While things are very tough for so many right now, it’s bolstering to note that new initiatives are modelling pragmatic positivity under pressure and bringing us together.
Celebrity read-a-long
Take Save with Stories, for instance. It’s the brainchild of actors Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams in partnership with charities Save the Children and No Kid Hungry.
The initiative challenges actors, athletes, musicians, politicians and regular people to grab their phone and a storybook and get reading … for the greater good.
The idea is that we all get to share in these stories via Facebook and Instagram uploads and those in a position to, might also donate to Save the Children and No Kid Hungry. These organisations are working hard to make sure kids are supported through this isolating and often scary time.
“Your donation to Save the Children and No Kid Hungry will help make sure schools and community programs have the support they need to keep feeding vulnerable children during the pandemic, as well as to provide age-appropriate books, learning activities, games and toys to children whose schools are closed in some of rural America’s poorest communities,” Save the Children explain on their website.
Cleary this is a US-based initiative, and if you’ve read this far you may be wondering what the Australian Save the Children organisation are doing in response to COVID-19.
Here’s what they’ve said, so far:
Save the Children’s work in Australia, the Pacific and around the world is focused on three priorities –
Preventing the spread of disease by promoting hand washing and hygiene, distributing soap and hand sanitiser to children and communities that need it. This includes supporting preparedness activities in the Pacific to protect vulnerable communities.
Keeping ‘eyes on the child’ because not all children are safe at home. Isolation makes some vulnerable children more susceptible to harm so we’re rapidly adapting our services to keep children safe.
Maintaining a connection to education because children may be lost from the school system forever if we don’t work hard to provide continuity of learning. School’s formality, routine and teaching staff is often crucial to the safety and wellbeing of children.
