Supporting India: Seasalt donate to Khalsa Aid

We chatted to the team at Khalsa Aid to find out more about their critical work, and what we can all do to help the COVID crisis in India.


Here at Seasalt, we’ve always actively supported charities that make a difference, both nationally and closer to home. We have extremely close, longstanding relationships with our suppliers in India, and with the country in the grip of a COVID crisis, our team felt passionately about doing something to help the communities there who are so dearly in need of aid.

Alongside providing supplies of hand sanitiser and face masks, we’ve made a donation of £10,000 to Khalsa Aid, a charity who are working tirelessly to provide medical supplies to the people in India. We chat to the team to find out more about what they do, how our funds will help and how we can all support their critical work.

Tell us about Khalsa Aid – what do you do, and how does it work?

“Khalsa Aid International is a UK-based humanitarian relief charity providing support around the world to victims of natural and man-made disasters such as floods, earthquakes, famine and war.

Our team is often one of the first on the scene to help distribute food, water, clothing, medical and sanitation supplies. We fund and build semi-permanent shelters, if needed – anything that’s required in those early days to save lives, reduce people’s immediate suffering and help maintain their dignity.

Since 1999, we have been able to provide crucial aid to millions of people around the world: from victims of the Yemen Civil War to refugees landing on the shores of Greece from the Middle East and, more recently, the Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar seeking refuge in Bangladesh; to earthquake, flood and hurricane-stricken areas in Nepal, Australia, and the Caribbean.

Closer to home, our teams have helped residents in the UK cope with the devastating floods that swept through Cumbria and the south-west of England; and we were there to support the families who escaped the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower in London.”

What inspired Ravi, your founder, to set up the charity?

“The charity was founded by Ravinder (Ravi) Singh, who was struck by the plight of the refugees in Kosovo in 1999. That year also marked the 300th birth anniversary of the Khalsa – an opportunity for the community to reflect on the core teachings of their Sikh faith.

Ravi saw the footage of the Kosovan refugees on the news and was inspired by one Sikhi ideology in particular – ‘Sarbat da Bhalla’ meaning ‘wellbeing for all’ – recognising the humanity in us all and reaching out to those in need, regardless of race, religion and borders.

Ravi reflects: ‘At the time of the celebrations across the UK, and around the world, there were terrible images on the news of refugees struggling to cross the cold and mountainous border to reach a safer and peaceful Albania.

I read in the newspaper about a small group who were organising an aid convoy to Albania – the Sikhi teaching of ‘Sarbhat da Bhalla’ (wellbeing for all) came rushing to my mind.

I phoned the group from the newspaper and asked to join them to help deliver aid donated by the Sikh community who had been extremely generous in giving food and money – within two weeks we were on our way with two trucks and a van load of aid to Albania.’

Khalsa Aid was born.”

How will our donation help in India?

“Immensely. Since 25 April 2021, we’ve been mobilising a global response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in India. We have been working in partnership with NGOs, corporates, local and national Government to provide vital medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, ventilators, tanks and broader medical equipment.

COVID-19 has left many hospitals without oxygen supplies or available beds, and hospitals and health centres across India are struggling to cope with the sheer numbers of cases. We were aware many patients in critical conditions were being turned away, many dying at home without access to medical help. Seasalt’s donation will help our frontline response to the pandemic.

Thanks to the generosity of Seasalt, volunteers in the UK and across the globe have been working tirelessly behind the scenes coordinating shipments of medical supplies. Our volunteers are our heroes. None of our operations would be possible without the support of the communities or businesses like yours in Cornwall.”

Aside from donating, what can people do to help the crisis in India?

“During any humanitarian crisis, it’s important to raise awareness and draw attention to the relief work needed and what’s been happening. We would encourage you to follow Khalsa Aid International on social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and like/share our posts. By helping us to spread information during any crisis, you will be making a big difference.

You can find more information about our charity aid work on our website: www.khalsaaid.org.

Together, we can protect more people from the worst effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and get medical supplies urgently to where they need to be.”