India and Brazil have been reeling with a crippling wave of COVID-19 which has resulted in an overwhelmed healthcare infrastructure and specifically, a critical shortage of oxygen. Just last week, there were over ~400K new cases and 4.2K+ official deaths in India on daily basis reported due to the virus. In Brazil, since mid-February, the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths have been drastically increasing, peaking at over 4,000 daily deaths in early April.

Investigative reports suggest that the true number of deaths could still be in orders of magnitude greater than this harrowing official count. About 20,000 people are dying daily in India, and there is an acute shortage of hospital beds, ICU, oxygen, ventilators and medicines.

As alumni of the Schwarzman programme, we are launching this joint-fundraiser in independent capacity to call upon all members of the Schwarzman community to provide aid and support to frontline workers in both India and Brazil during this difficult time. All contributions will be directed through non-governmental organizations in India and Brazil to provision supplies for oxygen, aid neglected frontline workers and improvement of medical care.

All funds will be equally dispersed to following credible non-government organizations having capability and infrastructure to provide on-ground last mile support:

1. Jan Sahas Foundation (India): working with 25000+ vulnerable migrant families and crematorium workers across 11 indian states around hospitals providing ration, face masks and vaccination support.

2.  Aasra Trust (India): providing dry rations, medical packs and securing shelter homes for almost 2 million unemployed labourers and their families in North India.

3. Goonj Foundation (India): operating in marginalized regions of India, providing kits that include ration, soaps/sanitizers, masks through their strong networks in remote areas.

4. Corona no Paredão (Brazil): The organization will send to families in vulnerable conditions in Brazil living in the favelas (a digital basket) - instead of donating food, Gerando Falcões will share a debit card with the amount necessary to feed a family of 5 people for 2 months) on a continuous basis to assist families in vulnerable conditions. 

In choosing organisations to donate to, we have prioritized locations and communities that were either in most need, or who had the least access to it. We’ve confirmed that the NGOs reach marginalized communities in areas that are already under immense strain, knowing that these communities are exceptionally vulnerable during this time. All organizations are compliant with regulations in domestic jurisdictions to receive foreign donations to ensure transparency and safety of your donations.

Please contribute, and more importantly, help us spread the word within your personal, professional and alumni networks so that we can hit our goal in quick time and meaningfully support the people in need in India and Brazil!

Sources for more information on situation in India and Brazil:
1. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-india-records-200-000-deaths-with-coronavirus-12289016
2. https://www.ft.com/content/683914a3-134f-40b6-989b-21e0ba1dc403
3. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/the-covid-crisis-falling-sho2rt-india-covid-oxygen-supply-7287681/
4. https://www.businessinsider.com/india-covid-19-black-market-oxygen-crisis-1000-markup-2021-4?r=US&IR=T
5. https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/how-medical-oxygen-is-supplied-to-hospitals-and-why-india-is-facing-an-acute-shortage/646443/
6. https://www.firstpost.com/health/covid-19-treatment-from-affordable-public-hospitals-to-expensive-private-care-what-it-costs-to-treat-a-patient-in-india-8623421.html
7. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/covid-19-is-much-deadlier-in-brazil-than-india-and-no-one-knows-why/articleshow/82095006.cms

If you have any questions on the use these funds or any other suggestions - please do feel free to reach out to: