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Their departure left room for us to welcome 5 new young adults into the program. Four young men and one young woman have joined us. Their transition into Pathways has reminded us of the importance of the work that we do. The young adults have had to quickly learn how to take care of an apartment, get along with roommates, eat healthy food, manage money, make decisions on how to use their time, get medical care, and relate socially to a world they had barely experienced.

Walking with the young adults through this transition has inspired us to put together a transition class that will equip others. We want to use the stories and experience of our young people to guide and encourage young adults leaving residential care on this difficult, lonely, challenging road of becoming successfully independent.

Our Pathways’ young adults have become a tremendous resource for these new 5 young people. They have welcomed them into their homes, helped them set up a house, shown them around Mumbai, explained how to travel, and shared practical tips in survival. Part of Pathways’ mission is to create a community of care-leavers who support each other. This year we have seen this come to life and we want to nurture it further, and lean into the amazing wealth of knowledge that our young adults possess!

We had 7 young adults who contracted COVID, and you heard how our staff were able to jump into action to help provide medical care, food, medications, and moral support. But what you didn’t hear about was how one young man had an intense and serious medical issue. He was hospitalized with significant symptoms. We watched in awe as the young adults rallied and organized to take care of him. In Indian hospitals, patients need a caregiver to help them access medications and other supplies. So, they planned shifts to visit him, bringing medicines and food and other necessities. Even though he was near a COVID ward, they did not let that scare them off. He slowly improved, and we are amazed at how these young adults have formed a strong community to support and help each other through difficult times!

Several of the young adults we work with share apartments together to defray costs. When two young men in two different apartments started showing virus symptoms, the staff had all the young adults there tested. Each waited anxiously for their results to be delivered. Now, we have 6 young adults (5 male, 1 female) who are battling the coronavirus, several of whom have serious underlying health conditions. Their roommates who are not Covid positive also have to quarantine with them. The wave of new infections in India has hit home.

As soon as we found out, the Pathways team sprang into action. We found a catering service that would deliver meals to their doorsteps, so that the sick young adults and their roommates would have nutritious food. We arranged for a doctor to meet with each of them virtually to assess their medical condition. We found the medications they need (which can be hard to come by right now) and arranged for those to be delivered too. We are dropping care packages with breakfast supplies. They are discouraged, scared, upset, and frustrated. So, we are meeting with them regularly by phone and Zoom to pray, encourage, and give them some company. All of this support is possible because of the way you support us. Without you, these young adults would be facing this scary time alone! 

For this latest newsletter, we’d like to bring you a word from our Director:

Thank you for helping us press through 2020! Throughout this unusual year, Pathways’ focus became building up the mental health of our young adults, and protecting and caring for the mental health of our staff. We are so grateful that we were able to continue our services to grown up orphans in Mumbai through the pandemic! While many other organizations were forced to dramatically reduce their operations or shut their doors, we were able to persevere because of the support of our Partners. With your help, we were able to pivot from in person care, to virtual care, and then to hybrid care for 24 grown up orphans.

Our focus became:

• Providing for the essential needs of our young people
• Building up the mental health of our young adults
• Protecting, and caring for the mental health of our staff

It has been a stretching year, and one that has taught us the importance of passing on hope. Our team is taking time to look back and learn from all that we have experienced. We are conducting a review of our program; and are in the process of discovering ways to adapt Pathways program to the new normal that Covid-19 has created. We are grateful for you who have poured out generosity, for our staff who have persevered with our young adults this year, and our young people who against all odds have been resilient!

“During this lock down, we have had trouble having enough money to buy food. We are thankful for the money Pathways sent because with it we could buy rice, wheat, and other basic supplies. I have had many adventures because of the COVID19 situation. One day, I went out to buy eggs. The police came and were hitting people who were sitting nearby. I was just walking by, so I quickly hid. I didn’t want to get beaten! Thankfully, they didn’t find me.

“What disappoints me the most about the lockdown is that my exams for 10^th grade were cancelled, so now I have to wait to take them in October. I am sad that I have lost time. However, I have really appreciated the calls from my case manager, Ashish. He has encouraged me! I have felt lonely, and it has been so good to talk with him. I am trying to stay busy during the lockdown by helping my mother with cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, and by watching Bollywood comedy movies. When the lockdown is over I want to take my exams, and come meet the people in Pathways.”

Hi, I am a girl who has transitioned out of a care home. I am on a journey of being independent, and building my future. I am currently in Law College pursuing my dream of becoming a lawyer. The transition to independence has not been easy, and I still face a lot of challenges and struggles. Going through the transition myself I feel a sense of responsibility to help out other young people who are moving out of orphanages into Mumbai. I now have the opportunity to support others through my role as a peer mentor at Pathways.

In my role as a peer mentor I provide our young adults with educational support. I guide them in making study plans, and follow up with them on weekly basis on their educational goals. I also assist our case manager in teaching life skills sessions with our young adults. On some days I shadow a Pathways case manager in her meetings with young women that she is mentoring. In those sessions I have the opportunity to help the young person in setting goals, talk through challenges they are facing, and work on solutions together.

Pathways has made me more confident, and shaped my thoughts in a new ways. I have learned a lot of new skills in working with Pathways and through the training that is being provided for me by the Pathways team. I can see our young adults transitioning well, and growing independent through the support that pathways provides.