As residents of Bandra stay indoors amid the lockdown to stem the spread of Covid-19 epidemic, it has brought us all closer while confining all of us to our homes. Amidst these difficult times, there are several members of society trying to help others in a multitude of ways. From donating food, providing financial aid to making masks and other healthcare materials, citizens are taking initiatives to help each other. In the frontline along with the Government, we have many citizen warriors in the fight against Covid-19. We have come across many such stories in media and our Bandraites are at the lead in such initiatives as well. We have a few youngsters from Bandra who are at the forefront of such missions.
Krysyn Rego, Shayne Rego and Ardelia D’Cruz have an initiative where they are making face shields for frontline healthcare workers, police personnel, sanitation workers, people distributing food among the needy & other officials managing the pandemic from their workshop which has been set up at Corona Garden in Bandra. The face shields cost Rs 30 per piece and give additional protection from the virus in addition to face masks. What makes them different is that for every shield purchased, the team donates 1 to Covid warriors. So far, the team has distributed over 11,000 shields in and around Bandra. The trio has now taken this initiative to St. Stanislaus High School, where migrant workers who have nothing to do have been trained by them to make faces shields.
Four teenagers from Bandra, Sarabjyot Chawla, Karamjyot Chawla, Avneesh Bhargava & Rishika Bhargava (SKAR) have started the SKAR initiative for crowdfunding the distribution of face shields among members who are exposed to the virus more like vendors & security guards. The project also supported by Dolson Jewels has distributed over 10,000 shields. They have so far collected more than 3 lakhs through a Ketto crowdfunding & have donated face shields to healthcare staffs, policemen and security staffs, small shop owners, municipality workers, delivery boys, transporter’s, communities living in slums and many other front-line workers fighting Covid for our livelihood and daily essentials. The program started in Pali Hill has gone beyond Bandra and has spread to other parts of Mumbai. You can also become their local ambassador by joining their ant’s army and facilitate distribution of these face shields and masks within your area.
Rhubarb Refill founded by 3 women – Simran Dariya, Sugandh Dariya and Georgia Sagolsem is also in the forefront to support the families, senior citizens and children roaming about the streets in search of essentials amid Covid-19. Rhubarb strives for a common goal – to leave the planet in a better state than when we came into it. It is an initiative to provide drinking water to Covid warriors and people struggling in the lockdown. It has distributed around 70-80 bottles of water across Bandra West and Khar. Rhubarb has around 25 people who have signed up for the cause and it is growing.
If you are thinking of a DIY activity yet something to save you from Covid, Michelle Ribeiro has the answer to it. She is a freelance hairdresser and gives a creative twist to the face masks via her ‘Mich’s Fancy Masks’. She makes DIY face masks which can be assembled using used clothes and materials available at any household. These can be made easily with any filter cloth as the base. You need rectangular shape cloth and an elastic as well. After cutting a good rectangle measuring size properly, keep the filter cloth, stitch it all around and then add the Elastic. Voila, your DIY mask is ready!
It is impressive to see the participation of the community in supporting the Government and Health officials. These endeavours give further fillip to our strong community feeling & the importance of supporting each other in such testing times.
You may contact these Covid citizen warriors if you wish to donate or require assistance with their products.
Krysyn Rego – 9819184096
Project SKAR – 9892199906
Rhubarb Refill – 9892452270
