Long-term Coronavirus response in Latin America

Latin America continues to struggle to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic with cases remaining stubbornly high, hospitals close to breaking point and a slow vaccine rollout delaying a return to some sort of normality. Classroom-based teaching, apart from staggered teaching in Ecuador, has not been permitted in the countries where we work since March 2020 and the students have been unable to receive virtual classes due to lack of internet or devices. Our local teachers continue to make regular visits to the communities to hand out homework and answer questions individually. Due to their parents’ lack of education or basic literacy, in most cases non-existent, these visits are the only opportunity for the students to ask questions and get feedback.

We have purchased all the necessary products to resume classroom teaching safely for when we get the green light in all our other countries. In Ecuador we are buying products on a regular basis as classes are now staggered.

With Perú suffering from a severe new wave of Covid infections classroom-based teaching is not expected to restart for several weeks. The children continue to learn from home, as they have done all year, with the text and exercise books we purchased earlier when some restrictions had briefly eased.

As virtual learning is not an option and the parents’ education limited it is hoped the students can get back into the classroom soon to receive their education. In the meantime the teachers try to make regular visits to their homes when they are allowed and go through topics one on one. We will be doing an essential food drop in the community when restrictions are eased in the next few weeks.

The school year draws to a close this month in Ecuador with all the children graduating despite limited classroom teaching coupled with teachers’ visits to the children’s homes in the four rural communities where they live. Due to their parents’ own literacy capabilities being limited to none these visits and limited classroom time are their only opportunity to ask questions.

The Ministry of Health had visited the school and given the official green light for classes to be delivered in-person in March a couple of days a week thanks to all the protocols we had and continue to put in place. Previously the parents had given their consent for classrooms to be open on a staggered basis.

We still continue to pay for the teachers to head out into the communities in Honduras to give out homework and the sewing project in Guatemala is now generating income so the mothers can buy essential items.

This year’s GlobalGiving Bonus Day will be celebrated is on 14th July where donations between $100 and $1,000 will be matched at varying levels whilst funds remain from 9am Eastern Time. The following matching structure will apply:

Donations of $100 - $499 will be matched at 15%

Donations of $500 - $749 will be matched at 30%

Donations of $750 - $1,000 will be matched at 50%

With fundraising events having been put on hold for the past year and half this is a fantastic way to help us raise the extra funds we need to keep the projects and education going in all our countries. If you can, please do donate early from 9am ET on 14^th July to take advantage of the matching bonusses as the extra funds tend to go quite quickly and thank you so much in advance!

We are also looking for partnerships with businesses as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programs as we look to implement more sustainable income plans in all our communities over the coming years. If you know of a company looking to expand their own CSR program and wanting to support projects in Latin America, please do email me on info@thephoenixprojects.org By using the tax benefits for all US taxpaying companies by donating through GlobalGiving it is a CSR program which is beneficial to all parties, especially if the donation is made on the July 14^th Bonus Day!

Thanks again for all your support and all the best for the second half of 2021

Cheers

Links:

• Corporate Social Responsibility