Project Updates: Impacts from the Global Pandemic
2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, and nowhere more so than in the communities and people you help support in Guatemala, Nepal, and Cambodia.
In this issue we have updates on our projects in these countries, and ways you can directly help, as the ongoing need in these communities remains great during COVID-19.
Guatemala: Pandemic Support for 50 Families
Photo: Cantón Bella Vista
On July 3 of this year, the staff, teachers, and parent council of Cantón Bella Vista primary school allocated some of CEF's support funding to create and distribute care and education packages to 50 families whose children attend the school.
Located in Tuixoquel, Comtancillo, Guatemala, CEF has supported this school and community for many years. COVID-19 has led to much hardship and uncertainty for this small rural community.
The packages included basic groceries and non-perishable foods, 8 lbs. of corn/maiz, and a homework guide, so the children wouldn't fall behind in their studies.
Photo: Cantón Bella Vista
Here Edilma Rebeca Ramírez Jíguan—one of the 7th grade scholarship students sponsored by CEF—was so excited to receive her family's package that she couldn't wait to get started on her schoolwork.
Photo: Cantón Bella Vista
During the distribution of the packages, some of the staff, council and community members posed for a thank you photo holding a sign that reads "Chjontiya," which means "thank you" in the community's Mayan language, Mopan.
In the words of Fredy Matías López, Bella Vista community school project representative, "This chjontiya is dedicated to the Board members and talented creatives at CEF, who continue to provide support to our community during these times of hardship and uncertainty."
Cambodia: Situation Urgent
PHOTO: Kids International Development Society
The situation in Cambodia is critical, not so much due to COVID-19 cases, but due to poverty.
Factories are closed and many of the families supported by CEF work in brick factories for incredibly low wages–and now they do not have any wages at all. Most families live without electricity, running water, toilets or decent housing. There is no government support such as food banks, unemployment insurance, or free or subsidised health care in Cambodia.
Our project partner KIDS (Kids International Development Society) works to assist these families by educating one of their children, building houses, toilets, and providing solar lighting to improve their lives through their Smart Kids program. The CEF supports eleven children and their families through this program.
PHOTO: Kids International Development Society
During the pandemic, KIDS is supporting its families by gathering together five or six weeks to share 50 kg of rice, fish sauce, soya sauce, fish, cooking oil, soap, washing detergent, hand sanitizer, and masks, as well as $50 cash for each family to buy things like medicine, baby formula and other needed goods.
At this time, KIDS is providing aid to 81 families, approximately 400 people (all who are connected to our ongoing sponsorship programs).
Photo: Kids International Development Society
Also facing huge challenges is The Lake Clinic, a floating clinic on Tonle Sap lake, Cambodia. Built by the KIDS and CEF, with a nurse/midwife position funded by the CEF, it is the only healthcare for families in the region.
While COVID-19 has presented unprecedented new challenges, The Lake Clinic's staff continues to treat the community.
In May of this year Tonle Sap lake had only 20 centimeters of water and the river was completely dry. This has led to an increased number of patients presenting with malnutrition and dehydration symptoms, and in desperate need of preventative care in order to combat COVID-19.
Photo: Kids International Development Society
To help, CEF provided an extra $6600 USD in funding to The Lake Clinic, to fund another nurse/midwife's annual salary.
NEPAL: Pivoting to Online and Forging Ahead
PHOTO: KINA
Through our project partner KINA, CEF supports Code Rush Nepal's “Code Like Her,” a free 3-month, full stack software developer program for young women in Nepal.
Code Rush Nepal worked hard earlier this year to build out a wonderful new training facility in Kathmandu to support the program, with an original launch targeted for April 1, 2020.
Then COVID hit, and Nepal went into a total lockdown in late March. Undaunted, they pivoted to a virtual online delivery approach using Zoom. The program is now supporting 15 young women in a full-time program for the next 3 months.
There are challenges in delivering online training in Nepal, with intermittent power outages and shaky internet connections. But the trainers and students are committed to make this a success, and it is off to a great start.
Photo: KINA/Code Rush Nepal
Nepal is likely to stay in lockdown until at least September as cases are now just starting to rise sharply. People are only allowed to go outside to buy food once a day, which has put a hold on pretty much everything and added incredible pressure on those living hand to mouth.
Some of the changes made by Code Rush Nepal during the pandemic include:
Zoom classes allowed them to increase the class size 12 to 15.
This also allowed students from outside of the Kathmandu area to participate in future training programs, if they have sufficient internet access (this is improving).
Hiring five part-time trainers to develop the course material specific to their areas of expertise - all are highly experienced software developers and are working for large software development companies in Nepal.
The program runs six days a week, with five hours a day of training by each instructor, depending on the topic for the week.
We may have to provide financial support for some students to upgrade internet access if problematic (TBD).
Every CEF photo you buy on Getty goes to support communities around the world
Photo: James Tse/CEF/Getty Images
The CEF exists because photographic and other professionals donate their time to create high quality stock photos which are available for purchase on Getty Images. Every time you buy one of our photos, you are directly funding the projects we support around the world.
Our grateful thanks to the teams that made each shoot happen, to Getty Images, and to everyone who chooses to buy CEF photos!
Thank you for your support of the Compassionate Eye Foundation and the people and communities we serve!
Photo: Cantón Bella Vista, Guatemala