COVID-19 pandemic is still incredibly growing in Brazil in 2021. Urgent actions are needed to minimize social and public health negative impacts. This project is an expansion of a previous project to produce additional 15,000 handmade masks with 15 low income women. We will pay them to produce and distribute the masks along with hygiene kits (alcohol and bleach) to low income families in the states of Bahia and Sao Paulo. We will generate income and provide basic protection against coronavirus.
With the COVID-19 pandemic local artisans suddenly saw themselves with no jobs nor income. At the same time we saw great demand for masks against contagion. Low income communities are the most suitable places for the proliferation of the virus, due to agglomeration and lack of adequate sanitary conditions. On March 2021 Brazil has become the pandemic epicenter and is experiencing the worst outbreak. Country is facing hospital collapse in all regions and more than 390,000 deaths so far.
With the expansion of this project, more masks will be produced, more hygiene kits will be distributed and income generated to more women in vulnerable communities. We already have the network of artisans and social organizations that will help us with local distribution to low income families that need masks and hygiene items.
This project will generate income for more families and provide basic protection against coronavirus. As families with more income, masks and hygiene items to protect themselves we are contributing to reduce COVID contamination particularly within low income communities and lower impact on public health system.
