For children who were struggling before COVID-19, things have only gotten worse.
COVID-19 has not only robbed millions of children of their education, their safety and their health, it’s robbed them of their childhood. What’s more, this pandemic has revealed and reinforced deep and systemic inequalities, in which the most vulnerable among us are paying the highest price.
The emergence of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines offers hope, but we can only end this pandemic through fair and equal access to vaccines for all.
Since the earliest days of the pandemic, Save the Children has been one the front lines. With the help of our supporters, so far, we've reached 29.5 million people impacted by COVID-19, including 11.8 million children. We owe it to children to build a better, more equal world to ensure decades of progress on children’s rights are not reversed because of COVID-19.
We’re on the ground in 87 countries, doing whatever it takes for children.
In the U.S. and around the world, we're adapting and expanding how we deliver our world-class programs.
Nepal
Even before a deadly second COVID wave hit Nepal, the virus had already deepened the poverty of thousands of families.
In May, Nepal has surpassed India in terms of COVID-19 deaths per capita. With PCR testing capacity limited to only 22,000 per day, and with supplies of test kits running low, Save the Children is providing testing kits and vital supplies of oxygen where possible, as well as other life-saving equipment for hospitals and quarantine centers.
We’re also teaching children and their families how to protect themselves from COVID-19. "We’re calling on the international community to fast track the supply of vaccines by donating their oversupply," said Jennifer Syed, Country Director of Save the Children in Nepal, "allowing the Government to restart vaccinations.”
Bangladesh
When the first case of COVID-19 was identified in the local community in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, Save the Children health care workers began a race against time to contain the outbreak in the world's largest refugee camp.
We also set up trainings for community health workers to equip them with necessary information to inform the Rohingya refugee community about how to protect themselves during the pandemic.
Across the globe, we've trained or supported 117,088 community health workers to date.
South Sudan
Teaching families how to properly wash their hands and ensuring they have access to soap and water are two basic, highly effective ways of preventing COVID-19 from spreading.
In South Sudan, Save the Children is working with Community-Based Distributors and Health promoters to raise awareness of COVID-19 risks and disseminate key messages around hand washing, contact tracing, social distancing and more.
Globally, we have provided over 762,000 households with access to safe water and soap for handwashing and continue to reach more every day through our water sanitation and hygiene programs.
Lebanon
The economic downturn and COVID-19 had already had a huge impact on lama's family when the Beirut explosion occurred in Lebanon in August 2020. The house was damaged and Lama, her brother and their parents were all psychologically affected.
Teaching families how to deal with the new stressors they are experiencing because of the pandemic is vital to keep children safe. Through child-friendly messages over radio, TV and social media, we’ve also been sharing resources and guidance on positive parenting.
That is why, in Lebanon and around the world, we’ve provided 626,000 children and caregivers with mental health and psychosocial support.
Syria
In Syria, school closures as a result of COVID-19 outbreaks throughout refugee camps forced students like 12-year old Ameen* to drop out in order to work to support his family. A month after dropping out, however, Ameen was able to get a mobile phone and enroll in a distance learning program supported by Save the Children. He now works during the day and studies in the evenings.
Globally, we have supported distance learning for 2.9 million children and helped 53 governments to adapt school curricula to address challenges brought on by the pandemic.
U.S.
In rural America’s poorest communities, where Save the Children is often the only child-focused nonprofit, we’re delivering nourishing meals to children who can no longer rely on school for food, as well as funding food pantries and food delivery services.
So far, we’ve helped prepare and deliver 18.4 million nourishing meals to children in rural communities.
Mexico
To keep children learning over the summer, we distributed additional supplies and organized a reading challenge with local libraries and schools. In total, 49,500 kids received learning materials through our summer programs.
In Mexico, Save the Children ran "What is Coronavirus" workshops for children like 8-year old Erendira. Staff demonstrated hand-washing techniques and provided hygiene kits for children to ensure they knew how to keep themselves safe during the pandemic.
Through our efforts, we've supported COVID-19 risk and safety communication programs in 64 countries around the world.
