Our Pandemic Response

As schools and our Harambee Community Centre were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, our team found creative solutions to serve the community.

Social distancing is a challenge in Mukuru so our priority was getting masks into the hands of vulnerable families. Masks were necessary to make essential errands but few could afford to purchase them. So Micato-AmericaShare partnered with Huru to distribute free reusable cloth face masks to those in need.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Huru continued to manufacture reusable sanitary pads while almost over-night converting some of its production lines to make cloth face masks. Huru was able to expand employment to 55 people to manufacture pads and masks, as well as 200 ambassadors to distribute 100,000 masks.

As our social workers went from home to home in Mukuru dispensing masks, they came across many parents forced to stay home from work who needed help feeding their families. So we distributed food and other essential items.

In South Africa, our Red Hill Library and Community Centre was also closed, so we delivered thousands of multi-purpose face masks— called snoods— to the community.

Helping the community with virtual learning also remained a priority. AmericaShare provided the students in our School Sponsorship Programme with smartphones to assist them with their studies while schools were closed, and beyond. And girls unable to attend in-person Huru seminars on hygiene and reproductive health received those lessons through an innovative Huru app.

The soul-stirring numbers, at a glance:

• 100,000 masks distributed
• 1,600 people received a month’s supply of food
• 370 smartphones distributed to our sponsored students so they could continue learning while schools were closed;
• 298 study guides distributed throughout the community

These and other solutions could not have been possible without the generous support of our kind-hearted travellers and friends. Thank you!