Students all over the world have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. According to the United Nations, nearly 1.4 billion children are out of school.
Today, we hear from our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, about how our affiliated projects, volunteer coordinators, and our organization are reacting to the challenges that children are facing globally due to the pandemic.
“As a result of school closings, some of our affiliated projects around the world are having a difficult time, especially when it comes to our many projects where children are boarding at the school,” said Luis.
Helping children who can’t go home
“As a result of school closings, some of our affiliated projects around the world are having a difficult time, especially when it comes to our many projects where children are boarding at the school,” said Luis.
“For many of these children, there is no option to return to their families’ homes. The children come from impoverished households in undesirable conditions that would increase their risk of infection. Due to a lack of the means for adequate sanitation in their own homes, they must continue to reside at the boarding homes, where the necessary facilities exist for the practice of proper hygiene.”
“The projects are willing to help children, but they are very overwhelmed. At the Maria Reyna Home in Honduras, for example, where Children Incorporated recently established an apartment for the higher education students that live there, more than seventy children and young people are housed. As a result of the current COVID-19 crisis, it has become difficult for the staff to manage the care of such a large population while under quarantine,” explained Luis.
Young girls at the Maria Reyna Home wash their hands thoroughly amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Much of the school’s personnel has returned to their own homes, so they are short-staffed. The older children in higher education are helping by cooking in the kitchen and tutoring the younger students while still studying and taking online classes.”
“With the local universities closed, the older students are doing everything they can to help at the Home. Children Incorporated has been able to offer some assistance. The Home had a bakery that they wanted to re-open, and we offered support for supplies. The older students are now running the bakery and making bread every day,” expressed Luis.
“I am so happy to start to hear these uplifting stories from our projects. Maria Reyna is still in need of food supplies such as milk and meats as well as some medication. We will offer support through our Hope In Action Fund that is [purposed for emergencies] just as these.”
“We are so grateful for the support of our sponsors and donors who make it possible for Children Incorporated to help projects such as Maria Reyna when they need it the most,” said Luis.
Moving forward together
We will continue to keep you updated with information about the children in our program as information comes to us weekly from our projects. Thank you for your continued support during this time. Together, we will move forward and do everything we possibly can to help vulnerable children today and in the future.
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We have created a COVID-19 Response Fund so that we can support children in crisis in the upcoming months. Donations will be used to provide food and emergency supplies to the children in our program who are in immediate need.