[Last updated on March 19, 2021] Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, our partner organizations in South Africa were left with no other choice but to temporarily close the childcare centers that they operate. The “Drop-in Centers” (DIC) that we set up in order to support “Orphan and Vulnerable Children” (OVC), whose complex family situations resulted from the absence of parents, often influenced by AIDS and poverty. The DICs are operated by care volunteers, who are mainly local women. JVC has provided a variety of training initiatives to provide the care volunteers with the knowledge and skills necessary to care for the OVC. Following the closure of the…
Filling in the Blanks: Education in the Age of COVID-19 and Military Conflict
[Original by Ko IMANAKA, Sudan Project (December 24, 2020); Translated by C. Rosenberg] In March of 2020, Sudan’s Ministry of Education decided to close all schools nation-wide in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In the state of South Kordofan, where JVC operates, the school attendance rate is low and many children, mainly refugees, do not attend formal schools. To address this issue, we started providing supplemental classes in January this year with the goal of giving children who have not attended school enough academic ability to transfer to formal schools. However, with the closure of schools nationally, by the middle of March we were left with no choice…
In Response to the New Coronavirus Epidemic: Status of our Activity Areas and Message to Everyone (April 24, 2020)
To everyone who has always supported JVC’s activities in various ways. We know that you are worried because of the outbreak of the new coronavirus (COVID-19). We sincerely hope for the safety of all of you and your loved ones. On behalf of the entire staff, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who, even under these circumstances, have sent their words of sympathy to the staff and expressed their support by saying, “We support you in times like these.” Thank you so much for sharing your sympathy with JVC and the people of the world during this difficult time. JVC is concerned that, in addition to…
A follow-up report about the COVID-19 Prevention Campaign in Afghanistan!
[Original by Maki KATO, Afghanistan Project (April 9, 2020); Translated by J. Tsuchiya/A. Taguchi] As I have written in my previous article, YVO, our partner organization in Afghanistan, has launched an activity to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. In Afghanistan, Herat Province, which borders Iran has the largest number of cases, followed by Kabul, the capital. Nangarhar Province, our operation site, has recorded only a few confirmed cases, but the situation is unpredictable because there are patients who haven’t yet been tested, and hygiene and medical facilities in the region are scarce and difficult to access. The villagers who take part in the volunteer work for the prevention activities…
Extension of the temporary closure of the JVC Tokyo office due to COVID-19
In view of the current situation of COVID-19 infections and the request by the government on the activities of citizens, we have decided to extend the temporary closure of our office to May 31, 2020 (as of April 24, 2020).
YVO, our partner organization in Afghanistan, has started prevention activities against the spread of COVID-19 infection!
[Original by Maki KATO, Afghanistan Project (April 2, 2020); Translated by J. Tsuchiya/A. Taguchi] On the 1st of April, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Afghanistan has seen 196 cases of COVID-19 and 5 deaths nationwide. It is urgent to prevent the spread of the infection. Especially in rural areas far from big cities, people bear more psychological burdens because they have less access to information. Many people are very anxious that they might be infected. Afghanistan faces a high risk from a pandemic, especially because the long-standing conflicts have prevented the country from organizing public health and sanitation. It also has a border with Iran which is reported…