A list of ways you can support communities around the world struggling to deal with the coronavirus pandemic
No country has been prepared for COVID-19 – and the worst of the pandemic has yet to hit in some of the world’s poorest communities.
Global crises hit the most vulnerable people hardest. When the economy shrinks, families in poverty are the first to suffer, whether in the United States or in Somalia. When food production slows and costs rise, hungry mothers and children face the greatest food insecurity. When diseases spread, communities with weak health systems have fewer supplies and trained staff; sadly, they also see more lives lost.
If you’re staying at home, you may find yourself feeling helpless – or hopeless. That’s why we at Action Against Hunger pulled together this list of ways you can help the world’s poorest communities in this difficult time. We’re physically separated from our friends and neighbors right now – but we can still come together to save lives and make a difference.
As COVID-19 spreads, it poses a grave danger, especially in communities confronting hunger with weak health systems and scarce supplies.
For more than 40 years, Action Against Hunger has been on the front lines, treating and preventing hunger and addressing its underlying causes, including lack of clean water, safe sanitation, and good hygiene practices like handwashing. Because malnutrition is a serious health condition, we work to improve treatments, to strengthen health systems, and to build skills and capacity of health workers and volunteers.
In some hard-to-reach areas, Action Against Hunger is the only organization providing healthcare – we are stepping up and responding to this pandemic. We are rapidly scaling up our water, sanitation, and hygiene programs, as well as our work to strengthen health systems.
At the same time, we’re doing everything we can to maintain our existing lifesaving programs – because hunger doesn’t stop when a pandemic hits. With your help, we can expand our hunger treatment and prevention programs to save more lives and help families.
COVID-19 RELIEF FUND
Help us save lives, empower communities, and ensure more children can grow up strong.
As the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control have stressed, healthy hygiene habits – like frequently washing your hands with soap for at least 30 seconds – are crucial to preventing the spread of disease, no matter where you live.
In schools, health facilities, nutrition centers, refugee camps, and other public spaces around the world, Action Against Hunger’s teams have long promoted handwashing for health and good hygiene – helping to prevent outbreaks.
In the video above, Simone in Ethiopia shows what she’s learned.
Petition for Peace
The United Nations has called for a global ceasefire to push countries to focus on tackling the pandemic. As Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez said:
“Our world faces a common enemy: COVID-19. The virus does not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith. It attacks all, relentlessly.
Meanwhile, armed conflict rages on around the world…Let’s not forget that in war-ravaged countries, health systems have collapsed.
Health professionals, already few in number, have often been targeted. Refugees and others displaced by violent conflict are doubly vulnerable. The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war.
That is why…I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives.”
With gyms closed and charity exercise events cancelled for the foreseeable future, it’s time to get creative!
All of us at Action Against Hunger were inspired and motivated by United in Movement– a weeklong CrossFit challenge that included a 24-hour YouTube Livestream. In total, the fitness community raised more than $238,000 for Action Against Hunger and two other worthy charities.
How can you turn your daily exercise routine into something fun – while fundraising for a good cause? Here are a couple ideas to get you started:
Challenge your friends on social media to a push-up or plank challenge – and give $1 for each friend who participates and ask them to do the same.
With your running club or your friends, run a socially-distanced 5K. Find different running routes of the same distance and start all at the same time – see who finishes first! Ask everyone who can to give a small donation to participate.
If you’re livestreaming yoga, pilates, or other fitness classes for free, give back what you’d normally pay to go in person to charity.
Create your own fundraiser for Action Against Hunger on our website or on Facebook.
Spread the Word
With COVID-19 spreading in many of the countries where we work, we are ramping up programs to protect the health of our staff and the communities we serve around the world, while keeping our lifesaving nutrition programs going strong.
Help us spread the word about what vulnerable communities face right now and how our teams are supporting them by sharing this video on social media.
Give while Gaming
The gaming community has been generous to Action Against Hunger, and many gamers are doubling down on their charitable actions now. Some are hosting charity live streams to raise funds for our relief efforts, while others are buying new games from companies who give a portion of their proceeds to Action Against Hunger – Humble Bundle and Steam, to name just a couple.
Have Your Gift Matched
Did you know that many companies will match donations their employees give to charity? It’s an easy way to make your gift have even more impact. In response to the COVID-19, some companies have increased their usual match amount. Start by asking your Human Resources team about your organization’s charitable giving programs.
Get Creative with Your Own Fundraiser
To protect the health of ourselves, our families, and our communities, many of us are spending a lot more time at home. We’re spending more virtual time with friends and family: try turning your remote happy hour, digital dance party, or online board game session into a mini-fundraiser, where each participant donates $5 or $10. Some people are learning new things – from how to bake bread to how to knit to how to play an instrument – and starting new projects. Take your new passion and show it off: host a virtual concert or tutorial and make it a fundraiser!
Be Kind and Compassionate
Action Against Hunger supporters inspire us each day with their empathy and generosity. In times like these, fear is rampant—but so is compassion. In our hometowns and around the world, we find hope in each other: in neighbors helping neighbors, in health workers and humanitarians going to extraordinary measures to provide care, and in the kindness, creativity, and thoughtfulness of friends and strangers.