Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!
19 August 2020
Post No. 157
The Week’s Contents
• The Continuation of Summer 2020 Humanitarian Relief Appeal Projects
• Summer Triple Pack is Still Running
• Trending in Poverty Reduction in a Summer of Covid-19 Compliance – In Focus from Week Beginning 17/08/2020: Social Health as Enabler of Poverty Reduction
… and much more!
Key Messages
• The Continuation of Summer 2020 Humanitarian Relief Appeal Projects
The remaining four projects of our Summer 2020 Humanitarian Relief Appeal are now open for public support. We have made them Covid-19 secure after conducting a planning review and test on them.
Under the Main Development section of this post, there are key summaries about them. CENFACS is willing to provide the full project proposals to those potential supporters who may request them.
To support and or further enquire about them, just contact CENFACS.
• Summer Triple Pack is Still Running
Our Summer Triple Pack made of Track, Trip and Trending continues this week. The key message we would like to get across this Triple Pack is to try to help reduce poverty by undertaking any of these three activities: running, visiting projects and analysing trends. Let us make some reminding points about each of them.
=> Social distancing Track to help reduce sanitation poverty
This activity of the pack is about social distancing running for about 2.5 miles (almost 4 km) to help reduce poverty in a Summer of Covid-19 Compliance.
For those who have completed their 2.5 miles of running, please do not hesitate to share with us your experience. This activity is also performed under this August 2020 Mission Activity.
For those who are deprived to physically run, they can virtually run to help reduce poverty with CENFACS. Among them are people who may be experiencing handicap to do physical activity of running to help reduce poverty. One could include the following:
People or parents caring for very young children, pregnant women, elderly people, disable people, those who are not physically fit or mobile to run, those who do not have opportunity to physically run, etc.
If you are organising this kind of virtual activity or event, let us know. It is also better to advise us that the people participating in the virtual run are the physically deprived ones we listed above or they have a serious handicap prohibiting them to undertake any physical engagement.
In all cases, Covid-19 restrictions, rules and guidance must be observed.
=> Virtual Trip to Covid-19 hit locals
As part of ‘Mission’ Activity of the month, we have suggested to virtually visit 3 projects related to Covid-19 hit local people and communities.
These virtual visits are not only online recreational activity. They are also a learning and development process in terms of understanding the following:
√ The way in which Covid-19 hit people or communities, particularly those who are undertaking coping and survival strategies to eradicate Covid-19-induced poverty and vulnerability
√ What is needed to help them overcome the problems they have
√ What lessons that can be learnt and shared from their coronavirus pandemic experience
√ The demand in terms of policy development and response to meet similar needs in the future
Furthermore, Virtual Trip as part of our Summer Triple Pack has now included field work research in Africa and anywhere else in the context of poverty relief and sustainable development projects.
For those who are having or have had these experiences and results of field work research, please do not hesitate to share them.
=> Online Trending in health poverty reduction
The focus for this third part of our Summer Triple Pack is on social health and social wellness. Under this activity of the pack, we are following the direction of poverty through socials and virtual world.
After dealing with Social Distancing Rule as Life Protector and Saver in the first week, and Social Networking as Connector for Poverty Reduction in the second week; we are now working on Social Health as Enabler of Poverty Reduction. The notes about this third activity are just below.
In all this Summer Triple Pack, Covid-19 restrictions and rules must be followed, respected and maintained.
• Trending in Poverty Reduction in a Summer of Covid-19 Compliance – In Focus from Week Beginning 17/08/2020: Social Health as Enabler of Poverty Reduction
Social health can enable to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development. But, what is social health?
=> Understanding social health
There are many definitions of social health. In these many definitions, we have selected the following definition that has been given by Health Insurance Fund (HIF) of Australia on its website. The HIF and Tammy George of HIF (1) define social health as
‘our ability to interact and form meaningful relationship with others’
The HIF and Tammy George further argue that
‘social health is related to how comfortably we can adapt in social situations’
From the above definition, it is possible to follow the direction of poverty reduction through the ability of people to interact and form meaningful relationships with others. In other words, it is possible to track the route of poverty reduction to check if social health is enabling people to reduce poverty or not.
=> Social health as enabler of poverty reduction
A good social health can enable poverty reduction and lead to happiness. With reference to the successive World Happiness Reports edited by Helliwell et al. (2), one can argue that social health is part of the six key variables or predictors that explain happiness differences among countries which include: income (Gross Domestic Product per capita), healthy life expectancy at birth, social support (having someone to count on in times of trouble), generosity, freedom to make life choices and trust (perceptions of corruption).
Social health can mean social support, that is one has someone to count on in times of trouble. For example, one can look at how people in the CENFACS Community are socially healthy and well enough during the times of Covid-19 and lockdown. Are they engaging with others (virtually or online or via phone) in the community to look after each other?
=> How do we measure the contribution of social health to poverty reduction?
We are as well looking at the measures of social health and wellness including the multi-dimensional measures of well-being, while following the direction of poverty linked to poor social health. One of the measures could be the number of people engaged with in the CENFACS Community.
We are also trying to deal with the social dimensions of health and illness. In this respect, it is worth to understand what is ill-health?
In the Oxford Dictionary of Sociology written by J. Scott and G. Marshall (3), ill-health is defined as
‘a bodily or mental state that is deemed undesirable’ (p. 302)
So, following the direction of poverty reduction via social health can help us to understand ill-health from the social and sociological points of view. It can as well help us to understand our own social health (social state of being) and our social wellness (social state of living a healthy lifestyle), especially at these times of Covid-19 and repeated lockdowns.
For further details and to follow the direction of poverty via social health, please contact CENFACS.
(1) https://blog.hif.com.au/mental-health/what-is-social-health-definitions-example-and-tips-on-improving-your-social-wellness (accessed August 2020)
(2) Helliwell, J., Layard, R., Sachs, J. (2017, 2018 & 2019), World Happiness Reports (2017, 2018 & 2019), New York: Sustainable Development Solutions Network
(3) Scott, J. and Marshall, G, (2009), Oxford Dictionary of Sociology, Oxford University Press Inc., New York
Extra Messages
• Summer TRIPS to volunteer for needy people and communities in a Summer of Covid-19 Compliance
These are the kinds of experiences we expect people to do over the Summer period especially for those who want to spend their Summer time differently, particularly but not exclusively, by doing something about poverty. These experiences include field service activities carried out when visiting a project and which people can report their findings.
We recommend this type of experiences under our volunteering scheme known as All in Development Volunteers Scheme (AiDVS). Under CENFACS’ AiDV Scheme, one can take seasonal opportunities like of Summer to volunteer or do some internship on poverty relief and sustainable development.
Where the person decides to go far away to visit needy communities or volunteer to our Africa-based projects, CENFACS would facilitate and liaise with its Africa-based Sister Organisations where the projects are based to smooth the volunteering process or visits to the projects under mutually agreed arrangements and conditions.
This Summer has been particular with the risk of the coronavirus pandemic. It is difficult for many of those who planned to undertake volunteering trips. The Covid-19 lockdown and the related travel restrictions are not making things easy. Many of All in Development Volunteers and self-funded volunteers could not travel or simply cancel their Summer volunteering plans because of the coronavirus pandemic.
For those who still manage to volunteer or visit projects according their plans, one can hope that everything is going to their plans. Most importantly, one could expect them to stay safe and healthy.
In order to fill up the volunteering gap, we have advised people to undertake virtual trips to the need and community for projects that are open during this difficult time and where things can be virtually organised between the virtual volunteers and the organisation/project to be virtually visited. In this respect, Covid-19 hit people and communities could be obvious one to virtually visit.
For details about AiDVS, contact CENFACS. If you have visited or volunteered for projects recently and would like to share with us your experience, please contact us as well.
• Climate Protection and Stake for African Children (CPSAC) – Phase 3, with Glasgow Steps It Up as our working theme
It is known that the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), which was initially scheduled from 9 to 20 November 2020, will be held from 1 to 12 November 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite this postponement, our CPSAC – P. 3 continues. We have rescheduled our plan and work so that we can still follow it through our working theme of “Glasgow Steps It Up”. Also, this postponement gives us an opportunity to take into account and clearly assess the Covid-19 impact on CPSAC – P. 3. In particular, we hope to collect more data about the Covid-19 and climate impacts on children.
In meantime, we are continuing to follow any meaningful climate discussions prior to the COP26, while working on the various aspects of our CPSAC – P. 3 as stated in the Compendium of CENFACS’ Climate Advocacy. A new schedule of activities for the key points of this Compendium will be set up as we move towards the COP 26 in the next year.
For further information about the CPSAC – P. 3 and the Compendium of CENFACS’ Climate Advocacy project, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.
• The Great Beasts Campaign
The Great Beasts campaign (GBC), which extends Big Cats campaign, aims at helping to protect endangered species such as African elephants, rhinoceros from extinction and exploitation. This protection is even relevant at the Covid-19 time as the economic effects of this virus pandemic do not only hit humans. They also impact on animals’ living and welfare.
Like humans, animals need shelter, food, drink, healthcare, protection, etc. At this difficult time of economic recession led by the Covid-19, the Great Beasts (that is elephant, rhinoceros, leopard, lion and buffalo) could be neglected or simply be exploited despite the various international conventions on the protection of endangered animal species. In addition to Covid-19 economic effects, there is still the impact of climate change that continues to threaten the Great Beasts in Africa and elsewhere, their life and habitat.
So, as part of our Great Beasts Campaign, we are working on the economic effects of Covid-19 as well as the climate change impacts on the Great Beasts of Africa. This GBC will be carried on until we restart our ‘a la une’ (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) campaign this coming Autumn.
For further about the Great Beasts Campaign, please contact CENFACS.
Main Development
• Summer 2020 Humanitarian Relief Appeal Projects
• • Projects making this appeal
The following are the remaining Summer Humanitarian Relief Appeal Projects which we would like people to consider for support:
All Gifts for All Coronavirus-affected Poor in Africa, International Networking and Protection against Covid-19, Iconic Young Carer for a Coronavirus-free Environment and ‘Covid-19 Secure’ ELCLASSICO International.
We have included in them the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
• • • All Gifts for All Coronavirus-affected Poor in Africa
AG4ACP, which stands for All Gifts for All Coronavirus-affected Poor in Africa, is the holiday makers’ and travellers’ free and voluntary contribution to poverty relief in Africa via CENFACS.
Many people around the world (in both developed and developing countries) have been affected by the various impacts of Covid-19 and lockdowns. However, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown are disproportional on and between people and communities. In Africa, this disproportionality is big as those who are poor may not receive the support they need at this difficult time.
AG4ACP is an appeal to give a gift to the coronavirus-affected poor people in Africa.
For those who can, we are asking them to support our appeal to give a gift in kind or money to support those poor people suffering from the astronomic effects of the Covid-19 and lockdown. Your gift can help them to buy products (like personal protective equipment) to protect against Covid-19 or just access the basic necessities to survive during this difficult time.
• • • International Networking and Protection against Covid-19
INPC (International Networking and Protection against Covid-19) is designed to help and support vulnerably poor children to escape from HARMS, THREATS, ATTACKS, EXTREMISMS, RADICALISATION and RISKS of any forms of exploitation, neglect and abuse in Africa. At this time of the coronavirus crisis, these threats and risks are higher than ever before.
To win the fight over the above dangers children in Africa and elsewhere are facing, it requires winning the battle of communication via the flow of information. Likewise, the fight against Covid-19 requires an international collaboration and exchange of information between all those who are working on poverty relief and sustainable development. Furthermore, defence against harms, danger and threats from Covid-19, is being done internationally as Covid-19 is a global issue.
You can support this appeal by helping in networking and protection equipment to enable Africa-based Organisations to better access information about Covid-19 to protect people and communities. Your support can help to raise awareness and take action against the forces of exploitation and destruction of children.
• • • Iconic Young Carer for a Coronavirus-free Environment
IYCCC (Iconic Young Carer for a Coronavirus-free Environment), which is a deserving cause that supports poor children and young people who prematurely become African caregivers and labourers because of poverty, aims at improving the quality of life of young caregivers and labourers by responding to their basic needs and human rights.
A Covid-19-free environment requires the efforts of everybody. In these collective efforts, young carers have been forced to take this role side by side with adults. They are often doing it free and without any financial help. These young carers deserve support as well.
So, supporting these young carers mean both fighting Covid-19 and preserving the lives of future generations.
You can donate whatever you can to support these iconic young carers for a coronavirus-free environment in Africa. Your donation can help to pay for the educational and developmental costs of these poor children who prematurely become young caregivers and labourers.
• • • ‘Covid-19 Secure’ ELCLASSICO International
ELCLASSICO International is a CENFACS combined Sports Development, Child Protection and Sustainable Development initiative that aims at reducing child and youth poverty, while protecting children and bringing a better change to impoverished people, communities, children, young people and future generations in Africa.
To organise any sports development activity and sustainability activity for children, these activities must be ‘Covid-19 Secure’ and child protected. It means that in the preparation of these activities, some Covid-19 and child protection tests must be conducted. So, integrating Covid-19 restrictions and rules will help to protect these activities and everybody involves in them.
It is known that at the moment, most of sporting events like the ones related to the ELCLASSICO International project are banned or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic; just as children activities have been banned at the moment for the same reason. Concerning the sports development part of ‘Covid-19 Secure’ ELCLASSICO International, it is on hold. However, the sustainability part may be continuing.
You can support this project to rehabilitate the physical part of this project while enabling the sustainability aspect to function under the Covid-19 rules and restrictions where this project would be implemented.
Your giving will have a triple effect:
√ Protection of children, young people and their families from Covid-19
√ Their sensitisation about climate change and environmental issues
√ Support of their development through sporting activities and other events.
• Donation or Giving in Kind Regarding Summer 2020 Humanitarian Relief Appeal Projects
Due to the Covid-19 and lockdown effects, there is no limit in terms of minimum and maximum amount to donate.
You can donate and or support the way it suits you and your affordability.
CENFACS will accept any amount to be given or donated.
For those who would like to make a donation in kind, it will be a good idea to check with us that what they are giving will help to meet the above stated needs. This will help to save time, money and the environment for both sides.
Thank you in anticipation for your willingness to make helpful difference to these poor children, young people and families at this difficult time of Covid-19.
For more details about ways of supporting the above initiatives and other ones, please go http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/
Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.
We do our work on a very small budget and on a voluntary basis. Making a donation will show us you value our work and support CENFACS’ work, which is currently offered as a free service.
One could consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future.
Donate to support CENFACS!
FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/
Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.
Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.
We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2020 and beyond.
With many thanks.
