Surviving The COVID-19 Pandemic & Understanding the Impact on Volunteerism Abroad

Surviving The COVID-19 Pandemic & Understanding the Impact on Volunteerism Abroad

December 30, 20212 min read

If you were to ask me, what animal I would compare myself to, it would be the African Lion. Not just for the lion's majestic look pronounced by its mane, but for what lies behind that prestige. Just as a lion looks after his pride (family), I have the same responsibility to my community.

In honor of World AIDS Day on December 1, I would like to highlight the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project who was started by CNN Hero, Mr. Jackson Kaguri. Mr. Kaguri is another “African Lion” who began his journey on making a difference in his community back in 2001. It all started on a trip from Michigan to his home in Western Uganda. He was met with 52 children lined up at his door asking for school fees. Many of these children had lost both parents from HIV/AIDS, hence the name “AIDS Orphans”.

To understand the impact that COVID-19 has had on volunteerism abroad, I asked Mr. Kaguri a series of questions. He is the perfect person to interview since he travels internationally about 3 times a year. During his travels he has learned many things to protect himself and the more than 80,000 children his organization educates, feed and clothes, as well as the 20,000 grandmothers whom they live with. “The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the way Nyaka provides its services to the community. Schools are closed, learning is taking place in small neighborhood groups outside, and supplies are being delivered to houses on motorcycles instead of in a community gathering. The ability to even enter the country was suspended for our staff during the first half of the pandemic. The ability to reach our communities due to the suspension of travel, for health and safety, significantly changed the way we operate

during COVID. Only now are we starting to reach our previous levels of travel for programmatic trips, fundraising visits, and community outreach. Further disruptions in how the world (and Nyaka) travels could further change how we serve the children and their families in our Ugandan community.”

Children from the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project in Uganda

Mr. Jackson plans to hopefully travel to Uganda about 3 times during 2022. He is hopeful to maintain the same level of health and safety for his community next year. Thankfully, there were only a handful reported cases of COVID-19 among the children since the pandemic began. To learn more about the organization, visit: www.nyakaglobal.org

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Jerry Ellis

Mr. Jerry Ellis created his company in 2018, starting with online travel reservation services. Subsequently he became a licensed travel agent and eventually added a private car for-hire service in 2021 serving the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. Keeping with his company's mission and identity as a Public Benefit LLC, Mr. Ellis chose to focus on the following six areas to make a difference in this world: protection of the environment, public safety, education, job creation, mental health, and the welfare of infants and children. Periodically he launches programs that introduce new ways of charitable giving to Montgomery College, and his Alma Mater, Clark Atlanta University. Recently, he made a new partnership with The Spirit Club Foundation based in Montgomery County, Maryland. This nonprofit helps those with disabilities get physical exercise and support their well-being.

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