 crises we had given to the families various supports, such as health and…
Appalam Making – a crispy bread, a better future
After two years of crises due to Covid-19 also in India normal life is coming back. This is happening at all social levels and means a lot to less wealthier people. The lockdowns and curfews as well as the situation at schools and job losses hit them the most. It is just a few days…
Distributing rice, lentils and soap among vulnerable communities during COVID-19
Although the strictest lockdown conditions were eased in Southern India, people in tribal areas are still facing impaired access to food supply. Where limited transportation facilities and shortened opening hours of grocery shops restrict people’s possibilities, it adds onto job loss in the formal and informal sector and a third wave of COVID-19 infections. Access…
Raising awareness in a worsening mental health crisis in India
How an Indian psychiatrist engages to break the stigma COVID-19 has forced people all over the world to stand still, to stay at home, to distance themselves from stabilizing social environments, to lose job opportunities and to let go of dreams. Some have lost their loved ones, others are on the brink of financial ruin,…
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…
Go India, go future! 