In the Shadow of Conflict, These Volunteers Are Restoring Hope Through Classrooms, Kitchens & Care
In testing times, communities in Kashmir Valley and beyond are stepping up with courage and compassion. From shared meals to street-side classrooms, hope is being rebuilt—one act at a time.
Some weeks feel heavier than others. The recent Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 innocent lives has left the country grieving. At the same time, Manipur continues to grapple with a year-long crisis that has claimed over 200 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people. The headlines feel relentless. And behind those numbers are families, communities, and everyday lives caught in uncertainty — struggling to hold on, with no clear end in sight.
The violence has upended everyday life. Schools remain shut, businesses have closed, and families are still living in overcrowded relief camps, facing challenges every single day.
When times are testing, history has witnessed people stepping up for one another. In Manipur and other conflict-hit regions, communities are coming together to care for one another. From local community kitchens to holding makeshift classes for children, hope is finding its way back — quietly, powerfully.
Their message is simple: you don’t have to be a hero to help — you just have to show up. Here is a list of volunteer groups and NGOs across India — all with the shared goal of helping communities heal and rebuild by providing healthcare, food, shelter and a sense of belongingness.
1. Borderless World Foundation (BWF)
This Pune-based non-profit is working tirelessly to bring relief to the people in the conflict-affected regions of Jammu and Kashmir, including the Kashmir Valley. Started by Adhik Kadam and Bharati Mamani, this organisation is all about helping people rebuild their lives — with heart and purpose.
The foundation primarily focuses on providing disaster relief and emergency medical support, especially to orphaned children in the border regions. Their goal? To make the next generation of peacemakers by supporting the children who have survived conflict. The approach — create safe spaces, offer education, healthcare, and most importantly, love.
2. Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network (MWGSN)
In Manipur, where lives seem to meet a dark end, one community network is trying to not just ignite hope but give practical solutions to women who have lost family members to gun violence in Manipur. Started by Binalakshmi Nepram, the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network extends support by offering employment opportunities, psychosocial support, and counselling.
With its presence in over 300 villages across Manipur and Northeast India, MWGSN has significantly impacted more than 5,000 women, enhancing their income levels and providing a supportive community for resilience and growth.
3. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Médecins Sans Frontières is known for its international medical assistance. But in Manipur, it has slowly strengthened its local footing by supporting the displaced population and instilling a survival spirit. Since last January, MSF has been addressing critical healthcare needs in relief camps across various districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, and others.
Through mobile clinics staffed with medical professionals, MSF provides outpatient consultations and conducts vaccination campaigns for diseases like measles and rubella. They also focus on specialised care for chronic conditions like HIV and Tuberculosis, ensuring a comprehensive healthcare approach that addresses both immediate needs and long-term well-being.
4. Shiksharth
In regions like Chhattisgarh, where education has suffered due to Naxal activities and Maoist violence, Shiksharth’s initiative stands out. Founded in 2015 by engineer Ashish Shrivastava, it aims to revitalise education for tribal children.
By reopening schools, Shiksharth brings education back to communities that had nearly lost it. Instead of going by the book, they take up unconventional methods, such as using local Mahua fruits to teach arithmetic and economics, thus blending technical concepts with local culture.
5. SilaiWali
In Delhi, an initiative to support Afghan refugee women has found its footing. These women had fled Afghanistan when the Taliban resurgence began in 2010-11 and were struggling to survive with no income and employment in India.
That’s when Delhi-based couple Iris Strill and Bishwadeep Moitra stepped in with SilaiWali, a social enterprise that’s turning waste fabric into a source of empowerment. Using waste fabric, the couple empowers these women to create rag dolls, pouches, purses, wall art, and hangings. Today, their products are sold in over 150 cities across the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, France, and Australia — and in Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Chennai.
Talking about the wages of the artisans, Bishwadeep says, “While the incomes vary from artisan to artisan, they earn between Rs 12,000 to Rs 14,000 every month.” So far, SilaiWali claims to have trained and reskilled 325 women refugees.
Source: thebetterindia.com