This COVID-19 relief project will provide crisis management support to our families by ensuring that basic necessities such as food and water are provided. Although GEC typically works to provide school tuition support and mentoring to students and families in Ghana, we have had to shift our priorities to help students and parents make it through the pandemic safely until schools reopen.
GEC normally works to provide academic and financial support to students and families in Ghana. However, in March 2020, the Ministry of Education in Ghana shut down all schools until further notice, eliminating the need for scholarship assistance for the foreseeable future. By asking our families, we learned that they most needed help with basic needs like food and water. So in response, we wanted to rapidly pivot the type of support we are giving.
By shifting our priorities, we have been able to support every single family we typically work with through regular delivery of the following items: nutritious, nonperishable foods; clean drinking water; and COVID-19 masks and hand sanitizer. However, this was an immediate response to the March school shutdown and the pandemic has extended far beyond expectations. We need more help to continue supporting our families in meeting basic needs.
The project will provide short term relief that combats long term negative effects of COVID-19. It also provides families with a way to make it through the pandemic until schools reopen. If families do not have their basic needs met, they cannot continue their education. This project contributes to our long term goals of making sure education is accessible and attainable for all Ghanaian students. Education is a gateway to opportunity that allows students to achieve their highest aspirations.
