COVID-19 Response For Our Community: A Letter From Alisha
Dear friends,
I wanted to take a moment to reach out to you with a huge and heartfelt thank-you for your continued support of our students. These are challenging and uncertain times for all of us, and we are doing our best to look forward with compassion and optimism.
We’ve received messages from many of you asking about the kids and the current situation in Uganda. According to our partners and NPR’s Corona Virus World Tracking Map (that’s updated regularly), there have been 44 confirmed cases in Uganda and 0 fatalities.
COVID-19 IS EFFECTING UGANDA AS WELL
The good news is that the government in Uganda is taking proactive measures. In the past two weeks, President Museveni has closed all the schools, the borders, and the airport (no flights incoming or outgoing). All public transportation has also been required to stop carrying passengers. We’re thankful the government is not making light of the situation and taking steps in sync with the rest of the world.
THE CHILDREN WE HELP SUPPORT NEED BASIC LIFE-SAVING ESSENTIALS
The challenges that will greatly affect our students in the coming months is access to life-saving basic needs - food, hygiene supplies, and medical care. Like millions of students around the globe, our students have been sent home from school. In Uganda, without internet and virtual learning resources, formal instruction has stopped altogether until they can return.
Please know that school closures have a significant impact on essential basic needs. For example, primary students regularly receive breakfast and lunch at school. Secondary students normally live on campus and receive three meals a day, plus all other essential basic needs as part of their tuition payment. Since campuses are closed, all 110 children have moved back to the children’s home. This requires unforeseen financial resources for full-time care for all students and basic needs such as food, medical care, and hygiene products (extra soap, toothpaste, etc.).
THE KIKULU FOUNDATION IS PRIORITIZING IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR THE CHILDREN DURING THIS CRISIS
During this time, we believe that it is necessary to prioritize immediate needs that support the health and well-being of our students. The food, medical, and hygiene budget for all children is currently $1,575 a week. We plan to help ensure all the kids can eat and be cared for until things return to a more typical school routine.
IF YOU CAN PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO THIS UNIQUE TIME-SENSITIVE NEED.
At times like this, we need community more than ever. So from the entire team at The Kikulu Foundation, thank you for allowing us to draw from the power of human connection to support those most in need - together we can.
With gratitude,
Alisha Robertson-Stephens, Founder
Alone we can do so little. Together, we can do so much