Dear Sciences Po Alumni, Friends of Sciences Po, and Friends of India, 

We are proud to join the effort to spread the different initiatives undertaken by Sciences Po students and alumni in order to support India during this terrible sanitary crisis.

Please find below their messages.

Bernard El Ghoul

Executive Director 

Each day the COVID-19 crisis in India only worsens; the healthcare sector in India is severely overburdened and there appears to be no imminent end to COVID-19 for a country that is ravaged. One of the greatest issues, that can prove to be a real game-changer, is the lack of Oxygen in India. 

It pains us, young Indians abroad, to see our country burn, which is why, under the newly-established ‘Ekta Initiative’ we are launching the Ekta For India fundraising campaign. 

The Ekta Initiative is an inter-university fundraiser organised by members of the young Indian diaspora, living and studying abroad. Ekta, in Hindi translates to ‘oneness and unity’; we, as young Indians abroad, are coming together, under this umbrella, to give back to our country. The Ekta Initiative is an organisation that brings together the young Indian diaspora studying at top universities across the world, and friends of India, under one umbrella, where we, as the future of India and the world, have the opportunity to talk about problems back at home and abroad. As of today, the Ekta Initiative has reached the following universities outside Sciences Po, which are running the inter-university fundraiser (our list grows everyday!): Oxford University, Cambridge University, National University of Singapore, Edinburgh University, University of St. Andrews, Columbia University, Hong Kong University, University of Sydney, University of Bath, Bristol University, Queen Mary University of London, Lancaster University, Heriot-Watt University, Cardiff University, University of Toronto, University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, & Trinity College Dublin.

As the young Indian Diaspora, we have come together to help our country when she needs us the most. As we sit miles away from our home, worried for the safety of our loved ones the urge to help is now as strong as ever. As our burning desire has taken the shape of this initiative, we call upon you, as our University community and as our second home to stand with us, and to stand by India as she reels from these difficult circumstances, and help in spearheading our fundraiser.

Our fundraiser supports 2 organisations leading ground relief in India; Given the acute shortage of oxygen in the country, we’ve chosen to support organisations that swiftly, openly, and transparently supply Oxygen to those who need it the most: The Hemkunt Foundation and Mission Oxygen (Democracy People Foundation)

The Hemkunt Foundation: Hemkunt Foundation’s motto is based upon a popular Sikh principle of ‘Sarbat Da Bhalla’ which means welfare for all. They have been working towards providing livelihoods, disaster relief, access to basic human rights and education to those in need. Now, recognising the need of the hour, the organisation started arranging oxygen for critically sick COVID patients in February. As the cases started surging, the NGO started receiving thousands of calls every day. The Hemkunt Foundation are currently seeking funds for O2 Cylinders to help COVID patients across the country, distributed to those in need by conducting drives and tying up with hospitals.

Mission Oxygen (Democracy People Foundation): A group of entrepreneurs who have proactively initiated the movement #missionoxygen to alleviate the current oxygen crisis by donating Oxygen Concentrators to hospitals, nursing homes and medical care facilities entirely funded by socially responsible citizens and distributed through a transparent, verifiable, and accountable channel. Mission Oxygen currently requires more funds to procure a higher number of oxygen concentrators to supply to hospitals across the country.


Please find attached a link to our fundraiser – Donate today!:  https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/ekta-for-india 

We have chosen to work with efficient, credible and transparent organisations in our endeavour to help India, and to guarantee our generous benefactors such as yourself of the positive effect of the donations raised through this fundraiser. The Ekta Initiative has set up direct lines of communication with both the organisations and will be providing frequent updates about the usage of funds under the “Updates” tab on the fundraiser page. 

Additionally, you can like and follow our social media channels to stay up-to-date with the progress of the fundraiser!

Instagram: instagram.com/ektainitiative

Facebook: https://facebook.com/theektainitiative

We at the Ekta Initiative, would like to, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all your support and for standing besides India, and hope that you can further share this fundraiser so we can multiply our fundraising efforts. 

For questions, concerns, more information or media queries, please contact Harshvardhan Zaveri via email at harshvardhan.zaveri@sciencespo.fr, telephone and WhatsApp via +33 6 52 49 39 80.

Best,

Harshvardhan Zaveri

The Ekta Initiative

STUDENT INITIATIVES

• PROJECT SAHARA (Aryan Agarwal)

Aryan Agarwal, Master Student at PSIA, has launched Project Sahara. As part of this initiative, Aryan and his peers are connecting students with experts in various domains (Consulting, Economics, Policy, Mental Health, MBA) for personalized, 1 on 1, career counselling and mentoring. All you have to do in return is to make a small donation to an organization of your choice from the list of organizations working relentlessly to deliver crucial oxygen supplies to critical patients. More information: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ecotech-the-economics-society-dtu_hemkuntfoundation-missionoxygen-giveindia-activity-6793450122308046848-Q1vE

• FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN (Madhul Sharma and Naman Kapoor)

Madhul Sharma and Naman Kapoor, undergraduate students at the campus of Le Havre, have decided to collect funds and channel them to verified care centers (Khalsa Aid and Sewa Bharti) to assist with procuring and providing oxygen, equipment and food. 

Make your donation here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/gtqsvn-india-covid-relief  

• LIST OF TRUSTED ORGANIZATIONS (Chetna Hareesh Kumar)

Chetna Hareesh Kumar, Master Student at PSIA, has kindly compiled a list of trusted local organizations that accept international donations. You can access it here and donate directly to the charity of your choice:

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/14Dr7ZRxtHNIL6F_JiuSN0IhBtgVUYca6ejyzPcWJdfM/edit

• FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN (Harshvardhan Zaveri, Sanurag Basu and Srijon Sinha)

Harshvardhan Zaveri, Sanurag Basu and Srijon Sinha, undergraduate students in Le Havre, have founded the Ekta Initiative. This student organization brings together the young Indian diaspora studying at top universities across the world, and friends of India, under one umbrella, where they have the opportunity to talk about problems back at home and abroad. As part of the initiative, students have launched a collaborative, inter-university fundraiser dedicated to making India Oxygen-secure. They are funding two NGOs, the Hemkunt Foundation, and Mission Oxygen, run by the Democracy People Foundation. Read more about the project and make your donation:  https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/ekta-for-india 

• INDIA ALUMNI INITIATIVES

- Preeti Ramdasi, Dipinder Sekhon and Tuhin Sen are setting up Oxygen Plants in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and other cities.

- Miniya Chatterji, the President of the Alumni Association in India, is also setting up hospital facilities in India through her organization Sustain Labs Paris.

- Our former students have recommended two more trusted relief organizations. Natasha D’souza (PSIA alumna)  has recommended SNEHA and Medha Singh (former exchange student) Delhi Solidarity Group. 

Contact them directly via LinkedIn if you wish to get involved!