Updated on May 29th, 2020 at 08:04

Navigating COVID-19

The children, families — and partners and staff around the world who help them reach their goals — continue to be our priority as we navigate this ever-evolving global situation

Navigating COVID-19

The children, families — and partners and staff around the world who help them reach their goals — continue to be our priority as we navigate this ever-evolving global situation

  • Canada Office
  • Country Office

Canada office update

  • Staff from our Markham, Ont., office have been working from home since Tuesday, March 17
  • In the interim, where possible, we’ll process mail and donations at the office weekly, following social-distancing guidelines
  • As always, our donor-relations’ team remains ready to meet your needs (See below for contact details)

Country office update

  • We’re closely monitoring the situation in the countries where we have sponsored children. This virus could have a huge impact on already strained healthcare systems in these developing countries
  • As of Tuesday, March 24, staff from all our offices — in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nicaragua and Paraguay — have been working from home
  • Our local partners are working from home when they’re able
  • Where possible, we continue to work with local healthcare workers to distribute hygiene kits equipped with soap and educational materials; we’ve provided nutritional supplements; we’re connecting communities virtually, so children can continue to learn and engage with others; we’re raising awareness about how to keep safe; and we’re creating comprehensive response plans addressing issues such as child-protection and education

Keep connected

Read our blog updates about the COVID-19 outbreak

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Your questions answered

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COVID-19 is a new illness caused by the coronavirus that can affect the lungs and airways. Human coronaviruses are typically associated with mild illnesses, similar to the common cold. While some people suffering from COVID-19 have mild symptoms and can recover, in others, it is fatal.

COVID-19 has not been previously identified in humans. Rarely, animal coronaviruses, the source of COVID-19, can infect people, and more rarely, these can spread from person to person through close contact. This is the case with COVID-19, which is spread in cough droplets. The consensus among researchers studying the spread of the virus pinpoints COVID-19’s likely origin to a “wet market,” or live animal market, in Wuhan, China.

The World Health Organization says there’s currently no evidence that household pets can contract or spread coronavirus (COVID-19). A dog in Hong Kong tested “weakly” positive for the virus in February, but experts believe it was due to superficial contamination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends restricting contact with pet dogs, cats, or other animals if you get sick with COVID-19 until there is more information known.

A

While COVID-19 has affected the whole world, the poorest communities and countries will be particularly impacted, as the resources to fight the virus will be less readily available. Despite these challenges, Children Believe is responding to the crisis, bringing hope and help together with our partners to those least able to manage this pandemic. And, although the virus has reached countries where we work, we’re thankful there have been no reports of children, or their families in our sponsored communities, diagnosed with COVID-19.

Q

Our Canadian team has been working from home since the week of March 16, along with staff from our country offices. Our partners continue to monitor the situation and work from home where possible.

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We are continuing to assess the best way to respond to COVID-19 in the communities where we work. The good news is, it’s always been part of our strategy to offer workshops and training sessions to children and families on the importance of sanitation and hygiene in stopping the spread of disease. Where possible, we are continuing to distribute hygiene kits, equipped with soap and educational materials. In some communities we are distributing gel alcohol, masks and gloves, as many developing countries don’t have a ready supply of personal protective equipment. We are sharing information about child protection, tips about what families can do with children during quarantine, and providing information about COVID-19 and how to prevent the disease. Where the need is urgent, we are delivering nutritional supplements to families of children under age five and pregnant women, and providing financial loans.

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1.800.263.5437
askus@childrenbelieve.ca
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