Nada India Foundation – supporting youth during COVID-19 pandemic and striving for more and more youth participation for community development

COVID-19 Crisis: Community Solutions

During COVID-19 pandemic, Nada India conducted various activities directed at developing local youth activism, building capacity and spreading knowledge on COVID-19 and NCDs and their risk factors such as alcohol and tobacco. 

Covid-19 situation has worsened everyone’s lifestyle habit especially youths. Their lifestyle pattern has become more sedentary compiled with increase intake of junk food and beverages. NADA India noticed the harmful ways in which Big Alcohol, Tobacco and Food companies exploited this pandemic situation to sell their products. 

Once the lockdown was announced, most schools and institutions in India were shut down and students were exposed to more unhealthy advertisements on social media. Using the same social media platform and digital advocacy, NADA India Foundation was showing how youth can benefit from healthy information and also practice a healthy well-being in a fun and inclusive way.

Through peer education, peer support and peer leadership model, NADA India started conducting online capacity building workshops that focused on: NCDs and Covid-19, risk factors of NCDs, surrogate advertising and other forms of marketing strategies used by Big food and beverages.  

NADA India has so far educated 550 peer educators, 31 peer supporters and 5 peer leaders coming from across 29 states in India with diverse education background. Peer leaders have been trained in the field of NCDs and its associated risk factors and Covid-19 as well as on the methods of effective communication and spreading knowledge about COVID-19. 

For ‘World no-tobacco day’ a campaign was organized that addressed concerns on adolescent drug abuse and while India was heading towards Covid-19 peak, an ‘Emotional CPR and helpline’ first aid workshop was conducted by Nada India’s Chairperson Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan. 

During the pandemic, Nada India organized also webinars dedicated to  youth on the harmful marketing strategies used by alcohol and tobacco industries as well as psycho-social factors that lead to eating disorders among adolescents and PCODs. Nada India and its youth volunteers are now running for the Airtel Delhi Marathon from 25th – 29th November to support physical well-being following recent WHO guidelines to encourage more adolescent in physical engagement. 

While most schools cancelled their social work internship amidst the lockdown, NADA India Foundation  was the first CSO to provide a virtual internship opportunity for Department of Social work Kashi Vidyapeeth University, Central University Jammu, Delhi University and Department of Public Health Amity University and Psychology Department at Christ University.

Based on activities conducted during pandemic and gained knowledge, Nada India Foundation has decided to create a new project – VLEAD Academy – it stands for Vidya meaning correct ownership of knowledge, Leadership, Enrichment, Action and Distinction. that was launched on December 5th, 2020 at the National Youth Conclave 2020. 

Source: https://movendi.ngo/community-solutions/movendi-members-respond-to-covid-19-crisis/