[Covid 21 and Beyond]

"Purchasing vaccines for the developing world isn’t an act of generosity by the world’s richest nations. It’s an essential investment for governments to make if they want to revive their domestic economies." - National Bureau of Economic Research

Even as the United States and other developed countries reopen, the pandemic continues to ravage Ecuador and other developing countries. With low vaccination rates and governments unable to sustain economic stimulus, a return to normalized life has been delayed indefinitely.

Walking Palms is facing these challenges head on, ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our community here in Ecuador are equipped to handle the challenges of this unprecended health crisis.

We need your help: Please consider a donation to help Ecuador continue to weather the pandemic.

HOW WILL MY DONATION HELP?

Walking Palms' comprehensive Covid-19 support for our community includes:

  • Vaccination campaign in rural communities

  • Covid-19 testing regime for small businesses

  • Medical supplies for the chronically ill

  • Holistic kids education courses

  • Nutrition and wellness programs

Thanks to existing strong partnerships with local health officials and community leaders, our programs are offering a lifeline to low income families, the chronically ill, seniors and other members of our community who continue to be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.


WHY ECUADOR? WHY NOW?

A recent study by the National Bureau for Economic Research suggested that developed economies like the United States could bear as much as 50% of the global cost of the pandemic, even as they vaccinate their populations and return to normalized economic and social activities.

In our interconnected global economy, we cannot afford to ignore the pandemic's continued, indefinite impact on developing countries. In the case of Ecuador, the health system remains stressed, the economy continues to deteriorate and students still cannot return to school.

This is your opportunity to be part of the global community to mitigate these lasting effects of the Covid-19 panemic.

Walking Palms will make every effort to use funds raised from this campaign for our Vaccination Campaign, but donations are subject to redirection at the discretion of the organization.

A COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO COVID-19

WALKING PALMS GLOBAL HEALTH HAS BEEN LEADING THE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 IN OUR REGION OF COASTAL ECUADOR.

‘MORE THAN FOOD’ EMERGENCY RELIEF DELIVERIES

A near complete lockdown in Ecuador helped slow the spread of COVID-19, but the economic consequences have been devastating for the country’s most at-risk communities. The Wall Street Journal highlighted the challenges facing workers in Latin America’s vast informal economy in April 2020 and how the economic situation is still dire a year later.

Thanks to an incredible response from our donor base, we were able to support 225 families in communities throughout the region with healthy food, health and safety gear, mental health resources and at-home kids activity packages. We were there for our community during the pandemic’s most acute phase last year, and we are still distributing relief packages to families with sick loved ones who are being forced to quarantine.

PROGRAM STATS

  • 40,000 pounds of food delivered

  • 225 families supported

  • 216 donors

  • Program launched with: $150, one bike

COMMUNITY LEARNING PODS

The pandemic has made it nearly impossible for many children and families here in Bahía de Caráquez to access basic education.

From December 2020 - March 2021, Walking Palms launched Bahía’s only in-person educational program available to low income families. In the inaugural edition of our Community Learning Pods, a class of 17 students aged 6-16 who were in danger of being held back a grade received interventional tutoring and an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on music, art, botanics, physical education, mediation and emotional wellness.

This program was an extension of Harmony and Health, an immersive, interdisciplinary kids education program, which we launched in response to the devastating 2016 earthquake which struck Ecuador’s Pacific coast. Through music, art and meditation practices, kids came out of their shells and could truly begin the healing process.

In addition to this invaluable experience for the kids, Harmony and Health provides employment for our instructors who represent the diverse cultural fabric of this region.

All instructors receive competitive pay and reliable work during these challenging economic times, as well as professional development that includes leadership training, disaster preparedness workshops, emotional first aid, teaching pedagogy and team-building.

We are gearing up for another session, so pledge your support to allow these local musicians, artists, thespians and educators share their passion and talents with our students.

These guides are the first step at helping our residents handle the stress of this situation, empowering them to take back control of their mental health.

WOMEN’S HEALTH - REUSABLE MASK PRODUCTION

Covid-19 has disproportionately impacted women in developing world countries. School closures have thrust child care onto women who only recently had begun making gains in employment opportunities, protection from domestic violence and other liberties women in the developed world have enjoyed for decades.

At the outset of the pandemic last year, Walking Palms employed local seamstresses to source materials, manufacture and distribute reusable masks. This program not only helped fill the gap of PPE shortages in the pandemic’s early months, but also provided badly needed income during the most acute phase of the pandemic.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREVENTION - MOSQUITOS y YO

With stretched local health resources focused on Covid-19, other risks like dengue fever have been on the rise in coastal Ecuador for the past 12 months. Co-infection conditions present numerous challenges, including diagnosis challenges due to similar early onset symptoms, limited hospital capacity and unknown interactions between Covid and other diseases. Here in the Bahia region, a regional water shortage compounded this problem since at-home water capture creates a breeding ground for mosquitos and other disease-carrying pests.

Expanding our existing Ambitious Science Education program, Mosquitos y Yo, Walking Palms partnered with the Ministry of Education to deliver our infectious disease education program to low income families in our communities. Collaborating with local artists, we adapted our in-person program to at-home version with interactive games, puzzles and craft activities aimed at raising awareness and teaching best practices to minimize infection risk.