As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect lives worldwide, all of us naturally look for reasons to stay hopeful during this difficult period.
Luckily, outreach is in the hope business. We exist to empower communities to work together and address any issue that comes their way. The more challenges present, the more opportunities there are to find lasting solutions. With our help, and the hard work of our community members, hope persists.
The COVID-19 pandemic has proven enormously disruptive to the lives and livelihoods of Outreach’s community partners. The result of restricted movement and inerrupted commerce is that seasonal agricultural work has all but ceased in many parts of the world. This then leaves many households without a means of earning an income.
hope persists with hand-washing
Most Outreach-affiliated communities’ rural locations provide a buffer against the further spread of the virus. Therefore, community-led efforts have focused instead on ensuring families have enough to eat, and constructing hundreds of hand-washing stations in homes and public spaces. These are put in place to encourage best hygienic practices for every resident.
There was a spirit of unity and shared purpose that inspired successful, community-led collaboration prior to the pandemic. But as a result of courage and perseverance, our communities have continued to thrive throughout this difficult year. Local leaders have worked closely with Outreach facilitators to modify existing community-run loan and food-distribution programs. This is accomplished in order to address the immediate needs of families without becoming dependent on outside relief organizations or usurious lending institutions.
Teams in Africa have made masks for themselves and neighboring communities.
Short-term, low-interest, community-managed food loans help families stay healthy until seasonal work resumes.
Hand-washing supplies were accessed and distributed to households by community-led teams to emphasize and increase healthy habits and minimize the spread of disease.
Hope endures. Outreach remains committed to directly supporting the work underway in our partner communities as they contend with short-term challenges, keep their eyes fixed on the bright horizon ahead, and work together to build a path to reach it.
How to Help
No matter the challenge, Outreach is here to empower communities to work together and thrive. It’s what we do! We can’t do it alone — Outreach supporters make all the difference. Join us! Together, we’re unstoppable. Please give now.
