A common saying we remember time and again, is that ‘God helps those who help themselves.’ Yet, at the same time, there are always occasions where one feels helpless. Truly speaking, remembering god almighty during duress is a fine thing to do, but human nature dictates that one can easily feel troubled when nothing seems right especially during moments of grave crisis. And speaking of grave crisis, how can one not quote what India is currently suffering from? There are a number of troubling, mind-boggling statistics that can leave one gasping for breath where it concerns India. For instance, in the last 24 hours, the country witnessed 3,890 deaths. On average, there are 4,000 deaths on a daily basis. But where there comes great grief, there also opens a door of benevolent light. Such as a brand new initiative called COVID Widows.
And at a time where we have embraced pretty much everything to find relief- whether it’s through prayers, receding to faith, surrounding ourselves by our caring family members, it’s time to embrace COVID Widows.
As the name suggests, an exclusive for-women only initiative, COVID Women is a timely and much-needed idea that aims to provide a means of vocation to women who have lost the important bread-earner of the family. And truly speaking, could there be anything more dreadful than losing one’s companion, the fulcrum around which a family revolves?
While many of us who could even be without jobs are just doing fine for we’ve saved much-needed sum of money. But what about women who were never into jobs and don’t really have a bed of roses to fall back upon? COVID Widows is one hundred per cent volunteer-driven platform that aims to find useful assistance to the widows who need a better and comfortable life especially at a time where they’ve suffered from a soul-shattering loss.
The unique aspect of this initiative is that it neither accepts any form of donations, nor does it depend on corporate sponsorship; at its heart rests the concept of driving the program through an out and out volunteer involvement.
A very simple instance to illustrate just how important it is for women to earn a living is this- it’s the husband who is the bread-earner and brings funds to the family, but it’s the woman who maintains the household and shapes a family. But what if the earning member is not there in the first place- what will happen to the poor woman?
Creating a huge network base of volunteers who are aligned with various spheres and sectors wherein women could be placed to find a means to earn a living, it could be said in no uncertain terms that COVID Widows is here to help that member of the family who maintains the household.
But then make no mistake for not every woman is always employable or can straight away get into a job and become a high flier. For this purpose, the growing network pool of volunteers is going to aid women by offering:
Career and grief counselling
Even Resume Writing (for there could be countless who’ve never really had to make a resume)
Prepare for mock interviews
Finally, help with skill development.
To many, it could be about designing, to others, it could be about cooking or teaching a regional language, and then there could be widows who have a natural penchant for writing, or have an inclination toward IT or even human resources.
So far, a pool of 1200+ volunteers, who’ve been thoroughly vetted before being associated with COVID Widows will begin to reach out to those in need and, furthermore help an individual to get through the process of final recruitment.
If that’s not a noble deed, then what is?
The only help, if it must be said, that is truly required is to spread the word for that’s where true magic will happen.
Also Read: How India’s Hinterland Has Now Come Into The Grip Of The Deadly Coronavirus!
And those who’ve lost out on her better half must truly believe that she has in her to survive this ordeal and make her own place under the sun! At a time where we often the phrase empowerment being used here and there, this initiative is perhaps an ideal example to illustrate just what true empowerment is all about.