How UNICEF is fighting the effects of COVID-19

UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Funds) is a national organization that provides children with humanitarian aid worldwide. They volunteer in countless countries globally and are one of the top fundraisers for child developmental issues due to their environment. It is no surprise that this organization has decided to take action during this pandemic. COVID-19 has caused millions of children to stop attending schools and unlike our school, many don’t have the option of online courses. Along with a stunted education, the majority of kids and people haven’t had the importance of washing your hands and staying away from others stressed to them. 

UNICEF has taken to posting numerous articles about how to avoid the virus and addressing how some parents are dealing with the epidemic to encourage and give ideas to other parents. Their article “How families in Uganda are coping during COVID-19 lockdown” speaks of Iculent Veronica, a mother of five children aged between fourteen and two years. The electricity in their household is regulated by their landlord and is available only between 7 pm and midnight causing them to miss their televised school lessons. Though her children fear falling behind, Veronica still pushes them to use the learning materials provided by their school. Along with their regular school work, the eldest siblings take time to teach their younger ones new materials. This article and their others like it are inspiring to other students and parents. This made me really appreciate online learning because we are so fortunate to have it. I assume it encouraged those who don’t have access to online learning to dive into their books and help out their siblings. This is information and encouragement are much needed for parents and students during this pandemic.

In addition to informing us of how others are battling their loss of physical school, UNICEF has released articles to protect our physical health. Similar articles have been released by a majority of organizations and news outlets, but UNICEF put different perspectives in their articles. Their article “COVID-19 in Yemen: A day in the life of Muna” talks about ten-year-old Muna Zayed who is one of around 1.7 million internally displaced children in Yemen. She describes a day and in her life and speaks of how they keep the bathrooms in the camps she lives in clean and how they wash their hands regularly. She attempts to collect water for cooking when there aren’t many people around. The article stresses staying clean and staying away from others. Along with posting these useful articles, UNICEF has been organizing programs which provide clean water to communities in need, and distribute basic hygiene kits – containing soap, towels, buckets, and jerry cans – to empower and enable internally displaced families across the country to protect themselves.

UNICEF is present not only globally, but also in our school. The club has been keeping up with the national organization’s articles and statements. Seeing how this pandemic is affecting students worldwide makes me realize how lucky we are to have not had COVID-19 stop our learning. Though most IMSA students are being hit with a lack of motivation right now, stay strong! We’re at the home stretch. And remember, you never realize how fortunate you are to have something, especially something like E-learning.