An escalating pandemic in India, a race for an effective vaccine, and a distressed nation in the throes of partisan politics, the South Asian community continues to grapple with this perfect storm of crisis, systemic gulf between the rich and poor and the loss of loved ones. We, at Empower Orphans come together to fight the disruptions caused by the pandemic and connect with others like you who share an innate desire to make a difference in the lives of those who are most affected and less fortunate. 

Help us fight for the children whose lives have been disrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic in India! 

Donate now to support the health care needs of children affected by the virus and the financial needs of those who have lost their parents during this pandemic. COVID-19 cases due to the deadly variant are rapidly increasing throughout India with a total of 20.3 million official cases and the number of deaths has surpassed 222,000. While hospitals are pressured to fight against this second wave, families are struggling to afford treatment for loved ones and grieving with devastating loss. While we are focused on the macro-level support for oxygen concentrators, we ask for micro-level support to support children directly on the ground.

With 472 million children, India has the largest child population in the world.  21.5% of the overall population affected by COVID-19 were between the ages of 10-17. COVID-19 has torn apart families, taking parents away from their children. Children who are in need of care and protection have been temporarily placed in orphanages, where they typically remain for lengthy periods of time given the 0.01% adoption rate. Half of the children in orphanages actually come from families who cannot take care of them due to finances. Given COVID-19 imposed- financial struggles and parental deaths, the number of children being placed into orphanages and poverty will only increase. 

Our fund will support: 
- Children whose parents have passed away from COVID-19 
- Children who have been abandoned due to financial struggles associated with health care treatment for COVID-19 
- Children who have been affected by COVID-19 themselves in orphanages  
- Purchase of oxygen concentrators for orphanages  
 
These funds will directly go to the orphanages in Mumbai and Pune (Seva Sadan and Hope for the Children). 
 
Empower Orphans is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that strives to create self-sufficiency for vulnerable children by equipping them with the tools to gain a basic education and access to health care services. The organization was started by Neha Gupta in 2009 when she was only 9 years old. It has grown rapidly since, impacting 30,000 children globally (in India, the US, Uganda, Haiti). To learn more visit: https://www.empowerorphans.org/ 

For questions: 
Contact: 
Aarav Worah ([email redacted]) 
Ami Kantawala ([email redacted]) 
Neha Gupta ([email redacted])