School Protection Project
Will you be a lifeline of hope to these children?
When the first Covid case was announced in March of 2020 here in Kenya, schools were momentarily closed because of the risk of spreading and infecting children with the virus.
The government then announced a new calendar and a new school reopening date of 4th January 2021 for the students to report to school. It was also announced that each school must adhere to the Covid-19 prevention and protection protocols. It is mandatory for each student (and teacher) to report to school with a mask.
The government further announced that it will provide masks to low income areas or low income schools. Children do indeed need more than one or two masks, as they may get misplaced or lost. Our agenda however is not to undermine the efforts of the government but to supplement it. Moreover, it is quite expensive to give students disposable masks on a daily basis. It is therefore prudent to give children, in addition, at least two to three non-disposable masks.
Children living in Kibera slums come from low income households, most whose jobs and livelihoods were destabilized by Covid-19. Getting food on the table or even shelter, leave alone school fees, is very hard to come by. Buying masks and sanitizers is a secondary need for someone who has slept hungry.