Frontline Women and Youth Fund: Response to COVID

Local women and youth peacebuilders are on  the frontlines providing humanitarian assistance to counter COVID-19 in their local  communities, which are  largely affected by violent conflicts. During this growing pandemic, they face greater  risks to their health and safety. In response to the threat posed by COVID-19 to this vulnerable population, the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) started a relief fund to support the ongoing work of  women and youth in local communities in different  countries including  Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Philippines, South Sudan, and Ukraine. They need lifesaving support today.

With your help, all proceeds will ensure that local women and youth peacebuilders are able to purchase face masks, disinfectants, disseminate factual information to prevent the spread of the virus, and prevent mass panic. 

Who your donation impacts:

Donations to the fund for Frontline Women and Youth Peacebuilders Counter COVID-19 supports a range of needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are just a few examples of how your donation can make a difference: 

In Colombia, local women peacebuilders in Cauca and Tolima are hygiene and sexual and reproductive health packages, including health masks, alcohol gel, condoms and pregnancy tests to the most vulnerable women. They work with indigenous guards to reach indigenous communities in the most remote areas. To date, they distributed 10,000 health masks, over 1,000 condoms and dozens of pregnancy tests. They are also conducting a needs assessment among women-run businesses and peace initiatives to identify the most effective ways of supporting them during the lockdown.  

In the Philippines, members of the Young Women Leaders for Peace (YWL) distributed relief and dignity packs to women and girls in settlements for Internally Displaced People in Marawi. They also distributed local language posters on the prevention of the disease. 

In Kherson, Ukraine, women and youth are providing emotional support and ensuring updated information through online platforms, using their existing networks to target vulnerable women. 

In several rural communities in Kenya, such as Uasin Gishu and Bungoma Counties, a total of 170 households have benefitted from food donation and dignity kits distributed by RWPL. The communities are now equipped with the knowledge and preventative materials to protect their families against COVID-19 pandemic. The dignity kits consist: 2kg rice, 1kg sugar, 2 packets sanitary towels, 2 bar soaps, 2 masks, 1 jelly oil and 1 print out with lifesaving messages. In addition, approximately 4,500,000 grassroots community have been reached out with information on peace and COVID-19. 

Thank you for your support. It is our turn to help frontline women and youth peacebuilders to counter COVID-19 in their communities. 

About us 
The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) enables the creation of equal, resilient, and peaceful communities. We are a coalition of over 100 women’s organizations from countries around the world that are experiencing humanitarian crises and  violent conflicst. Our members are women and girls who work on their communities’ most difficult issues – leading the way to a better future. To learn more about us, visit our website: https://gnwp.org