How Hong Kong Is Helping India Through The Current COVID-19 Wave

Organisations and individuals that are doing their bit…and what you can do, too.

No matter which part of the world you live in, you cannot escape the sad and shocking news of the second COVID wave in India that’s been dominating headlines over the last six weeks. The relentless and haunting images of funerals and hospitals are heartbreaking. Most people in Hong Kong realise how fortunate they are to live in a city where the pandemic has been diligently and carefully controlled. With a large Indian community in Hong Kong and given its close ties with many who live here, there is a growing desire to help families devastated by the COVID crisis in India. If you want to help in any way you can, here are some of the ways you can volunteer, donate or participate in relief efforts for India.

Read more: COVID-19 Vaccines In Hong Kong: Your Questions Answered

Hong Kong Helps India Fundraiser

On Sunday, 30 May 2021, head to Hugger Mugger and eat and drink for a cause. Five award-winning bartenders representing the Indian community will serve unique cocktails to raise funds for the Indian Red Cross Society. They are Sandeep Hathiramani of Tell Camellia, Sandeep Kumar of The Wise King, Devender Seghal of The Aubrey, Deven Rajput of Whisky & Words and Navneet Kumar of Dragonfly. All drinks will be priced at $100 each at a cash-only bar. At the same time at Chaiwala’s adjoining Chai Bar, a four-course set menu, priced at $500, will be served, with all dinner revenue going to the same charity. Book your dinner here.

When: Sunday, 30 May 2021
Charity supported: Indian Red Cross Society

Hugger Mugger & Chaiwala, 43 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.chaiwala.hk

Cook For India Charity Dinner

CHAAT at Rosewood Hong Kong will host a Cook For India charity dinner on Monday, 7 June 2021, with 100% of proceeds going to UNICEF for COVID-19 relief efforts in India. Chef Manav Tuli has invited seven top Indian chefs from all over Hong Kong to cook alongside him in a collaboration dinner. Other chefs include Yogesh Yadav of Gaylord, Sheldon Fonseca of The Mira Hong Kong, Pardeep Kumar Ray of The Foreign Correspondents Club, Samaira Coutinho Kavatkar of AKA The Bombay East Indian Girl, Suveg Kavatkar of Caprice, Prabir Banerjee of Chaiwala and Taran Chadha of Pondi. Each chef will contribute one to two dishes to create an exclusive menu, available for one night only and priced at $2,788 per guest. Contact CHAAT to book your table.

When: Monday, 7 June 2021
Charity supported: UNICEF

CHAAT, Level Five, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, 3891 8732, www.chaat.hk

Portraits For COVID-19 Relief

To do her part to support relief work in India, Sakshi Verma is pledging 80% of all weekday photoshoots until the end of June. Money raised will be donated to Doctors For You via a Ketto fundraising campaign. Specialising in natural light photography, Sakshi Verma is a Hong Kong-based photographer with a love and passion for capturing precious family moments and children.

When: Until Wednesday, 30 June 2021
Charity supported: Doctors For You

Sakshi Verma Photography, 6626 5525, [email protected], www.sakshiverma.net

F & B Run Club

Some members of Hong Kong’s F & B industry have come together to launch the Run Club. Participants can clock in their workouts and runs by downloading Strava and registering with the F & B Run Club group. PURE Group has signed on as a wellness partner, and the Run Club Committee is seeking corporate sponsors who will contribute $1 for each kilometre run by the end of the year. While the money raised is usually for two charities – InspiringHK Sports Foundation and Lifewire Foundation, currently the focus is on India’s fight against COVID-19. So the F & B Run Club is joining forces with spirit brands Hapusa and Greater Than to raise funds for the Hemkunt Foundation’s charity initiative O2 For You. Besides participating via the Run Club, you could also donate directly here.

When: Ongoing
Charity supported: Hemkunt Foundation

Read more: Sassy Mama’s Guide To Family Photographers In Hong Kong

Organisations Working Towards COVID Relief In India

Prefer to donate directly? There are quite a few well-reputed organisations in India that are doing excellent work at the grassroots level. We have compiled a few that accept international donations.

Goonj – This organisation is running a number of programmes from running “not-alone” centres to providing food kits, medical supplies and more.

Give India – Give India is a well-known and reputed NGO. It’s providing direct cash relief to low-income families in India who’ve lost loved ones and breadwinners to the pandemic. A Sassy Mama Editor has donated to Give India regularly and vouches for their efficiency and transparency.

Feeding India – The COVID-related lockdowns, unemployment and loss of earning members of households has greatly increased poverty and hunger in India. Donate to this reputed organisation that cooks meals and provides for the needy.

Mission Oxygen – Help India breathe again by donating to supply oxygen concentrators and supplementing hospital infrastructure with life-saving equipment.

Enrich Lives Foundation – Help daily wage workers who’ve lost livelihoods because of the COVID crisis with this organisation. It is raising funds to provide grocery kits for these labourers.

Read more: Expert Advice: How Will Social Distancing Affect My Child?

Crowdfunding For COVID-19 Relief Efforts In India

If you would like to start a fundraising campaign of your own (perhaps to help a friend, family or organisation you know and support personally), look at any of these crowdfunding websites. They are well-reputed and allow you to start your own fund or back an existing project.

Ketto – Another popular crowdfunding platform, Ketto has waived its fees to help ensure that those who need help get it as soon as possible. Mission Oxygen by Democracy People Foundation, Doctors For You by Sauce, Epigamia and Friends (both mentioned above) and O2 For You by Hemkunt Foundation are some of the most relevant current campaigns.

Milaap – With 400,000+ campaigns, Milaap and its campaigners have been playing a crucial role in supporting India through the current crisis. One of the most critical campaigns currently is Donate for Oxygen.

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