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Project Sahyog
Project Sahyog was Conserve India’s flagship COVID-19 relief and recovery initiative, launched in response to the mass displacement, food insecurity, and livelihood loss experienced by migrant workers, artisans, and refugee communities during the pandemic. Implemented across urban and rural areas, the project combined immediate humanitarian aid—such as community kitchens, ration distribution, and mask production—with long-term support including livelihood restoration, artisan upskilling, and training on COVID-care. Through partnerships with organizations like UNHCR, Fair Trade Forum India, and Made51, Sahyog addressed both short-term survival and sustainable recovery, empowering over 5,000 families with resilience, dignity, and the tools to rebuild.
Partner organisations: UNHCR, Fair Trade Forum India, Made 51
A Community-Centered COVID-19 Relief and Rehabilitation Initiative
What We Did
Emergency Relief Measures
- Established 15 community kitchens serving thousands of stranded individuals.
- Distributed one-month food rations to 5,000+ families facing loss of income.
- Produced and distributed 50,000 masks (People’s Masks & N95s) made by 50 women artisans.
- Launched COVID-19 and vaccine awareness campaigns, reaching over 20,000 people.
- Established 15 community kitchens serving thousands of stranded individuals.
Short-Term Rehabilitation Initiatives
- Provided livelihood opportunities through mask-making for women in Delhi’s informal settlements.
- Partnered with Fair Trade Forum India, UNHCR, and Made51 to deliver relief and sustain refugee artisan livelihoods.
Ran localized information campaigns to combat misinformation and promote health protocols.
Long-Term Recovery Actions
- Launched livelihood rebuilding programs for 30 rural youth and women affected by job loss.
- Supported diversification of artisan product lines (home & utility goods) to adapt to changing markets.
- Conducted Training of Trainers on COVID-care equipment to build localized health resilience.
- Launched livelihood rebuilding programs for 30 rural youth and women affected by job loss.
Facilitated seed funding for artisan groups to restart businesses via support from corporate and fair trade partners.
Why It Matters
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep systemic vulnerabilities across India’s informal workforce, especially among migrant workers, daily wage earners, artisans, and refugee communities. Lockdowns led to mass displacement, food insecurity, and widespread income loss—disproportionately affecting those already on the margins. Conserve India recognized the urgent need not only for immediate relief but also for sustainable recovery. Project Sahyog emerged as a holistic response—blending humanitarian aid with long-term livelihood restoration rooted in dignity, resilience, and inclusion.
Outcomes
- Emergency support provided to over 5,000 families and 20,000 individuals.
- 50 women artisans gained income through PPE production.
- Livelihood continuity enabled through product diversification and upskilling.
- Strong multi-stakeholder partnerships activated for refugee inclusion and artisan recovery.
Project Sahyog showcased Conserve India’s ability to respond with agility, empathy, and vision. By combining emergency relief with capacity building, the initiative not only addressed immediate survival needs but also invested in the long-term dignity, agency, and resilience of vulnerable communities. It remains a model for people-centered, sustainable crisis response in India and beyond.
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