All of the communities that ICO works with have been heavily impacted by COVID-19. In the developing countries where we work, there is no social safety net, and people at the best of times struggle to get by on a day-to-day basis, and have no reserves to get by when their incomes dry up. Some are able to grow their own food, but this is often not the case. For this reason, some of ICO’s initiatives, including Bondo School Sponsorships, are setting up programs of food distribution within their communities to help families survive through the crisis.
On Friday 03 April 2020 we sent money to Bondo to help feed 8 of the most vulnerable sponsored families (approx 41 people in total), as all of our ICO sponsored students are now living back at home due to COVID-19 school closures. The money that we sent fell within the amount that we have personally contributed to this Initiative for this school year…we will assess if further fund raising is required depending on what Kenya does for the remaining school year (Term 2 – and associated school fees – starts in early May, we would be surprised if the schools are reopening by then).
One of the mamas wrote us today, saying “Am again thanking you for your support you have given me and my family at this time of quarantine, may God bless you and your family and ICO members in Canada, tell them I thank all of them”.
Thank you for your support, and please stay tuned for further updates. Stay safe everybody!
Best regards, Jennifer and Mark.
Halifax, NS
Canada
