MSC archived stories - May 2, 2020
Our generation living through a global pandemic with 240,000 citizens so far confirmed dead, CI response to Covid took me to its humble beginning just over eight decades ago providing food baskets to families alongside starting a small medical clinic in the Middle East. This was a time of need before the Second World War broke up in 3 years later.
Today, when CI first announced lockdown of all operations around the world, I firmly believed that sending emergency EG (Extra Gift) for the families would be a burden to cope with as obligation to go back to the donor/sponsor with (some sort of) follow-up in the midst of this chaos. So, I made the decision to support the ECF (Emergency Community Fund) campaign to help the families struggling with loss of income due to the pandemic.
On the other hand, there are several project follow-ups pending for me going back to pre-Covid! Then.. Tuesday of this week one of my Welcome Gift reports has arrived, but this time it wasn't a typical EG follow-up.
Earlier on that day, I also happened to glance over the CI Facebook page, and saw this picture of a beautiful girl holding a letter written to her sponsor. At first, I couldn’t recognize Karol as this is the first time I’m seeing her as a sponsored child. And then saw her with groceries in Instagram page of CI Colombia [instagram.com/p/B_D6HykHsPJ] – I was speechless beyond words can express my feeling!
CI told me that the family did do the shopping, write the letters at home and take the photos themselves, upload via WhatsApp and send off to their volunteer in Barranquilla for onward forwarding to CIKC. In most situations no children are allowed inside the stores, and only one adult may enter to shop and the number of people in the store is controlled to prevent infections.
Both mom and daughter writing letters and holding it up together show their sincere appreciation (added to My Media) by saying...
Karol’s mother: “Good afternoon. Let me inform in this letter that I already received the donation from my daughter Karol’s sponsor. I’m so thankful and happy for this help that is a great benefit for my family at the moment because of the situation we are living in our country. Thank you. Thank you so much. God bless you. Sincerely, Maria Conrado”
Karol: “Receive a cordial greeting appreciated sponsor. This is a note to express my gratitude for your donation, which was of great help for my family. With that money, we bought food supplies and hygiene items. I feel happy and lucky for receiving such a great help that has been a great benefit for me and my family. Thank you, thank you so much. Sincerely, Karol Bula”
It came as a very pleasant and rewarding surprise to me. I must say, this is one of the best EG reports I’ve ever received – no staff time spent on grocery shopping and the family had time for as long as it took! The loving photos and Karol conveying the Facebook message of writing to your child are simply priceless and memorable moments in my sponsorhood.
I can now believe that CI uses this lockdown opportunity to pilot new ways of handling EG in the future. I see real value in EG follow-ups when families take control of shopping/reporting themselves in their own time, which also frees up staff time to focus on program deliveries.
Just knowing our families have received some extra help at a time when it is most needed brings us such a powerful feeling of satisfaction. Their gratitude for your gift shines through both thank you letters!
ReplyDeleteMay 2, 2020
The family was indeed truly grateful. Thank you Nancy.
ReplyDeleteMay 3, 2020
CI Colombia, April 17: "Our children have started receiving special donations from their sponsors. We will soon deliver aid to our more than 20,000 sponsored families in Barranquilla, Santa Marta and Cartagena."
ReplyDeleteMay 3, 2020
barbmc
ReplyDeleteThis is an unusual time and these are unusual circumstances. It's a good temporary solution. I completely understand why CI should have a staff member (or at least a trusted volunteer) present to make sure the EG is used only to purchase approved and necessary items when times are normal. In my opinion, oversight by CI and a staff member protects EGs and the money of sponsors who send them. 10% of all EGs, (except for medical and educational EGs) goes to CI so it's the sponsor who's paying for some, most, or all of the costs. CI can not be responsible or accountable for a pic they did not take.
May 3, 2020
Thank you Chelaka for sharing this positive story. I also loved the repport about Karla's EG. She is a beautiful child, and those (family) pictures are just beautiful and precious. Your help just in the middle of this crisis is a blessing for them, for sure..
ReplyDeleteMay 7, 2020
Hi Barb, Thanks for flipping the coin and showing us the other side of it!
ReplyDeleteMay 8, 2020
Thanks Marie! I'm fortunate to have Karol in my life.
ReplyDeleteMay 8, 2020