Yes, with Covid-19 showing no sign of abating, we’re committed to supporting our local partners as long as we are needed.
One of the best ways to build resilience in a crisis is to form networks, partnering with effective, informed organisations to utilise essential local knowledge and take meaningful action where it matters most. Forming these relationships will ensure we can find the best ways to help people feed their families, reduce pressure on their forest and plan for the future through times of Covid-19 or not.
“The communities that we have here in Asháninka are more vulnerable. Sometimes even a common cold to us can get complicated [for them].” – Josue Morales Agüero, Asháninka Local Coordinator.
In Summer 2020, Cool Earth joined forces with Somos Amazonía, Plataforma de Pueblos amazónicos en la pandemia de Covid-19 and Conectar para actuar to support the indigenous communities of the Awajún, Wampis and Mestizo in Peru. Funding was provided to buy masks, protective suits, oxygen and vital medications, helping to control the spread of Covid-19. To address food shortages and improve overall nutrition, Cool Earth also coordinated with local leaders to provide short-cycle seeds and training.
Cool Earth’s team on the ground in Papua New Guinea have built strong relationships with local people over the years. These established relationships mean that in a crisis, we can work with local people and organisations to help, and fast. With many people still without access to water storage facilities or adequate sanitation, Cool Earth funded a wash block at the local hospital, alongside the local health authority as well as 60 hand washing stations across local villages. Not only will this help people access basic hygiene, it will also build long-term economic resilience. Local labourers were employed to build the wash block after accessing training by local organisation ATprojects and can now help other communities build toilets and showers, able to withstand extreme weather when the seasons change.
In Cameroon, as one of the few organisations in the region to try to reach all marginalised and vulnerable communities, Cool Earth’s local partner CCREAD has worked to ensure people have all the personal protective equipment, food and other basic necessities they need.
Cool Earth has complemented ongoing rainforest protection and restoration efforts since May by providing emergency support to Cameroon communities with CCREAD. In September the CCREAD team started to deliver their second round of Covid-19 aid to the Muenenguba communities and will continue to support local people through food distribution, financial relief and personal protective equipment. From face masks to hand sanitizer, it’s been vital to deliver essentials to local communities to help reduce the spread and increase resilience to the virus, particularly households headed by unemployed women, widows and girls who may be overlooked otherwise.
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