Context and intervention:

After the terror attack on their community on 25 March 2020, many of Afghanistan’s Sikh families shifted to and lived in two main dharamsalas in Kabul, for safety and security reasons. Around 400 people, including children and the elderly, lived in these two congested dharamsalas without basic amenities, making the residents among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.

Between May and July 2020, PRSO, with the support of the South Asia Collective (SAC) and Minority Right Group (MRG) International, organised a campaign to raise awareness about COVID-19 and help the 400-odd Sikh community members to prevent an outbreak in the dharamsalas.

PRSO designed, drafted and printed awareness-raising posters and pamphlets—on social distancing, washing of hands, sneezing, using of masks and sanitisers, etc.—in three languages, included Punjabi. Pictorial posters and pamphlets were also printed.

While the Sikh community members were initially hesitant, they eventually responded positively to PRSO’s campaign. Already hit by the double trauma of the terror attack followed by the pandemic, some participants noted that PRSO’s campaign gave them a ray of hope, and vital information on how to survive and withstand the pandemic. The participants welcomed the pictorial Punjabi banners and posted them on the walls of the dharamsalas. The children in particular were keen to learn about social distancing, and how germs are killed by sanitiser.

PRSO continues to work with the community, and is now marshalling resources to provide them psychosocial and psychological support. Those interested in aiding PRSO may reach them at: Email | Facebook | Website