THE Department of Health has awarded Geelong’s Nepalese community with a grant to assist educating members to live safely with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
The Geelong Nepalese Association (GNA) successfully received a $22,000 grant from the state’s health department under its Community Response Fund.<\/p>\n
“This funding will definitely give our community some outcomes and we are very grateful for the department to provide us the funding,” GNA president Niraj Karanjeet said.<\/p>\n
The association will use the grant to make an educational video about living with COVID, and host community workshops to inform individuals about virus transmission, and testing.<\/p>\n
The initiative also includes registered Nepali-speaking nurses visiting homes to explain testing methods such as Rapid Antigen Tests.<\/p>\n
“The main things we will look to focus on in this grant is supporting communities to self-manage and live safely with COVID,” Mr Karanjeet said.<\/p>\n
Geelong’s Nepalese community has enjoyed the easing of restrictions over the past few months, conducting its annual Holi Festival in late-March.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Mr Karanjeet knows the community needs to stay informed living with a looming virus.<\/p>\n
“We are definitely excited for the future, but we need to continue teaching our community members how to safely live with COVID,” Mr Karanjeet said.<\/p>\n
“There are less restrictions now so hopefully these extra funds will be of great assistance down the track.”<\/p>\n
The GNA remains active in fighting the pandemic, providing ‘COVID relief packages’ since the pandemic began to Nepalese residents living in Geelong and Surf Coast.<\/p>\n
To date, the association has raised more than $2500 from Geelong community members to purchase oxygen cylinders, donating them to three organisations based in Nepal to distribute to families in addition to $25,000 raised in Geelong from two GNA funding events.<\/p>\n
“GNA is passionate about preserving community unity and intercultural relationships, connecting people, strengthening communities, and promoting inclusion and belonging,” Mr Karanjeet said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Department of Health has awarded Geelong’s Nepalese community with a grant to assist educating members to live safely with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Geelong Nepalese Association (GNA) successfully received a $22,000 grant from the state’s health department under its Community Response Fund. “This funding will definitely give our community some outcomes and we […]<\/p>\n