Putting it in perspective
Author: Salesian Life Choices
This year sees the Salesian Institute Youth Projects (SIYP) celebrating 110 years of being in service to youth-at-risk and through the last century of dedication, we have weathered many storms.
However, the COVID 19 Pandemic represents a unique threat not just to our beneficiaries in the short term but also to our long-term future as an Institute.
Economic uncertainty has become the global status quo. The very communities that we serve will, without doubt, be the hardest hit. Our work has never been more important and has never been less supported as we see local and global funding being redirected towards COVID 19 Relief Programmes.
National Lockdown was announced by President Ramaphosa to begin midnight 26th March 2020 until midnight 16 April.
As of 14 April 2020, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 2415. Western Cape has a total of 643 cases. On Thursday 9th April 2020 President Ramaphosa announced that Lockdown would be extended until the end of April 2020. A possible further extension is not to be ruled out.
Our beneficiaries' socio-economic reality will have worsened exponentially post lockdown.
Hardest hit will be those in the informal job market who will not have access to the Unemployment Insurance Funds support as they are not registered as being formally employed.
Our beneficiaries and their families are in desperate need.
Action Taken
SIYP registered with the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Management Programme. Registration enquiries for Feeding Scheme access sent to the Department of Social Development; The Red Cross Disaster Management Team; The Rise Against Hunger Feeding Scheme and the Peninsula School Feeding Association.
Shared list of Community Nutrition and Development Centres throughout the Western Cape with our staff & beneficiaries on various platforms.
Programme staff making contact with beneficiaries sharing information like free online educational platforms and crisis centres.
Food Parcel Initiative
Food parcels have been researched and 2 options finalised – to feed a family of four for 2 to 3 weeks and an individual parcel primarily for many of the Waves of Change beneficiaries.
Food parcels require urgent funding and will be distributed post lockdown – however, should lockdown be extended again then we will have to activate Plan B which would be collections from central points in communities based on the guidance requested from the Red Cross.
Priorities & Timeline
Secure ImmediateFunding
Collaborate with existing feeding schemes in terms of logistics
Plan for lockdown extension
Prepare food parcels for post lockdown distribution
CALLING ON ALL FUNDERS
We need urgent funding.
PLEASE SUPPORT US IN OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT OUR BENEFICIARIES IN NEED
For further information, please contact our Fundraising Manager Jo da Silva.
We would like to share our proposal and plans with you.