VOICE Area Federation believes that children, families, and communities have a right to live with dignity, protection, and access to assistance in an event of a disaster. Our involvement is crucial to fulfilling the needs of children being affected during the outbreak of COVID-19. The general public and children are concerned and worried as the country has never experienced this type of pandemic since the Malaria epidemic happened in the 1930s. Daily life is severely disrupted and economic movements have largely disturbed. Daily wage-based families are highly affected due to no income for the last few months. VOICE responses aim to improve local capacities to reduce child protection risks and to promote healthy development in all age’s child life. Keeping this in focus, the following objectives and interventions have been identified as priority actions.
Provision of dry ration to needy families who are insufficiently supported through a major food distribution program
VOICE launched the dry ration distribution program in working areas with the proper identification. VOICE provided basic food items for 3500 enrolled families including 390 women headed families, 47 families with lactating/ pregnant mothers, and 820 of very poor families who lost their full income from the month of May 2020 in VOICE working areas. In the distribution process, PHI offices assured the quality and health measures. Community youths and the “VOICE Sathwera” youth group join with the community development offices in the packing and distribution process of goods.
Provision of dry ration
Provision of health safety and protection equipment
VOICE keeps providing the safety masks and safety kite for community and government stakeholders for the beginning of the pandemic situation. In that, VOICE produced 20000 face masks and 50 overall safety kits during the month of June 2020 and distributed among the Police, government offices, and other community members. And continue the production of the face mask and 5000 stock is available.
Education Programmes
Developed a system to share the lessons through mobile phones (Basic phones, smartphones) and storage systems.
VOICE is changing the approach to education through electronic media, e-platforms, and mobile phones. Increase accessibility to ongoing programs by sharing time tables on TV and radio programs with recordings. WhatsApp groups for information sharing and web site developed for self-learning. 96 Self-study material created uploaded to VOICE one YouTube channel and provided the youtube links through social media and other online platforms by providing the access to education materials
Conducted online classroom for selected grades
VOICE facilitate conducting coaching sessions for children poor-performing organized in Learning spaces and conducted weekly by the VOICE focusing the poor perform children from grade 6-8 and 9-11 subjects including Mathematics, English, and Science. Basically, VOICE focusing enrolled children in four educational divisions. And facilitate any student in Island wide to join the VOICE E Platform without any discrimination. Nearly 1350 children will benefit through this program VOICE introduce online class through digital platforms. VOICE decided to expand this activity with the lesson, learn, and the good practices. Teachers use videos and other attractive teaching methodologies to give maximum benefits for the children. VOICE planned to improve access through Child resource centers. And these records will share in YouTube channel and other social Medias to increase the reach and to give maximum benefit for the Enrolled and none enrolled children.
Establish Education WEB
A data cost for the participants was provided by the VOICE and this class continues as a paper class and theory class. All the participants were given home works and students completed those home works and they submit the answers before the class. This online classroom brought a new experience to the community students not only enrolled in also non enrolled children also participated in this class. same time these children referred the extra materials from VOICE one YouTube channel for more self-studying purposes for the participants
Aware students and their parents about ongoing educational programs in electronic media messages
VOICE introduces online education targeting the O/L students with the participation of qualified teachers through the ZOOM App. Youth volunteers are actively engaging to support children who haven’t smartphones in remote areas. Effectiveness improved through home works, spot quizzes, and submitting the answers. This is a new experience for the community, enrolled, and non-enrolled children. VOICE one YouTube channel enriches with quality and attractive materials for self-studying. In this action, 5-time tables shared and facilitated to join with the sessions which relate to the TV and radio education programs were shared among the children by WhatsApp groups and encourage to join. Also, recorded education programs also shared by these groups
Support children for managing distress and unease
15 videos created with Ambassadors Dr. Anusha Edirisinghe who have an attraction among children to manage distress and unease, child protection, and innovative thinking. To reduce the stress and use the free time VOICE conducted the “Tick Tock” video competition among the youths. The main themes of the event are the protection and prevention of the COVID-19 The best clips will be published in the VOICE ONE YouTube channel and awarded with gifts.
