The coronavirus (COVID-19) has now spread across the globe and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic. The world has been affected in unprecedented ways. We are all saddened by the report that an increasing number of people, mostly the elderly but also including children, are losing their lives to this virus. We are praying for the suffering and the departed, and for an early end of the pandemic worldwide.
Although the mortality rate among children has been low so far, they are seriously affected by the impact of the pandemic. In many countries, schools are closed down and children are losing not only access to education but also their precious time to interact with their friends and teachers and in some cases food provided at school as well. Their lives may also be even more severely affected if their family members or caregivers become ill or lose their lives. We must keep in mind that children are very vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic, and we need to listen to their voices and stand by them. Arigatou International will continue to work with our partners and supporters to offer necessary support to children around the world in this difficult time.
This historic pandemic reminds us that in today’s world people are deeply interconnected globally. We are learning the valuable lesson that how even one person behaves affects others and that our collective actions have the power to change the situation around the world in any direction. This is the time when we need to encourage a sense of solidarity as one human community and act together to overcome this threat to humankind with empathy and care for the vulnerable people including children. Arigatou International will do everything in its power to contribute to the international efforts to end the pandemic.
Keishi Miyamoto (Rev.),
President of Arigatou International,
Convenor, Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC)
During the upcoming weeks, Arigatou International and its initiatives will be working together to support you and all the global community in keeping children safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.
We will share practical resources for parents and caregivers, as well as relevant reflections and tools for faith communities, including webinars, blogs and video messages.
We invite you to stay tuned to our social media to reflect with us on the ethical challenges presented by this unprecedented emergency and take concrete actions for the wellbeing of children around the world.
Disruption of the COVID 19 pandemic will only be possible if Science, Society and a spirit of Solidarity moves us to reflect and act. As global citizens and members of our faith communities locally, we have a responsibility to our people. We must actively promote and advocate for solidarity.
Dr. Kezevino Aram, President, Shanti Ashram
The possibility of a pandemic, a public health crisis of this scale, has in the past only been described as a theoretical event. Daily updates from the World Health Organization (“WHO”) on the escalating COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the unprecedented speed and scale with which the virus is spreading, disregarding national boundaries, class or ethnicity. The virus has taken the global community by surprise and challenged its assumptions on epidemic preparedness. Heads of nations now have national emergencies to address, even as the medical fraternity continues its matrix reading of people at risk (particularly the elderly), treating infected patients needing intensive care, and designing protocols to deal with individuals who unfortunately have lost their lives.
While the immediate prevention and care response continues to evolve with increasing international evidence, country specific WHO advisories, and on the ground efforts by the health care community, one must step back and see what the crisis means in the short and medium term for communities. I have read many educational articles about the immediate health and broader socio-economic implications and urge each of you to read more from credible sources.
These are also the times of social media and I see people’s response to the epidemic: very visible, frequent and at times reactive rather than considered (and verified). Preoccupation with the unfolding epidemic is a positive sign; peoples’ engagement has increased, accompanied by short-term positive behavior modification and realistic understanding of life circumstances that fuelled the pandemic. I hope this positive interest in health will lead to better investments in people’s health going forward.
Let’s focus, amidst many things, on the impact the pandemic has on society - particularly children – and the opportunity we have to invest in advancing public health. The sudden closure of schools has directly affected lives of millions of children across the world. Families are adjusting to the change and spending more hours together: many updates are seen on this unexpected “time together” dividend of the pandemic. It might be weeks before they return to school, play together and enjoy the company of their friends. Virtual classrooms can never fully replace the dynamic classroom of life that children grow and thrive in.
“Hundreds of millions of children are not in school. Parents and caregivers are working remotely whenever they can. Borders have been closed. Lives have been upended. These are uncharted waters for all of us”.
Ms. Henrietta Fore,
Executive Director,
Unicef
My mind also has been dominated by the precipitous effect the pandemic will have on vulnerable children, children whose lives are dictated by the daily wages of their parents. Alongside the economic stimulus packages for business & industry, can we also focus on spreading the social safety net for the most vulnerable amongst us? Never before have the elderly felt so vulnerable (even in the more developed parts of the world). A former UN Diplomat wrote to me that not since World War II has Europe experienced such a crisis impacting everyone’s lives.
Social distancing/isolation which was used to describe societal circumstances has suddenly been lifted up and accepted by individuals as a ‘public health tool’ for disease control. While we put this to effective use, let us also actively build on the spirit of solidarity and think of how and where we can build the safety nets for vulnerable children and elders.
Disruption of the COVID 19 pandemic will only be possible if Science, Society and a spirit of Solidarity moves us to reflect and act. As global citizens and members of our faith communities locally, we have a responsibility to our people. We must actively promote and advocate for solidarity.
Anticipating the need of collaboration and a spirit of solidarity, India’s Prime Minister asked for people’s time, attention and cooperation in the coming weeks to reverse the course of the pandemic. Social safety nets have to become a priority for all of us. Governments and people have to do it to together!
Let’s re-imagine ‘care’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faith helps to meet the challenges we are currently experiencing; and we must share this with our children, youth and the community. Standing together during these difficult times is a choice we make!
As my faith tradition teaches me, "If we learn to live together, there are a million blessings to share!"
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has now spread across the globe and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic. The world has been affected in unprecedented ways. We are all saddened by the report that an increasing number of people, mostly the elderly but also including children, are losing their lives to this virus. We are praying for the suffering and the departed, and for an early end of the pandemic worldwide.
Although the mortality rate among children has been low so far, they are seriously affected by the impact of the pandemic. In many countries, schools are closed down and children are losing not only access to education but also their precious time to interact with their friends and teachers and in some cases food provided at school as well. Their lives may also be even more severely affected if their family members or caregivers become ill or lose their lives. We must keep in mind that children are very vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic, and we need to listen to their voices and stand by them. Arigatou International will continue to work with our partners and supporters to offer necessary support to children around the world in this difficult time.
This historic pandemic reminds us that in today’s world people are deeply interconnected globally. We are learning the valuable lesson that how even one person behaves affects others and that our collective actions have the power to change the situation around the world in any direction. This is the time when we need to encourage a sense of solidarity as one human community and act together to overcome this threat to humankind with empathy and care for the vulnerable people including children. Arigatou International will do everything in its power to contribute to the international efforts to end the pandemic.
Keishi Miyamoto (Rev.)
President, Arigatou International
Convenor, Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC)
During the upcoming weeks, Arigatou International and its initiatives will be working together to support you and all the global community in keeping children safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.
We will share practical resources for parents and caregivers, as well as relevant reflections and tools for faith communities, including webinars, blogs and video messages.
We invite you to stay tuned to our social media to reflect with us on the ethical challenges presented by this unprecedented emergency and take concrete actions for the wellbeing of children around the world.
Hola, com esteu?
Us volem explicar que, des del passat divendres 13 de març i seguint les recomanacions sanitàries, l’equip de Quepo estem teletreballant i que, durant les properes setmanes, seguirem en marxa però ho farem des de casa.
Ahir vam celebrar una reunió d’equip al complet per tal de reorganitzar-nos i planificar tota la feina de les properes setmanes; l’objectiu principal és poder tenir cura i vetllar per tots els projectes en els que estem treballant plegades. Estem programant les reunions online necessàries per seguir avançant i farem tot el possible perquè els projectes es vegin el menys afectats possible. Seguirem treballant des de la perseverança i l’optimisme; però també coneixedores de la situació i les dificultats que poden afectar als calendaris dels projectes segons la seva casuística. Ho anirem parlant amb cadascun dels equips de projecte i estarem en constant comunicació.
Us volem fer saber que, tot i que la nostra oficina romandrà tancada mentre duri la crisi sanitària, us podeu posar en contacte a través del correu electrònic i, de forma excepcional, també dels nostres telèfons personals.
Som davant d’una greu crisi i cal que tothom actuï amb responsabilitat. Calen polítiques valentes per garantir la seguretat de les persones a tots els nivells: sanitari, econòmic i social. Aquesta crisi no la podem pagar les de sempre!
Animem a tothom a seguir amb els confinaments, a seguir les indicacions de les autoritats sanitàries i a participar en les xarxes de solidaritat i suport mutu que s’estan organitzant arreu del país.
Continuem oberts a rebre propostes i peticions de projectes com sempre; de fet, en continuem rebent el que demostra les virtuts del teletreball i la força amb la que, de vegades, la vida ens empeny a adaptar-nos i continuar.
No oblidem que som vulnerables i que la resposta sovint és col·lectiva. Cuideu-vos, cuidem-nos!
L’equip de Quepo
L'entrada Estem confinades, però la primavera no s’atura! ha aparegut primer a Quepo | Comunicació per a la transformació social.
El 16 de marzo celebramos el Día Internacional del Macaco. Muchas especies de macacos están en peligro y esto es lo que hace que este día sea tan importante. El día está pensado para crear conciencia sobre la disminución de las poblaciones debido a la deforestación, la caza para el consumo de su carne, la30
