Save the Childrens global Corona Aid: Solidarity saves lives now!

Stadtlandkind has been supporting the children's rights organisation Save the Children since 2018. Especially now, in the current Corona crisis, we find it important to show solidarity. The virus is spreading quickly and worldwide. As long as children have no previous illnesses, a corona infection is usually harmless. But if parents and guardians become infected, the health, nutrition and protection of children also suffer. The situation is particularly risky in poor regions and for refugee families who have little or no access to basic care. In addition, schools are closed in almost all countries where the coronavirus has broken out. As a result, children are severely restricted in their right to education and play. This too has implications for their future, now and in the long term.

Examples of Save the Children's worldwide project work

Save the Children is present in more than 120 countries to prevent the worst and support children and their families. The children's rights organisation already has experience in preparing for and fighting epidemics, as existing projects are used to contain diseases such as yellow fever, cholera, measles and Ebola and to support affected communities.

Sierra Leone

Schools in Sierra Leone have closed for nine months during the Ebola epidemic five years ago, which deprived 1.8 million children of an entire school year. To ensure that children can continue to learn from home, Save the Children developed lessons that were broadcast on the radio and worked with more than 720 teachers to reach around 104,000 primary school children. Save the Children is now working to repeat and continue these live radio programmes during school closures caused by the coronavirus. There will now be a feedback mechanism in the lessons and the children will be encouraged to rate the radio programme. Teachers, parents and children will have the opportunity to communicate via SMS how the lessons can be improved so that the programme reaches its goal in the best possible way.

Switzerland

Save the Children has been working on the issues of child-friendly accommodation and care in the asylum sector since 2016. Based on the current situation, the entire coaching and training offer in asylum centres must be discontinued until further notice. In addition, child-friendly rooms have been closed in most homes to ensure the protection of parents, children, staff and other residents. In the wake of the Corona pandemic, Save the Children, therefore, developed an emergency kit with simple instructions for activities (pictures to colour in, learning games, simple folding games, yoga exercises for children) and a basic set of play and learning materials (e.g. paper, pens, balloons, dice, softballs). These materials enable asylum-seeking parents and staff of asylum centres to offer learning and fun opportunities to children in limited space, with few materials and across language barriers. If necessary, additional sets of materials or a refill of basic materials can be added.

Bangladesh

Since August 2017, over 900,000 Rohingya have fled massive violence and human rights violations from northern Myanmar to Bangladesh. More than half of them are children. In the world's largest refugee camp in Cox's Bazaar, it is almost impossible to maintain hygiene measures. This is why Save the Children is setting up hand washing stations in educational establishments there. They also train children, teachers and school administrators in protective measures. Thanks to Save the Children, almost 1200 toilets, 605 washing stations and an additional 290 women-friendly sanitary facilities have already been built and operated. For primary health care, Save the Children operates a centre that is open around the clock.

To the left: Video "Stay home...and make an origami heart! and learning and playsets

A guest article by Kim Kobelt, Save the Children