Our global future is nothing like our past. The world is reeling as it wrestles to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic and the economic devastation that lies in its wake. What does this struggle look like for the continent with the world’s highest population growth rate, home to twenty percent of humanity? How will COVID-19 affect the continent where more than half of the world’s extreme poor reside?
Although every nation in Africa now has confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, it is difficult to assess the current extent of COVID-19 across the continent. 44 African nations are currently able to conduct COVID-19 testing, whereas in February, only two were equipped to do so. However, testing rates are still grossly inadequate in many African nations and, in countries like Nigeria and Somalia, a surge in deaths has been noted despite only a small number of confirmed cases. In Tanzania, the national government is no longer releasing case data, despite the fact that the US Embassy has described a dire situation in which hospitals are overwhelmed and the risk of infection “extremely high”.
Prior to the onset of COVID-19, health systems in Africa were already struggling in the face of inadequate resources. In addition to a heavy burden of diseases such as HIV, TB and malaria, Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest maternal and child mortality rates. Tragically, on account of overwhelmed health systems, the current crisis is likely to lead to a dramatic increase in all-cause mortality. There is some hope that Africa, with its median age of 19.7 years, might escape the COVID-19 death toll seen mostly amongst the elderly in other regions. However, underlying illnesses may predispose many in Africa to more severe COVID disease.
The African region is particularly vulnerable to political instability during this pandemic. Nations that were due for elections during 2020, are now faced with the potential for prolonged tenures or flawed ballots. Governments face mounting pressure from desperate and impoverished citizens. At least 40 African nations have implemented restrictions on movement, and for 20 of these nations, the timespan of these restrictions remains undefined. Slum-dwellers who live in crowded shacks without basic amenities, who derive their income from informal employment, are finding it difficult to heed these restrictions, and there have been reports of human rights violations by the authorities charged to enforce them.
In Africa, where over 400 million people live on less than US $1.90 per day, the economic effects of COVID-19 will be vastly different to those seen in wealthier nations. The United Nations’ World Food Programme has predicted that the number of people worldwide suffering from “acute hunger” may double this year. Most of those people live in Africa.
Worldwide, there is a cry for effective short-term aid to assist Africa during this crisis. A substantial aid injection is not only a moral imperative, but also serves the best interests of our global community. Although the vast sums of money required, will require substantial multilateral and bilateral funding, not-for–profit and faith-based organisations do play a unique role in Africa. These organisations are distinctive in terms of their involvement on grassroots level within communities, and they afford individuals like us the opportunity to contribute to global causes.
Might it be possible that our individualistic worldviews are being challenged by this pandemic that has affected us all? Perhaps, it may revive our sense of shared humanity, and the resolve to offer our unique contributions to a world in need. In the words of Rebecca Solnit,
“the proximity of death in shared calamity makes many people more urgently alive, less attached to the small things in life and more committed to the big ones…”
For those of us who have laid claim to faith, there is no greater cause for which we could live, than the love of Christ, outworked in our love for humanity.
Discipleship in the midst of a pandemic.
The Kenya Foxfires Youth Empowerment Program 2020 started off with great expectations and zeal. Before the COVID-19 epidemic, the team completed their induction training and then participated in the following:
- A mission in Kawangware, Nairobi with Open House Global Mission Church. The team conducted one on one evangelism, open air meetings and outreach to street children. In this mission, 301 people were reached with the Gospel with and 45 making commitment for Christ.
- Reaching the teens at Nairobi Chapel Karen on Sundays. They have so far reached 250 Teens with 4 giving their lives to Christ.
- The team has also participated in community work at Soweto Kayole Clinic that is run by AE in one of the slums in Nairobi.
- School and University ministry, the team has reached 2011 students with 123 committing their lives to Christ.
As in any other part of the world, the Foxfires 2020 has also been affected by the Covid-19. The team had to move back to their homes and schools and churches were closed by the government. This resulted in the team having to find ways to reach out and make a difference in their communities through online platforms.
“We maintain contact as a team via zoom every Wednesday to pray together, strategise for ministry, encourage each other and remind each other that God is still in control.”
Here are some examples of how the team is continuing with their discipleship:
Lydia, an intern in Eldoret is making a difference by reaching out to university students on Whatsapp. A lot of students are feeling anxious and Lydia reminds them that God is in control. She encourages them to do online courses to keep busy and she also spends time in prayer for these students.
“I am very excited that at such a time I am making a difference among my fellow youths. Let’s all make a difference wherever we are.”
Branden is wisely spending his time back in Kakamega by learning new skills online and spending more time with God. He also reaches out to his friends with a message of
“Have hope and be positive.”
Denis chooses to be a beacon of hope in his community of Thika where he lives with his mother. They own a shop and Denis has made it his mission to disciple to the customers.
“I credit the great efforts of the Foxfires Program into making me fearless in passing the message of hope to many.”
With this approach: Ministry from a Distance, God will still minister to his people through this team.
- Pray for the Foxfires, that they will keep the fire burning.
- Pray for their protection and safety in this period of time together with their families.
- Pray for provision of everything they need that their parents will lack nothing.
- Pray for the country of Kenya and the world as a whole.
- Pray for the youth. That they not fall but will anchor their hope and faith in Christ.
Human, not heroes.
As part of their response to the coronavirus pandemic, Ghana’s AE team will be providing food parcels to impoverished community members. The team has also chosen to reach out to another vulnerable group at this time: healthcare workers. Across the world, healthcare workers are risking their lives, and the lives of their family members, to continue to provide care in the face of COVID-19. In this broken world, healthcare workers are subject not only to physical illness, but also to the depths of mental anguish found within the human experience.
In a nation like Ghana, the challenges seem insurmountable. Annual healthcare spending is a mere $ 67 per capita in Ghana, compared to $ 5,332 in Australia (World Bank). With a healthcare system that falls short of meeting the basic needs of its citizens, Ghana is utterly ill-prepared for this pandemic, and its frontline healthcare staff absolutely vulnerable.
The team of AE Ghana, under the leadership of Bernard Sachie, will be donating medical supplies to the Kasoa Polyclinic, near Accra. The supplies, approved by Ghana’s Food and Drug Authority, will include gloves, liquid soap, face masks, alcohol-based sanitizer and disinfectant.
The team members who are authorised to deliver the supplies, will utilise their opportunity to encourage the clinic’s healthcare staff with the eternal hope found in Christ alone.
Health care workers, who serve to bring healing to this world, are heroic indeed. But they are not heroes. They are humans who desperately need our prayers and support, now more than ever.
Find out more about African Enterprise, its missions and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa via https://africanenterprise.com.au/stories/
Masked, but not silenced
A Kenyan response to the COVID-19 crisis
In Kenya, more than 80% of the working population are engaged in informal employment, and it is the livelihoods of these informal labourers that are devastated by COVID-19 related Public Health measures. Informal labourers face the impossible choice of staying home as advised by government, or going out in search of work, in order to feed their families.
In response to the pandemic, the Kenyan government has now gazetted regulations which include hefty fines and/or imprisonment for disregarding its directives. Short of a total lock-down across the nation, directives include the following:
“Users of public or private transport and public transport operators shall wear a proper mask that must cover the person’s mouth and nose and also maintain a physical distance of not less than one metre.” (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 41, signed by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe)
In response to this government directive, AE Kenya’s Mathare Women’s Project has resolved to make 5,000 reusable cloth facemasks for distribution in the community. The Project has identified skilled dressmakers, previously trained by the Mathare Women’s Project, who will manufacture the masks, and has sourced appropriate fabrics (with high filtration scores and good breathability) from a local supplier.
2,000 of these masks will be sold, providing a source of income to the dressmakers. The remaining 3,000 masks will be distributed to local community members who, due to the nature of their work, are unable to stay at home.
Recipients of the masks include police officers, security agents, small scale traders in informal settlements, commercial motorcycle riders (“bodaboda”) and public service vehicle drivers. The distribution is to be co-ordinated by the staff of AE’s Soweto Kayole Clinic, and will be in keeping with government regulations. Importantly, the mask distribution will involve education regarding COVID-19 and its prevention, and will place due emphasis on the principles of hand hygiene and social distancing. In the face of Kenya’s pandemic, AE will continue to reach out to communities with the love of Jesus, in both Word and Deed, knowing that no mask can silence the Gospel and its eternal hope for this nation.
AE South Africa Covid Response
As of the 15th of April 2020, South Africa had 2,415 confirmed coronavirus cases, the highest number in Africa. Although the novel coronavirus pandemic has not yet caused widespread devastation in South Africa, there is serious concern about the country’s ability to cope with its anticipated health and economic consequences. South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has been praised for his swift and decisive management of the pandemic, by announcing a 3-week total lock-down, which has subsequently been extended for a total of 5 weeks.
The economic implications of the pandemic, and measures to curb its spread, are dire for the 55% of South Africa’s population that live below its national poverty line, and in particular, for the 25% that already experience food poverty.
However, despite their economic impact, strict lock-down measures have been deemed essential. Large and crowded informal settlements are prone to the rampant spread of infection. South Africa has more people living with HIV than any other country in the world, which together with high rates of tuberculosis and other diseases, place people at risk for severe COVID-19 illness. In addition, South Africa’s over-burdened, and often failing, public health system is expected to be overwhelmed with the demands of this crisis.
African Enterprise South Africa is grateful for your prayers and ongoing support during this difficult time. In its initial response to this crisis, AE supplied and delivered 180 food hampers to vulnerable families in the Pietermaritzburg area. The hampers consisted of staple foods, as well as essential hygiene items, to sustain each family for a duration of 3 weeks.
In addition, homemade facemasks have been distributed in the community, in keeping with the current CDC guidelines, as well as recommendations from the South African government. AE has been able to distribute facemasks, together with Gospel tracts, thanks to the tireless efforts of AE South Africa’s Chair, Rob Langley, and his wife Bridget, who have made and donated these. The staff of AE’s Ngezandla Zethu sewing project, facilitated by Ntombi Dladla, have also sewed facemasks for distribution in the area. May we also seek to help our brothers and sisters stand firm in faith and fight this pandemic in South Africa.
For more information and up to date news from Africa, please visit our facebook post for South Africa here
The current world-wide technological revolution, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, will not escape Africa. According to a recent briefing by the World Economic Forum, (WEF) Sub-Saharan Africa has yet to optimise its use of human capital in this regard. One of the WEF’s recommendations is that of “investing in digital fluency and IT literacy skills” (1).
At our Street Children Apprenticeship Project (SCAP) in Ghana, we are committed to giving students this opportunity. In partnership with the Sefax Computer Training Centre, we are able to offer a software/networking course, as well as a software/graphic design course.
One of our graphic design graduates, Prince Praise Gbeku, who now runs a successful photography business from home, describes how “my knowledge in IT has helped me in using the new technology in photography”.
Another graduate, Bright Dagadu, previously struggled to fend for himself as a casual labourer. With the aid of AE supporters, however, Bright has been able to complete his IT training and has now secured permanent employment with a company in Tema. He expressed that “I am very happy and very grateful to God for the opportunity offered me to learn IT. This has helped me tremendously to acquire a job because I am now IT literate.”
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