Help Rebuild the Sundarban
Donation protected
In mid-May of 2020, Cyclone Amphan swept into East India and Bangladesh. The storm was devastating: huge trees were uprooted, houses were destroyed, and innumerable people were left without electricity or water in their homes-- all in the middle of a deadly pandemic and strict stay-at-home orders
People in the Sundarban region-- a lush coastal area of West Bengal-- were hit particularly hard by the cyclone. The Sundarbans, populated by mangroves, tigers, and villages, lie at the meeting of three rivers and usually serve as a buffer against storms for the rest of India. However, no one in the Sundarbans remembers a storm like Cyclone Amphan.
The storm tore down houses, which are often made of mud or other organic materials. It also flooded the farmland with saltwater, making it unusable for the next few years. Over 100,000 farmers are predicted to lose their livelihoods.
As the people of the Sundarbans recover from the unimaginable damage of this storm, please consider helping them. We are all struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, so let's help each other and make sure that each of us at least has a home to stay inside.
One family needs only 15 dollars. Every contribution matters.
A family standing among the ruins of their home.
WHO WE ARE
We are six cousins and are currently students in the United States. Our parents all grew up together in Kolkata and other areas of West Bengal (Our mom/aunt is also with us on this campaign). Although we all grew up outside of India, we feel really close to our extended families who still live there. We're lucky to be able to visit them relatively often. Even though we live across the world, we were devastated when Cyclone Amphan hit West Bengal, Odisha, and Bangladesh. Our family members and friends have been struggling immensely, as have their neighbors and communities. Our families are always there for us when we need them, and we want to be there for them too, no matter how far away we are.
WHO WE ARE RAISING FUNDS FOR
We are raising funds for the villagers of Sunderbans. We are working with a voluntary group near Kolkata called Shudhu Sundarban Chorcha (Bengali for Just the Sundarbans). This group has been working for eleven years with the people of the Sundarbans, providing aid and relief on a regular basis. Their work has been critical in the survival of these communities, particularly in the aftermath of cyclones that occur frequently in the Bay of Bengal. For photos from Sundarban Chorcha's past projects see:
https://trishamukherjee06.wixsite.com/sundarbans/about
HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE SPENT
Every $15 (equivalent to 1000 Indian Rupees) you donate would provide one family with items they are most in need of after the cyclone, such as food, clothing, and a tarpaulin for shelter. Because the group we are working with is entirely volunteer run, there are no overhead costs.
HOW WE WILL GET THE FUNDS TO VILLAGERS IN THE SUNDARBANS
We will transfer the collected funds to a member of Sundarban Chorcha in Kolkata, who will then send the funds into the accounts of affected families. Due to the pandemic and the lockdown, the funds that we collect will be sent directly to the accounts of affected families. This reduces the risk of spreading COVID, keeping both the volunteers and the affected families safe.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
People in the Sundarban region-- a lush coastal area of West Bengal-- were hit particularly hard by the cyclone. The Sundarbans, populated by mangroves, tigers, and villages, lie at the meeting of three rivers and usually serve as a buffer against storms for the rest of India. However, no one in the Sundarbans remembers a storm like Cyclone Amphan.
The storm tore down houses, which are often made of mud or other organic materials. It also flooded the farmland with saltwater, making it unusable for the next few years. Over 100,000 farmers are predicted to lose their livelihoods.
As the people of the Sundarbans recover from the unimaginable damage of this storm, please consider helping them. We are all struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, so let's help each other and make sure that each of us at least has a home to stay inside.
One family needs only 15 dollars. Every contribution matters.
A family standing among the ruins of their home.WHO WE ARE
We are six cousins and are currently students in the United States. Our parents all grew up together in Kolkata and other areas of West Bengal (Our mom/aunt is also with us on this campaign). Although we all grew up outside of India, we feel really close to our extended families who still live there. We're lucky to be able to visit them relatively often. Even though we live across the world, we were devastated when Cyclone Amphan hit West Bengal, Odisha, and Bangladesh. Our family members and friends have been struggling immensely, as have their neighbors and communities. Our families are always there for us when we need them, and we want to be there for them too, no matter how far away we are.
WHO WE ARE RAISING FUNDS FOR
We are raising funds for the villagers of Sunderbans. We are working with a voluntary group near Kolkata called Shudhu Sundarban Chorcha (Bengali for Just the Sundarbans). This group has been working for eleven years with the people of the Sundarbans, providing aid and relief on a regular basis. Their work has been critical in the survival of these communities, particularly in the aftermath of cyclones that occur frequently in the Bay of Bengal. For photos from Sundarban Chorcha's past projects see:
https://trishamukherjee06.wixsite.com/sundarbans/about
HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE SPENT
Every $15 (equivalent to 1000 Indian Rupees) you donate would provide one family with items they are most in need of after the cyclone, such as food, clothing, and a tarpaulin for shelter. Because the group we are working with is entirely volunteer run, there are no overhead costs.
HOW WE WILL GET THE FUNDS TO VILLAGERS IN THE SUNDARBANS
We will transfer the collected funds to a member of Sundarban Chorcha in Kolkata, who will then send the funds into the accounts of affected families. Due to the pandemic and the lockdown, the funds that we collect will be sent directly to the accounts of affected families. This reduces the risk of spreading COVID, keeping both the volunteers and the affected families safe.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Co-organizers (4)
Mithi Mukherjee
Organizer
Boulder, CO
Avanti Gautam
Co-organizer
Trisha Mukherjee
Co-organizer
Yosha Gautam
Co-organizer