Our crisis response and how you can help

give emergency help as coronavirus impacts communities in need

How Children International is responding to the coronavirus

As the coronavirus continues to affect millions worldwide, we hope you and your loved ones are staying safe.

It's becoming clear that vulnerable communities, like the children and families we serve, are most at risk. Social distancing is impossible when you're living in a crowded slum. Those who were surviving on dollars a day, are now without work at all. Food is becoming scarce.

The Emergency Community Fund was designed to help during crises like this. Right now, it's being tapped to its limit.

Give support to children and families who need it most

Support children and families in poverty when unexpected crises hit. Your gift to the Emergency Community Fund can help now more than ever as the coronavirus impacts already-struggling families in poverty. Each year, our Emergency Community Fund provides families with critical help where they need it most.

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FOOD SUPPORT

We’re coordinating with local partners to provide as much aid as possible. Your support of the Emergency Community Fund will help provide more assistance to children and families.

TELEHEALTH SERVICES

Your support is helping provide telehealth services to sponsored families. Doctors are meeting over the phone, then providing referrals to health care providers.

VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING

With many community centers closed, thanks to you, we’re finding new methods to deliver value to sponsored children and youth, like digital learning sessions.

HYGIENE EDUCATION

Through videos, posters and text messages, you’re helping amplify how important handwashing is to preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

All Countries

5 quotes that illustrate a mother’s love

by Corie R.

Team Impact
All Countries

Reflections from a pandemic year

by Corie R., and Jacob R.

See reporting by country

Last reviewed: October 2022

Agency staff across the globe continue monitoring local and national government coronavirus guidelines and restrictions. As conditions slowly improve, fewer and fewer restrictions remain in place.

With these lower health risks, we are thankful to report that all our agencies have opened their community centers to our sponsored population. Some centers are operating at full capacity, while others are open with some limitations — determined by local infection rates, amount of indoor space, and other criteria.

Due to vastly improved conditions, most agencies are no longer required to provide regular COVID updates, but the following agencies continue experiencing greater disruptions: Guatemala, Honduras, India and Philippines.

Please feel free to reach out to the Care Team if you have specific questions.

Colombia’s community centers are open, and many in-person programs have resumed. Children are attending in-person schooling, and the current situation in Colombia has improved to the point that regular covid-related updates are not necessary.

In Quito, community centers have reopened, and many in-person programs have resumed. Children are attending in-person schooling. The current situation in Quito has improved significantly, and regular COVID-related updates are no longer necessary.

Although many restrictions have been lifted, the Guatemalan government continues to closely monitor infection rates and is using a “traffic light” alert system, with Red representing the highest rates (55 people or more per 100,000) and green the lowest (15 per 100,000). Remaining mandates and restrictions include hand hygiene and physical distancing in both indoor and outdoor spaces under Red sectors.

There are currently no movement restrictions in the country. On the other hand, the permanent use of a mask and the use of disinfectant alcohol on public roads, schools, universities, restaurants, etc. is mandatory.

Neither Kolkata nor Delhi, our two agencies in India, are under quarantine restrictions. However, mask-wearing indoors, on public transportation and in crowded spaces, is mandatory. And, as covid “hot-spots” flare up, smaller geographical restrictions can still be issued. Schools and other educational facilities are open, with safety protocols being strictly enforced.

Vaccines are available for everyone who is at least 5 years old.

Community centers in Mexico have reopened and children are attending in-person programs and schooling. The situation on the ground in Mexico has improved significantly, and regular covid-related updates are no longer necessary.

With varied infection rates throughout this island nation, the Philippines government continues to encourage mask-wearing for certain indoor activities. In Bicol, hospitals have an indoor mask mandate, while businesses are now free to establish their own guidelines. In late August, for the first time in two years, the new school year began with public schools welcoming back all students for face-to-face classes.

Mask mandates have been lifted and students are attending in-person schooling.

In Zambia, children are attending in-person schooling and our community centers are open. Many of our in-person programs have also resumed. The situation in Zambia has improved significantly, and regular covid-related updates are no longer necessary.

As we continue to adapt to COVID-19 protocols, staff are constantly innovating and finding new ways to deliver vital programming and aid to our children. Your continued support makes this possible.

About Children International

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Children International is a top‑rated humanitarian organization focused on helping children break the cycle of poverty.

Our data-driven approach measures the outcomes of our programs aimed at helping kids graduate healthy, educated, empowered and employed.

More than 35 years of child sponsorship programs
Serving 200,000 children in 10 countries
60+ community centers across the world
Thousands of local volunteers helping children

Give with confidence

We take our responsibility as stewards of your contributions seriously.

In FY 2023, 82% of our total operating expenses supported programs for children and youth.

How we’re keeping children and staff safe

Children International staff is working closely with local governments to support efforts to contain the virus and keep children and families healthy. At our headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, a team has been assembled that operates under three guiding principles:

Keep Children International employees, volunteers, sponsored children and their families safe
Continue to serve our sponsored children and our supporters
Do our part to slow community spread of the virus

Approximately 90% of our staff is working from home to support social distancing guidelines. Around 10-15 employees unable to do their jobs from home remain in the building, which we now consider a low-risk environment.

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Our crisis response and how you can help

give emergency help as coronavirus impacts communities in need

How Children International is responding to the coronavirus

Give support to children and families who need it most

See how your support helps our children and families

FOOD SUPPORT

TELEHEALTH SERVICES

VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING

HYGIENE EDUCATION

Coronavirus response in action

5 quotes that illustrate a mother’s love

Sponsored girls turned frontline heroes

Reflections from a pandemic year

See reporting by country

As we continue to adapt to COVID-19 protocols, staff are constantly innovating and finding new ways to deliver vital programming and aid to our children. Your continued support makes this possible.

About Children International

Give with confidence

How we’re keeping children and staff safe

Double the impact of your gift.