Winter Outreach | Bankura & Purulia

Overview

Some places stay with you long after you leave.

In the very first weekend of 2026, the Aspire and Glee team carried out its first on-ground outreach of the year across remote regions of Bankura and Purulia. These are areas that do not show up easily on maps, where roads disappear into forest paths, winters are harsh, and access to basic essentials is limited.

This outreach was spread across five villages over two days, with the team navigating difficult terrain and long travel hours to reach communities living in some of the most underserved conditions.

Reaching the Villages

Accessing these villages was not straightforward.

Large stretches had broken or no roads at all. In several places, the team had to stop repeatedly, clear rocks and uneven patches, and slowly make way through narrow forest routes. Travel was slow, physically demanding, and at times risky, but necessary to reach the communities.

• Bankura (Day 1):

  • Taaler Para

  • Bholar Daanga
    Reached with the support of Mr. Sudipan Pal Tublu and Onda Yuvo Somaj (ওন্দা যুবসমাজ)

• Purulia (Day 2):

  • Goyalkocha

  • Borogora

  • Tilgora
    Located in dense forest areas at the foothills of the Ayodhya Hills, reached with on-ground support from Jayanta Dutta

What We Witnessed

The conditions in these villages were difficult to absorb.

Many homes offered little protection from the cold. Children had visibly cracked and bruised lips due to winter exposure, often without access to even basic care such as boroline. In several villages, women travel six to seven kilometres on foot just to collect daily essentials, making access to basic needs a daily struggle.

And yet, despite these realities, we were met with warmth and trust. Families waited patiently. Children greeted the team with quiet excitement. There was dignity, resilience, and hope even in the harshest conditions.

What We Distributed

The outreach focused on addressing immediate winter needs while also supporting education and dignity.

• Winter clothing from our Free Clothes Bank

• Sweaters for children

• Blankets (kambals) to combat the cold

• Ration kits with daily household essentials for families

• Educational kits for students, including:

  • School bags

  • Notebooks and writing pads

  • Pens, pencils, erasers, and sharpeners

• Chocolates for children

• Sanitary napkins for women to support menstrual hygiene

Moments That Stayed With Us

There were moments during this outreach that stayed deeply with the team.

Small incidents revealed how much hope is attached to even the simplest forms of support. The scale of need was overwhelming, and despite everything that was distributed, there was a persistent feeling that it was never enough.

Still, knowing that a few children slept warmer that night, that some families felt a little less forgotten, and that dignity was upheld in small but meaningful ways made every difficult stretch of the journey worth it.

Gratitude

We are deeply grateful to our donors, well-wishers, and local supporters who made this outreach possible. Your trust and continued support allow us to keep reaching communities that are often left unseen and underserved.

These are not one-time visits. They carry with them a responsibility to return.

See the Outreach Through Images

This outreach was shaped by moments, faces, and places that words can only describe so much.
You can view photographs from the Bankura and Purulia outreach in our gallery.