Page 6 - GDG Annual Report 2021

Annual Report 2021 6 Global Development Group

Responding in the Midst of Crisis:

Our COVID-19 Response

From oxygen supplies in India to food parcels in South
Africa, our partners’ COVID-19 responses have been
innovative and varied, recognising and responding to
the changing needs within their community. COVID-19
has impacted our projects in ways no one could have

anticipated, both in immediate needs such as health
and livelihoods, through to secondary impacts such
as the rise in online sexual exploitation following the
move to digital learning for school children.
Years of working at the grassroots level in communities,
developing trust and relationships with government
Students at J602N The Umoja Centre have their temperatures taken before
and community leaders means our partners have been attending school. Alongside this, the project has provided hand washing
instrumental in the provision of relief and support during this stations and masks and for all students, to help protect against COVID-19.
critical time. Many partners, like LIFT for J886N in Thailand,
have been approached directly by local government to Information and Awareness
provide such assistance.
GDG partners have worked with thousands of families over the
past year to raise awareness of COVID-19 risks and prevention
strategies, empowering them to protect themselves and help
Medical Treatment and Support
curb its spread. Radio has proved an invaluable tool to reach
With the devastating second wave of COVID-19 cases through rural communities with this information, with GDG partners
India and South Asia in early-mid 2021 came the desperate Irene Gleeson Foundation, Uganda (J747 IGF Community
need for medical support, as existing healthcare systems Development Project) and 3 Angels Nepal (J1000N
experienced significant strain. Global Development Group’s Captivating Nepal - Stop Trafficking/Empower Women)
partners responded to this by raising funds for the provision reaching millions with COVID-19 education and offering
of urgently needed oxygen supplies in rural locations support.
experiencing shortages across India (J1116NR Medical Oxygen
In Indonesia and Sri Lanka our partners are educating school
for All), and supporting vaccination vans reaching the urban
children through COVID-19 education booklets and games.
poor in Chennai (J925N Birds Nest 365).
J718 Anak Anak Bali designed a child-friendly illustrated
In Bihar State, India, J836N Madhepura Christian Hospital booklet with the aim of teaching children and their families
established a dedicated ICU for COVID-19 patients, while also about COVID-19, while J696N Child Action Lanka utilised
working with local communities to prevent further outbreaks interactive options such as COVID-19 version of the game
through health and hygiene awareness training and mask snakes and ladders, alongside a booklet to teach children
distribution. J770 The Tikvah Project has sponsored the key messages.
training of nurses to increase the number of healthcare
Schooling and Education
workers in their community.
With lockdowns has come school closures in almost every
Emergency Relief
country GDG works, significantly impacting millions of
As nations have been plunged into lockdown millions of children’s education. Our partners have responded with
people have lost jobs and the ability to feed their family. unique and creative solutions to ensure children do not fall
Incredibly, 64 GDG projects in 19 countries have responded by behind or drop out of school. In Peru, teachers at J728N
providing food parcels or hot meals to families in need. Empowerment through Education are conducting online