By Lydia Hill | Project Leader
September 2020 Report
We are now six months into the pandemic, and Bolivia’s COVID-19 cases are finally starting to flatten out. This country has been hit especially hard by the virus, dwindling its scarce resources even further, and setting the country back years in terms of development and GDP. We are grateful that we have a terrific team on the ground, and are well positioned to help the children and their families deal with the aftermath. They need us more than ever.
With the families still in lockdown, the schools and our community centre will remain closed for the rest of 2020. Our Hot Lunch program pivoted to become a monthly food take away, and this month we were able to secure fresh fruit and vegetables in addition to the dry goods. With the loss of income, most of the families would not have the means to purchase food, so our support is crucial.
Our education and psychological support programs have pivoted, and have become a combination of online programming, and in person visits by our dedicated team. Access to psychological support is also crucial at this time, as the children are suffering from stress due to the pandemic and their family’s poor economic situation. As only half the families had access to a smart phone when our programs closed, we began fundraising to purchase tablets to ensure that all children have access to online programming. The first batch were delivered in July, and the second batch will be delivered in the next few weeks. We still have more families that require tablets, but as our micro project on GlobalGiving has come to its 90 day end, we will continue to fundraise elsewhere. Follow our website for more info, and to see the progress of the tablets for Bolivia.
Once it is safe to do so, the community centre will re-open, and we will immediately begin purchasing computers with the funds raised to date. The importance of digital literacy has come to the spotlight with so many children having their education moved online this year. We are grateful for our donors for bringing digital literacy to the children at the Tahauntinsuyo Community Centre.
We are grateful for, and humbled by, our donors who have allowed this support for the children and their families be possible. As we see the suffering going on in many parts of the world due to the pandemic, we can take comfort in knowing in the Tahuantinsuyo community of El Alto, Bolivia, we are making a difference.
Thank you. Muchas gracias.
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