COVID-19 crisis - Helping students at the Maison de l'Inde

COVID-19 Crisis: Helping students at the Maison de l'Inde (Cité Universitaire, Paris) who have lost their sources of income

Dear all,

The COVID-19 crisis has affected all of us, both professionally and personally. The situation is especially difficult for foreign students who depend on part-time student jobs to fund their studies, housing and living expenses, as well as to repay student loans. These student jobs, often requiring human contact (babysitting, tutoring, salesclerk, office, laboratory or library assistant, receptionist, etc.) have all disappeared overnight -- quite literally! Internship offers, too, have been abruptly rescinded. Any help these students might have received from home has also disappeared when the parents have themselves fallen ill or lost their livelihoods.

We have come to know of several students living at the Maison de l'Inde (Cité Universitaire, Paris) who have been affected by the situation and we would like to help them.

We spoke to the Director of Maison de l'Inde, Dr S. Rasika, who explained that though the Maison has been providing food and necessities during the lockdown for those in need, and they have received some support from other students, associations as well as the Cité Universitaire, there are still many students who are in dire need. Besides, as the students still cannot get back to working part-time, the situation is and will still be difficult for the months to come.

The Maison de l'Inde is carefully assessing each student's personal situation and overseeing the distribution of any aid received. Many students would rather work than receive charity but in this era of social distancing, jobs are hard to come by. The students will therefore be given jobs at the Maison de l'Inde or the Cité Universitaire that they can do safely. These jobs could include providing support to their peers by taking care of the food shopping, cooking and distribution, and by carrying out odd jobs such as fixing bookshelves, painting, gardening, etc. In this manner they will participate even more in the community life of the Maison de l’Inde and create an even deeper sense of solidarity.

The funds raised here will be used to remunerate them for their work for the common good. Unlike charitable contributions, giving them jobs or responsibilities can also be used by them on their CVs and allow them to hone their management and organisational skills.

Every penny matters and we are counting on your contributions, however small or however big, to help.

The funds will be sent directly to the Maison de l'Inde and contributions to the money pot will be visible (your name and amount) for full transparency. The Maison de l'Inde will also provide an accounting of what the funds were used for.

Many thanks in advance for your solidarity and generosity,

Amika Chitnis

Urvashi Sethi

Hina Wadhwa

PS: If you can't pay via Leetchi, we have also set up an alternative on PayPal:

https://paypal.me/pools/c/8p90y4WfMN