Dignity Diary 61

Dignity DIARY

August 2024 Issue #61

Floods and Landslides

hit Kerala, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and other parts of the country

Urgently Required Material:

Dry Ration, Ready-to-Eat Food, Utensils, Sanitary Pads, Solar Lights, Blankets, Clothes (Including New Undergarments), Basic Medicines, Chlorine Tablets, Bleaching powder, Mosquito Nets, Raincoats, Umbrella, Tarpaulins, Toiletries and School materials.

You can send your contributions to the nearest Goonj center
To organise a camp in your office or near your home, please write to mail@goonj.org

Contribute Now

Dear Friend of Goonj,

Recent floods and landslides across India have once again shown us how critical it is to be prepared for disasters. These increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events are stark reminders that climate change is not a future threat – it's happening now. As I write this, our teams are on the ground in Kerala, Karnataka, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar, working tirelessly to reach out to affected areas with basic essentials and rehabilitation efforts. But the need is growing faster than our resources. The climate crisis is not only intensifying the severity of natural disasters but also magnifying their impact on communities.

While we've enhanced our disaster preparedness over the years—pre-positioning supplies in flood-prone areas, improving communication with local communities, and implementing impact-reduction projects—we need your support to expand our efforts.

That's why we're introducing the Goonj Alliance for Rapid Response on Disasters (GARRD). It's a network bringing together people from cities and villages to work on disaster response, not just during crises, but all year round. You can contribute by joining GARRD, committing resources (money, materials, or services), and spreading awareness about disaster preparedness.

Your contributions, both material and monetary, are crucial. Money gives us the flexibility to act fast – buying supplies in bulk or sending truckloads of materials to remote areas.

Remember, your participation does more than just assist in emergencies. It's part of our bigger dream – using city surplus to drive rural development. By joining our Do-Gooders family, you're part of a movement that respects every person's dignity and empowers communities to stand on their own feet.

Lagey Raho..

Anshu Gupta

Founder - Goonj and Gram Swabhimaan

Goonj- Adapting to the Increasing

Impact of Disasters

Goonj Alliance for Rapid Response on Disasters

GARRD is a collaborative network of rural and urban stakeholders created to work together during both disaster and non-disaster times. It aims to bring disaster response into the mindset of each member for their organisational work and approaches.

GARRD was established based on Goonj's two decades of experience working in disaster-affected areas across India. The changing reality of disasters, including their increasing frequency and scale due to climate change, necessitates a more coordinated and effective response.

HOW GARRD WORKS..

Resource Mobilization

Ensure rapid deployment of resources where they are most needed

Urban Civic Participation

Bring disasters and disaster response into the mindset of the society in non-disaster time

Reﬂection

A process of constant learning and course correction (from disasters) on a

systemic societal level.

Forge Local Partnerships

Improve before we change… learn from past disasters and from grassroots innovators and communities

Involve local Communities

Give voice, visibility and velocity to local

creativity, collaboration and compassion

Join GAARD ...

Collaborate

Join GARRD as a member and introduce others who fit.

Commit

Pledge resources (money, material, services, logistics) for familiar disasters.

Co-create

Work with Goonj on disaster awareness through events, exhibitions, and campaigns.

Know more about Rahat

Know more about GARRD

Know more about Rahat Kits

Rahat Updates and Stories from the Ground

Goonj state teams together with our local partners are on the ground, responding to the urgent needs of flood-affected communities across India. In Assam, we have reached over 2600 families with essential supplies, primarily in six districts. Goonj continues to work and monitor the evolving situation in

Kerala, Karnataka, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.

Marauna Block, Supaul District, Bihar

Severe flooding damaged a crucial bridge in the area, cutting off children's access to their school. As part of Goonj's Cloth For Work (CFW)-Rahat (Disaster Relief and Response) initiative, local villagers constructed a temporary bridge using bamboo. This effort restored access to the school, allowing children to resume their education.

Ongoing campaigns

Taneira x Goonj Collaboration Campaign

Goonj is excited to partner with Taneira, a TATA product, for 'Exchange, Elevate and Empower'. This initiative, launched on July 10, 2024, aligns with our goal of using urban surplus for rural development. You're invited to contribute your cherished sarees at your nearest Taneira stores. Goonj will repurpose these to reward rural women participating in local development activities.

To know more, Click here

Team 5000

Goonj has always believed in the power of individuals and the collective strength of people.

By joining Team 5000 (our monthly financial contribution initiative), you step into this legacy of grassroots action and become an integral part of our extended family. This isn’t just about giving; it’s about becoming a vital contributor to a movement that empowers communities and amplifies the voices of the marginalized and vulnerable. With every contribution, you assist us in extending our reach, deepening our impact, and building self-reliant communities.

To know more about Team 5000, click here.

Upcoming event