Amitabh Shah in Conversation with Dr. Anna Chandy from Deepika Padukone’s The Live, Love, Laugh Foundation
This is 4th article in the series of Yuva Unstoppable’s digital deliberations on the ‘Future of Education & Health for government primary school children of India
Introduction
Yuva Unstoppable, a non-profit founded by Amitabh Shah, organised a digital dialogue with top CXOs and public figures across the globe earlier this year. The aim was to brainstorm upon and find solutions to the disrupted future of children in the post-COVID era. Some of the areas of focus were the health and education of children, especially the ones from lower socio- economic strata. It saw participation from the likes of Parthiv Patel, Sangram Singh, Gaurav Gupta, JD Majethia and many other legends who are also Yuva ambassadors. The advisory dialogue was facilitated and led by Amitabh Shah.
The Background
India was hit by the global pandemic ‘Corona Virus’, following which a nationwide lockdown was imposed. It thwarted normal life for many people, especially the ones from disadvantaged and/or vulnerable sections of the community. These primarily included children, women, senior
citizens, daily wagers, and other poor and needy people. Children and youth from less privileged backgrounds became more susceptible to the adverse effects of the crisis. One because the schools and colleges were shut down all over the country. And two, because their guardians, most of whom were daily wage earners, lost the means of their livelihood or were facing grave economic hardships.
Dr. Anna Chandy on The Future of Children
Dr. Anna Chandy, a philanthropist in mental health, has more than 18 years of experience in development work, counselling, coaching and mentoring. She is a therapist, coach, speaker, and trainer, and Chairperson, The Live, Love, Laugh Foundation founded by Indian film actress Deepika Padukone.
At the digital dialogue and deliberations, she highlighted the following key points to empower the children in post-COVID era:
1. Uncertainty is going to be there for the next 18 to 24 months. There is grief, fear, and loss. People are driven by physical survival — that is food, water, and shelter. Education comes to the second phase of survival. There is an urgent need to address the mental health of children who will be one of the sections to be deeply affected. WHO and the United Nations have predicted that the outcome of COVID-19 will be the next pandemic that is- depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorder. We need to account for that.
2. If we want the children to be emotionally regulated, to ingest all the learning post this pandemic, we need to address their survival and mental health issues.
3. When people emerge in the new normal and the actual impact of the pandemic surfaces, the reality will hit them. It will leave a major impact on the children once the lockdown is lifted.
4. She concluded by re-emphasizing that mental health needs to be an integral part of post-COVID engagement with children and their communities, inside and outside the schools.
Dr.Anna Chandy congratulated and appreciated Yuva Unstoppable & Amitabh Shah for all the work they are doing.
