India records more than 60,000 new infections with Covid-19 every day and only the USA and Brazil are currently affected even more severely. Again and again, regional lockdowns must be imposed. Usthi does not expect schools to open soon and tries to teach Usthi students at a distance as good as possible. 

For some of the Usthi project locations, the measures to control the spread of Covid-19 were not expected to be eased until mid-August at the earliest. Since there are no signs of a significant decline in new infections, it is currently difficult to predict when the return of classroom teaching will be possible. West Bengal recently recorded a sharp increase in the number of cases and imposed another lockdown.

All Usthi schools must remain closed. The staff of the Usthi schools Ananda, Penthakata and Thaddeus are doing extraordinary work to teach the children and youth from distance. Recorded lessons are sent to the children digitally. The children are required to work hard and have to acquire a large part of the school material independently. In order to quickly resolve any ambiguities, they are supported in self-study by regular phone calls with their teachers.

Hyderabad is also experiencing a significant increase in Covid-19 cases. The school children supported by Usthi must likewise continue to study at home and the professional skills training centers must keep their doors closed. Only the garment factory operated by the partner organization is slowly restarting operations. While large orders are rare, the partner, financed by donations, is currently producing protective masks for people in need.

Fortunately, the hospital in the Somagiri jungle region is able to maintain its operation. The early childhood development program is currently not taking place in the designated rooms. Instead, the Usthi social workers are trying to continue the program in a reduced form outdoors in the villages where they live themselves.

Usthi hopes that the number of cases will soon decrease and that the projects will be able to continue in their usual form, so that young people can continue to have the best possible access to education and health care.