Together for a more just and caring society

Fundación Vicente Ferrer (FVF) joined the Government at different levels for more effective and quick response to the Corona virus pandemic

Abiding by ours principles - Work beyond duty – the present times demand that we try to push beyond our capacities. That is why Fundación Vicente Ferrer (FVF) have decided to act as a single unit since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, using all its resources and expertise to contain and fight this pandemic.

Following the guidelines of the Government and local authorities and answering their request as well as keeping people’s needs in mind, we are working in four main areas: Awareness at the grassroots level, health care, food distribution for migrants and day laborers, and production and distribution of preventive materials.

Food distribution for day laborers and migrants
Globally, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people's livelihoods and economy is being devastating, especially among the most vulnerable groups. In India, with a complex socio-economic reality, these effects intensify, leading to a situation of alarm and food insecurity, especially in rural areas, where 69% of the country's population live. More than half has precarious and poorly paid jobs, and depend on daily income.

The lockdown declared by the government by the end of March has deprived these people of their usual livelihoods and many do not have the resources to meet basic needs. Furthermore, measures taken to restrict the movement of people have put thousands of seasonal workers at risk, as many have been unable to return to their villages and have been left without resources in the middle of nowhere.

The priority right now is to provide food and medicine to mitigate the possible consequences of famine during the lockdown, ensuring that people can eat every day. Since March 31, FVF started distributing cooked meals and is providing over than 10.000 individual portions daily to migrants and laborers who have been seriously afected by the confinement. By May 14, the organization had already delivered over than 322.000 food servings. https://vimeo.com/412687928

FVF is also providing food grains and basic provisions to migrants staying at the relief centers, daily workers who have lost their jobs and other people in vulnerable situation, benefiting more than 4,000 families. https://vffusa.networkforgood.com/projects/97419-vff-usa-covid-relief-fund_copy

Healthcare: FVF Hospitals Network and medical infrastructure
Our hospitals were among the first in the region to start a contention plan as per the indications of the Government. All non-essential services in Kalyandurg and Kanekal hospitals have been suspended, and now they work as triage and information points for the population.

FVF Bathalapalli Hospital, in the district of Anantapur, has been designated as a COVID-19 Hospital by local authorities. The organization has made available all of its medical resources, services, facilities, and health workforce to combat the pandemic, and its Mycobateriology Laboratory is operating as a COVID-19 testing center.

Protection for those at the frontline: Masks and hand sanitizer
Until the middle of May, over than 1,900,00 masks, made out of 100% cotton cloth, have been produced by local tailors, volunteers and women artisans from the FVF fair trade workshops. To meet demand, our staff hold workshops at the village level for those who have a stitching machine, so each family and community can be self-reliant and make their own masks. The masks are distributed free of cost among FVF staff working on field as well as to police officers and other public officials on duty. The production will continue as far as there is demand. 

FVF Hospitals are also making masks for their own team. Bathalapalli Hospital is also producing 1,000 liters of alcohol-based solution per week for its staff and patients as well as government workers on field.

Awareness at the grassroots level
FVF grassroots staff, working in eight regions, are putting all their efforts in awareness, using materials as pamphlets and posters, as well as other resources such as music, wall paintings or theatre plays.

We do not know when this pandemic will finish, but we will do everything in our power to alleviate the suffering of those who are in most need. Join our efforts in the fight against COVID-19 in India. Together, we can fight this global emergency and meet the challenge of leaving no one behind.

1969-2019: Half a century of action. 50 years of silent revolution in India.

Rural Development Trust (RDT), the counterpart of the Vicente Ferrer Foundation (VFF) in India, celebrates 50 years of humanitarian aid with a single purpose: to alleviate suffering caused by poverty, disease and discrimination. A big milestone for a grassroots organization that started working in Anantapur district during the 70s and now reaches out to thousands of villages in disadvantaged rural areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, making an impact on the lives of more than 3 million people.

“This is a commemoration for the Anantapur people and everyone who is playing a role in it. From the volunteers to the directors, from the farmers to the students. It is the celebration of dignity, change and equality,” said Anne Ferrer, RDT Executive Director.

Half a century of experience has served to consolidate a work methodology that addresses all aspects that promote prosperity and development of rural communities in South India, through programs aimed at creating a self-sufficient society. The organization works in coordination with a network of representatives of the communities, organizing adapted interventions to the needs of the local population.

Its integral action and humanistic vision, based on the philosophy of action of its founder, Vicente Ferrer, has resulted in a benchmark development model in the framework of cooperation. Currently, more than 130,000 collaborators take part on this ambitious project for the eradication of poverty in India, a country that still needs solidarity people to advance towards social justice.

To ensure involvement of communities in this commemoration, more than 4,000 postcards have been distributed among the local people, asking them to share their experiences with the organization and about the main issues that should be addressed by VVF/RDT in the upcoming years.

Moncho Ferrer, RDT’s program director, has pointed out: “This is a significant year for us, to look back at what we have achieved but more importantly to set the stage for the next fifty years of RDT. For that, we need to know people’s opinions.”

A comprehensive development program that creates prosperous and self-sufficient communities

The Foundation’s work system in the field has transformed the reality of rural areas, exponentially increasing the integral program. From the 200 villages with which work began, the project today extends to more than 3,600. The sponsorship of many people from Europe and the United States represents a qualitative improvement for the rural population. Under this formula, the children of India ensure their education and proper health care. Moreover, the entire community where they live also benefits from the donation.

The implementation of the Foundation’s programs in the South of India has allowed consolidating an entire generation that does not exclude itself because it belongs to a social group or a specific caste. It has endowed a good part of the population with self-esteem, which 50 years ago believed to be worthy of a life of suffering marked by their social origin, their disability or even being a woman.

Since its inception, the Foundation team is made up of local people, born in or residents of the areas where the organization works. Currently, a team of 2,500 people (48% women) promotes the development and sustainable economy in their communities. The work structure is organized in six different sectors - Health, Education, Habitat, Disability, Women and Ecology -, and distributed by territorial areas. The direction of these sectors and areas is in Indian personnel hands, in a parity way. All of them are people committed to justice, effort and action, beyond their work.

There is still much to do in India, the country with the largest amount of poor people in the world. The Vicente Ferrer Foundation has been working during the last 50 years towards the empowerment of rural communities and supporting them in their struggle to eradicate poverty, suffering and injustice. In order to go further is essential to continue generating alliances with society. Half a century dedicated to social justice and gender equality and the mission goes on.

Find more information about our work over 50 years in India in the following links:

RDT at a glance; vision, where we work, our history, RDT approach (web and video): https://rdtfvf.org/rdt-at-a-glance/

50^thAniversary (video in English): https://rdtfvf.org/50th-anniversary/

50^thAniversary (web and videos in Spanish): https://www.fundacionvicenteferrer.org/50aniversario/

Links:

• Our vision, where we work, our history, RDT approach
• 50thAniversary; video in English
• 50thAniversary: web and videos in Spanish