Impact in the midst of COVID-19
VIDEO: presenting the challenges of COVID-19 and how E3 partners have been responding.
Local lockdowns and restrictions stopped much of our partners’ usual activities and worsened the poverty in their communities. They were quick to respond to local needs, providing training about COVID-19, mobilising local people to sew face masks and providing food parcels.
On average
710
meals given each month
810
masks made
430
food parcels across Southern Africa
E3 funding for training, workshops and support group activities was diverted to COVID-19 relief. We supported project leaders via Zoom for administration, prayer and a space to share their fears and the emotional pain of seeing the effects of COVID-19 locally.
Educating communities
Social distancing and handwashing can be a real challenge to families living in cramped homes with only one or two rooms. Some families have a shared toilet and tap and many have no facilities at all. There has also been much fear of COVID-19 and in some places misinformation about how it spreads. Empowering people with the right information and encouraging them to share their learning with others is vital in helping stop COVID-19 from spreading.
Sewing masks
Support groups, self-help groups and young people on a skills development programme have been working so hard to sew masks to give out or sell at cost to local people to help protect them from COVID-19.
The gift of food, soap and washing up bowls
Dancing, crying with joy or utterly lost for words … these are just some of the reactions from families who received food parcels. Many depend on daily sales from street stalls to survive, those who are living with HIV need regular meals for their medication to be effective and grandmothers of Back to School children suddenly needed to provide food for children who would normally have their main and often only meal of the day at school. The soap and bowls enabled people to wash their hands regularly and easily. E3 partners also supported people emotionally and spiritually as they asked about people’s needs and shared words of encouragement when they visited.
“Now that I have enough food for my family for the lockdown, I am going into my house for 21 days with much peace. Thank you for helping me and my family.”
Change for children living on the streets in Zimbabwe
It became unsafe for children living on the streets because of COVID-19 and the lockdown being enforced by the police and army. Scripture Union (SUZ) gathered 92 children into its safe house and a government welfare home. It is amazing that 38 children have been reunited with their families and SUZ continues to work with them to help ensure this lasts. The rest of the children have benefited from practical, emotional and spiritual support.
We believe this time away from the streets will help them decide to move off the streets for good. What a blessing that will be!