Dear partners,
The COVID-19 crisis is confronting us all with health risks, social changes, and an uprooted daily life at an incredible speed. We hope to find you well and that you and your loved ones are able to navigate the uncertainties of these days.
Corona measures are now in place in almost all countries. The spread and consequences of the virus are still unknown. However, it becomes clear that the crisis is going to disrupt lives everywhere. We also know that the marginalized suffer most during any crisis. That is why we need to stand together in solidarity.
With this message we want to stay in touch with you, our partners and community workers in the field. And share with you some inspiring initiatives that have arisen over the last couple of weeks. To keep up the spirit and show that we can make change happen – as long as we are united!
We are deeply inspired by all of you, working as never before to impact the lives of children and their families. Let’s stay connected with each other and keep sharing.
Please stay safe and take care!
Inspiring examples from Stop Child Labour partners in India, Mali and Uganda to fight the corona crisis and stay strong all together!
India
ARAVLI in Rajasthan is working on increasing community awareness through digital media like WhatsApp. They have developed a WhatsApp platform to disseminate information. This works two ways, and they use the feedback of the remote communities to strengthening government response against Coronavirus, like this Covid-19 pocket book.
MV Foundation, Bihar
Amid the 21 days lockdown enforced to contain the spread of COVID 19, the mobilisers of MV Foundation, Bihar sprung into immediate action of mapping the vulnerable households whose earning members had lost their livelihoods and were stranded away from their family. With a collective effort, the ration packages including masks and soaps were distributed among them.
Supporting the Gram Panchayats Mukhiya, the mobilisers launched the awareness generation drive for COVID-19 among the community through loudspeaker urging them to maintain hygiene and adhering to the lockdown.
Manjari
The COVID-19 pandemic shows boundless community upliftment. Sharing the account of a young member of the adolescent girl’s group, guided by Manjari in Rajasthan, rejoiced hope. To safeguard the community of mine-workers and their families, Jyoti with her group pursued sewing & offered to stitch simple 2-layered masks. The girls, with the help of raw material, online training, and technical guidance about product hygiene, provided by Manjari, prepared a workplace, completed the online training & successfully prepared, sanitised and distributed 70 masks per day. After all, “Safety doesn’t happen by accident”, and Jyoti, along with her group, proved it
ICCo
ICCo also responded by providing ration packages to migrant workers from Bihar, now stranded in parts of North-west Delhi. A social media campaign #NothingLikeThis was also initiated to highlight the stories of small-scale farmers, workers and entrepreneurs about their struggles amid the outbreak, to further create a platform to seek solutions.
Additionally, ICCo is conducting a telephone survey to assess the impact of COVID19 in the functioning of 300 SMEs in the agri and food processes sector and provide inputs for policy making. With support from Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship, ICCo conducts webinars for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the northeast region to reflect on the challenges and provide strategic guidance for survival.
Mali
In Mali the first two COVID-19 cases have only been confirmed last week. The numbers are low but to prevent the virus from spreading, the government has immediately declared a state or emergency to act on this. Schools are closed and activities are for now postponed. In the meantime our partners keep a close contact on the current situation adding to the solidarity, much needed in these times of crisis!
Uganda
In Uganda there is a total lock down. Uganda has confirmed cases and to comply with the Ministry of Health, partners have stopped activities. Bobi Wine, a famous Ugandan artist, made this song ‘Corona Virus Alert!’ to raise awareness on the pandemic. “We hope you enjoy the music, pick the message, share widely & spread the word,” says Bobi. Watch his song!
SMS action
Two partners in Uganda, Nascent Research and Development Organization together with Teso-Karamoja Women’s Initiative for Peace, are using a SMS platform to sensitize the communities in Karamoja region about COVID-19. Our weekly messaging to key community influencers addresses COVID-19 as well as child labour, translated in the local language: “Please stay home, wash your hands with soap regularly, maintain social distancing and if you do not feel well, call the available numbers. Also, important, remember to protect children from child labour.”
Burkina Faso
Introducing children to hand washing with a simplified family hand washing installation, Burkina Faso
Support de sensibilisation au Burkina Faso
Children’s book
The UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee developed a fictional story book “My Hero is You”. It’s a story developed for and by children around the world, offering a way for children and parents to together think about the questions the pandemic raises. The story was shaped by more than 1,700 children, parents, caregivers and teachers from around the world who took the time to share how they are coping with the impact of COVID-19.
The book is translated into different languages, such as Arabic and French.
Corona comic
Welthungerhilfe developed a ‘Corona comic’. This generic comic strip, which can be used all over the world, was developed by Welthungerhilfe and WASH United who worked closely with an expert from the Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin. As of next week, there will be an animated video as well free of use.
You can download and use all documents for your purposes.
