COVID-19 Updates
We will be providing updates to Temwa’s response to COVID-19 on this page.
Please read below a letter from our Co-Founder and Managing Director, Jo Hook, from 19th March 2020.
Dear Friends,
We have been closely monitoring the evolving CoVID-19 pandemic and the impacts for our communities in Malawi and the UK. We want to ensure that everything we do is to protect Nkhata Bay North community members, supporters and staff alike. You may have seen with our recent decision to postpone Bristol Come Dancing live event, this goes for any large and close proximity fundraising events over the next three months. Since last Friday, UK staff have been working from home and are using virtual conferencing for internal and external meetings, we kindly ask you to contact us via info@temwa.org not our office phone-line.
Through daily contact with Temwa Malawi and consultations with the District Health Office we are developing plans for preparing the communities as well as our staff in Malawi and supporting them during this time. Whilst Malawi has not yet had any confirmed cases, the health systems and services protecting families and communities are not as strong in Nkhata Bay North and across the country. This gives us limited time to act now to work with local services and the communities to prepare and respond. The project teams are adhering to best practice on hygiene and appropriate distancing, and are working to launch proactive initiatives to support the communities, more announcements on this to follow shortly.
Many of you will be asking the same question our team is asking, what if this was a time when communities came together in a new way?
The realities of COVID-19 are not to be underplayed, people’s lives and livelihoods are at risk and the subsequent fear can feel overwhelming, but also it is in times of pressure and uncertainty that new opportunities and new ways of living rise up. You may already be seeing good news stories of Spanish balcony workouts, singing in Italy, reduction in carbon emissions and cleaner waterways, lonely neighbours connected with for the first time or the National Trust opening up it’s parks. We are in awe of the amazing work of the UKs NHS, care workers, teachers, shop workers, and many more unseen heroes keeping things going. Temwa wants to be part of this; to look outwards, to reimagine ways that communities can come together and show kindness in these unprecedented times.
I want to thank you all for your continued support, especially to current fundraisers, regular donors and business partners. More than ever we need to not only look after ourselves and families but to be looking out for the vulnerable on our streets, across our nation and in the wider global community. If you would like to know how you can help support some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities globally during this time, please get in touch with us via email and keep an eye on our socials and website for good news stories and updates on how you can help.
We hope you and your loved ones stay safe over the coming weeks.
With love,
Jo and the Temwa Team
On the 26th March, we launched our
#InThisTogether: COVID-19 CRISIS APPEAL.
Prevent the spread and help vulnerable communities respond to COVID-19 in Malawi today.
Your donation will enable our team to work safely with the district health services and provide masks, soap, washbowls and other essential supplies. We’ll also be distributing emergency hygiene awareness guidance to families using local radio channels.
Every donation will be matched, bringing urgent health and sanitation kits to community health services and families in high-risk areas.
Donate today. Head to our appeal page for more information. 