A year of resilience : Overcoming obstacles in 2020

Season 2, episode 8

A year of resilience : Overcoming obstacles in 2020

2020 has been a challenging year. But through difficulty we have learned we are more resilient than we thought possible. That resilience allowed UNICEF to continue to make strides in protecting every child’s right to a childhood – despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode we’ll take you on a journey with us to explore the roadblocks and achievements at a global level and we’ll tell you more about how we overcame challenges here in Canada.

Producers: Victoria Ptashnick, Priyadarshini Mitra

Sound Mix: Chandra Bulucon

Original Music: Chad Crouch, Chandra Bulucon

Episode Transcript: 

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[00:00:03.18] Hello, podcast listeners, and welcome to the last month of 2020. If at times you felt like the end of this year might never come, well, you aren't alone. I know that for myself, and I'm sure for many of you.

[00:00:18.21] Because 2020 has been challenging and unpredictable. The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to change the way we live, the way we communicate, the way we work, and it forced us almost overnight. With social distancing and other guidelines put in place to keep us safe, most of us have had our relationships with friends, family, and our communities transformed.

[00:00:44.43] We've adapted, and then we've adapted again. And despite the difficulty inherent in this demand for constant change, I believe we're coming out of 2020 realizing that we're more resilient, and we're stronger than we ever thought possible.

[00:01:02.20] And that resilience and strength is exactly what this episode is all about. UNICEF faced unique challenges throughout 2020. And we had to adapt quickly and creatively with solutions that ensured we were still able to deliver our life-saving support to children, families, and communities around the world.

[00:01:24.33] In this episode, we will take a look back, and explore the roadblocks and achievements at a global level, and we'll tell you more about how we overcame challenges here in Canada.

[00:01:37.47] I'm David Morley, President and CEO of UNICEF Canada, and the host of for every child podcast.

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[00:02:06.28] COVID-19 has affected me really negatively as well. Because I remember, I tested positive for a virus a while back after opening schools. So I had to skip to four weeks from school to recover.

[00:02:19.01] And in that two weeks, I missed out on a lot of work. And now, when I returned back to school, I had to catch up on school work. And then I also had to move along and learn what other kids were learning. That was a really tough time for me. I'm not going to lie.

[00:02:33.55] That was young Siva Butso in South Africa talking about how this year has been a difficult one for her. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a persistent myth that children are barely affected by the disease. Nothing could be further from the truth.

[00:02:52.66] A recent report by UNICEF found that in 87 countries, children and adolescents under 20 years of age accounted for one in nine of COVID infections. And this is just the tip of the pandemic iceberg. Key services being disrupted, and soaring poverty rates pose the biggest threats to children. The longer this crisis goes on, the deeper its impact on children's education, health, nutrition, and well-being. The future of an entire generation is at risk.

[00:03:29.19] UNICEF through 2020 has worked to address some of these challenges, and is looking ahead at 2021 with the support of governments, partners, donors, and the private sector to build a better future for children. To tell us more about this from a global perspective, we have with us Chris Tidy, part of our UNICEF Canada family, who's now a communication specialist at our global headquarters in New York. Welcome, Chris.

[00:04:00.66] It's always good to chat with you. But I must say this has been quite a challenging year for everyone. And Chris, you've been in the epicenter of the pandemic in New York, and you've been working on UNICEF's global response. And we're in the middle of it as well. Personally, what's been the most challenging part for you, Chris?

[00:04:27.75] Well, thanks for asking the question, David. It's been a strange year for all of us. I think for me personally, what I've found the most challenging is as part of my job, which is focused on humanitarian emergencies in a normal year, I would be going out, and actually visiting different children and families in communities in parts of the world that have been affected by different crises, and I would be able to travel and go and speak with them, and hear about what they're going through.

[00:05:07.21] And unfortunately, because of the pandemic, my movement as well [INAUDIBLE]. People around the world has been really restricted. And I've found that quite challenging.

[00:05:22.60] And then, I think, in addition to that, it's probably the same as everyone else, where working remotely is OK for a while. But I miss a lot of the face-to-face interactions with colleagues, an organization like UNICEF that so much of it is about who we are as human beings, and helping young people around the world that not having that face-to-face interaction is difficult.

[00:05:53.85] We're missing that human interaction for sure. It's really tough. And as well for us as an organization, too, what would you say are some of the most critical operational roadblocks that we've had to overcome during this past year?

[00:06:14.01] Initially, in the early stages of the pandemic, there were significant disruptions to international transportation. And that presented a number of different challenges for our supply operation.

[00:06:30.84] And David, you know that UNICEF is one of the largest procurer and distributor of lifesaving supplies for children in countries around the world. So in those early stages, when all of a sudden, you had different airlines that were no longer traveling as usual, you had borders being closed, that presented a number of logistical challenges for us in terms of making sure that we were getting essential things like vaccines, and water, and sanitation products, and education materials into countries to the kids who needed it most.

[00:07:09.69] Fortunately, a lot of hard work from our colleagues in UNICEF supply division in Copenhagen, and some innovative quick solutions. But we were largely able to surmount those challenges, and make sure that in the end, we were getting those supplies into children who needed it.

[00:07:29.62] It's also important to remember that other emergencies didn't pause for COVID-19 we continue to see a very active hurricane and typhoon season. And children in protracted crises like those in Yemen and Syria continue to suffer. Can you talk a bit more about the dual impact of COVID-19 with crises like conflicts or disasters?

[00:07:54.21] Definitely. There were a number of concern leading up to the Atlantic hurricane season this year. Some of these countries in south or Central America that are vulnerable to hurricanes. There are health care systems.

[00:08:07.80] In many cases, we're already under strain from having to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and the caseload. And so when you have health care systems that are already under strain, and then the threat of a major hurricane coming in, where the health care needs of affected people could rise, or you could have health care infrastructure like health care, or hospitals, or health clinics that could be damaged, or destroyed in a major storm.

[00:08:37.59] Then there was a real concern that those health care systems would buckle, and other crises, for example, say, Yemen, which has been dealing with a significant COVID-19 caseload. In addition to that, we also have a pre-existing cholera outbreak, which has been there for four years now.

[00:08:57.31] And so when you combine those two things, again, in a very fragile context in a country, which does not have significant health care capacity to begin with, then something like that could be devastating. Just generally, David, what we've seen this year across a number of different countries, and not just countries in emergencies or countries in crisis, but situations, where because of COVID-19 and the fear of COVID-19, that parents sometimes were not bringing their children in to seek care if they needed it out of concern that the child or the family could contract COVID-19 by going into a health care center.

[00:09:44.37] And so in those situations were having children who did require medical treatment for different conditions, or say something like malnutrition, and they were not going in and getting the help that they needed because of COVID. And that's where communication in these communities is so important. And also, finding other ways to work around that, so that we're able to work with other UN agencies and our partners in those communities to make sure that, in such cases, we're able to help those families get the care that they need.

[00:10:20.07] I think of how we are here right now in Canada, and concerns about the health system being overwhelmed just by COVID. But then when you put on top of that, a hurricane, or a cholera epidemic, I think it's hard for us as Canadians to imagine how bad that would be when we're having enough difficulty just grappling with the pandemic as it is here at home.

[00:10:51.24] But not everything has to be doom and gloom, I guess. It's been a dark, year. But what are some of the things that we've achieved this year, things that we should be happy about?

[00:11:05.94] I don't think it has been all doom and gloom. UNICEF and our partners, we've certainly been achieving progress for children. A couple of good examples could be our work, as I was speaking to before, to overcome some of those supply challenges during the early stages of lockdowns this past spring. And I think we were largely able to do that.

[00:11:35.35] So for example, we've been able to equip nearly 2 million health care workers around the world with protective personal equipment, and bringing in oxygen concentrators. That's been really solid progress. We've still been able to provide lifesaving support and services, and humanitarian context around the world.

[00:11:56.02] So for example, we've been bringing safe water to thousands of people affected by floods in South Sudan. And we've treated more than 350,000 children this year suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the central Sahel. So these are just a couple of things just to point out that there have been some bright moments.

[00:12:19.68] We've also done a lot of work in countries around the world to make sure that despite the lockdowns, and despite the problems associated with COVID-19, that there's still been continuity of routine immunization for children. Measles and tetanus, diphtheria, and so on. And I think that we've largely been able to do that, and to make sure that children are still getting their regular vaccinations.

[00:12:44.19] That's impressive. I think it's a tribute to our colleagues in the field. And you were mentioning at the beginning to the folks that supply division in Copenhagen, who can keep this all keep this all going.

[00:12:58.37] And so now, we're looking ahead to 2021 and a new year. How do you think we can reimagine a better future for children?

[00:13:10.98] Well, David, I think UNICEF's position has been pretty clear that one of the first things that we really, by we, I mean, the international community and governments across the globe really need to address, first and foremost, is the learning crisis for children unleashed by COVID-19. School closures have disrupted learning for over 90% of learners worldwide, which is astounding. And children who have already been, let's say, displaced or affected by humanitarian crises for them, it's made their barriers to education even more significant.

[00:13:57.27] And education is the key for helping children to have hopeful futures to lift families out of poverty, for example. All of that is tremendously important. Looking ahead and reimagining a future for children that, that's one of the first places that we can start, where we were able to make sure that children are back to learning, and that we're coming up with innovative ways to reach the hardest to reach children with education.

[00:14:29.49] It's all well and good to talk about remote learning, and things like that. But we have to remember that there are millions of children around the world who don't have access to a smartphone, or who don't have access to the internet, or a computer. So how are those children being reached to make sure that their learning continues? And those are questions that I think really need to be answered in a lot of places around the world.

[00:14:55.27] That's an important thing to think of as we go forward. Again, thank you, Chris. It's always good to talk with you. And thanks for all you do. And just I hope you'll continue to stay safe, and keep on with your great work.

[00:15:11.70] Thanks, David. You stay safe as well. And thanks so much for having me on.

[00:15:18.66] I don't know about you, listeners. But I'm in awe of the determination and courage that our international colleagues demonstrated in persevering through such difficulty this year to ensure that every child would have a right to a childhood. From immunization, to education, to nutrition, we've remained dedicated to protecting the rights of children everywhere. And I'm so proud to work with our international colleagues like Chris, who help make that possible.

[00:15:50.90] Here in Canada, 2020 has thrown us our fair share of challenges too. Tell us more about those challenges, and how we've worked to overcome them. We have with us Rowena Pinto, our Chief Program Officer here at UNICEF Canada. Hi, Rowena.

[00:16:07.46] Hi, David.

[00:16:09.23] Well, with most of our office-based here in Toronto, including you, where COVID-19 numbers have been high, you've ensured that programs have continued to run smoothly despite the challenges we face in the pandemic. What do you think has contributed to this success?

[00:16:27.14] Well, as you know, David, UNICEF Canada really came together as a team during these very difficult times. And everyone from the executive leadership all the way down to every single level of the organization, including our volunteers, and our supporters really stepped up when COVID-19 hit us globally.

[00:16:48.30] And while we were all dealing with our own emergency situations here in Canada, I think one of the things that really kept us all motivated and focused was the fact that we have such a strong mission, and such a strong staff ability to see beyond some of the issues, and really stay focused on the child. We were all dealing with things that many of the children that we serve around the world, deal with quite regularly.

[00:17:18.86] And we saw COVID-19 exacerbate those circumstances for children. But for the very first time, I mean, I as a mother, had to deal with my own children being out of school. We had lineups to get food. We had everything in our lives that were disrupted.

[00:17:34.70] So if anything it felt more empathy, and more passion, and more motivation, to really ensure that every child around the world does not remain an invisible victim of COVID. But we can actually work to ensure that children around the world come out better after this pandemic is over.

[00:17:57.35] Yeah. I think that sense of empathy that Canadians have was, as you say, really heightened because so many of us in our own families and neighborhoods were living through very, very similar circumstances. And when we would say thinking about things like handwashing, and then you think, oh, and what if you can't just go to a stop in your house, and turn it on in order to wash your hands?

[00:18:28.46] I found that Canadians really could identify in a new way with some of the struggles that are faced by the world's most vulnerable children.

[00:18:39.41] Exactly. I mean, a lot of us it was a first time for us to having gone through something like this. And it was the first time for our children. So many times when I went to have had the opportunity, and the honor to go visit places, where we have some of our programs in other parts of the world, I would come back and I'd let my own kids know.

[00:18:58.64] Can you imagine many of the children all they want to do is go to school, and they're willing to do all sorts of things, whatever it takes, so that they can get an education. And my children could not understand that. Well, after a couple of months of being out of school, they got that. They were able to empathize and understand how important school plays in the lives of children.

[00:19:19.88] But David, you're the president and CEO. What in your mind has contributed to our success despite COVID-19?

[00:19:26.36] Well, I think what you said about all of our colleagues here at UNICEF Canada, their incredible level of commitment, their belief in our mission. And knowing that in order to beat the pandemic, the world needs UNICEF. And that we get to be part of a global solution, even if it's still on the horizon now.

[00:19:53.12] I think for all of us knowing that we're part of that solution is it was a huge thing. And so we have that motivation. And then, I guess, it was some of those underlying less exciting things perhaps. But things that it means as being part of an organization that we had in place.

[00:20:15.27] We had our business continuity plan that we had done dress rehearsals. Not for nine months of being out of the office, but of being out of the office for a day or two. How would we respond?

[00:20:29.30] I think that was really important. And then, I mean, Rowena, you and I worked together. A lot on those three P's of those processes, that we have the right processes in place to keep functioning like this, that we would look after our people, so that they could do their work of looking after others.

[00:20:48.80] And that we would always keep our purpose, the purpose of UNICEF front and center. That with our people, with the right processes working for that purpose, I think that helped keep ourselves on track for sure.

[00:21:08.55] No. And speaking about what we've done is Canadians, and what we want for Canadian children, as well as for children around the world, how is this pandemic change the nature of the work we do for Canada's children?

[00:21:25.98] Well, as you know, we have a very, very strong domestic focus here in Canada as well. And we have great measurement tools in place that have really focused in on the data surrounding children and children's well-being. Prior to COVID, we weren't doing particularly well in comparison to other rich countries.

[00:21:46.87] And in fact, right before COVID, we found out we had actually dropped in the ratings in terms of how well we're doing. So we're now rated 30 in a scale of 41 rich countries, which does not bode well for a country that really seems to have everything in place to do better for our children.

[00:22:07.71] So of course, COVID has exacerbated. A lot of the issues that we already had, we saw huge issues related to systemic racism, that have played a huge role in terms of how youth are feeling. And I think one of the things that I'm quite happy with is that we really brought youth to the table.

[00:22:26.19] We heard a lot about children. Children were definitely the invisible victims. We knew children of COVID.

[00:22:32.58] So while they aren't the ones necessarily getting COVID, which is good. Pretty much every aspect of their life has been affected. And their childhoods have been affected. And milestones are being missed. They're out of school.

[00:22:44.73] And a lot of the things that children do very naturally were no longer allowed just like playing outside. So this is going to have an impact. And this is where UNICEF is really at the forefront gathering data like no other organization on the well-being of children, including children here in Canada.

[00:23:03.93] And what we also do really, really well is bring youth and amplify their voices. So we've been consistent conversations with children. And at every opportunity, we have raised their voices to government officials at all levels, so that we're not just talking about children, we are talking with children. And that is something that we continued through COVID.

[00:23:27.51] That's one of the things that I can just hear it in your voice. I know that you're proud of, and we're all proud of it. But what are some of the other things that despite all of the challenges of the pandemic? What are some of the other things that you're proud of, that we managed to achieve this year?

[00:23:46.92] Well, we had some really great priorities moving into the pandemic. And we had some good plans in place. And we saw those endure, even with all of the various obstacles that were placed in our way.

[00:24:00.52] So for example, one of the things that we've been really working on is how to really bring back our secret ingredient for UNICEF Canada, which is Canadian children. So we know how we play a huge role in Canadian children's lives. And in many cases, that was families first ability to really do engage in family philanthropy. And their experience that could potentially for us, grow many global citizens.

[00:24:28.80] We stopped Halloween as in 2006. We reintroduced it last year. And this year, we were really graced to see it take off.

[00:24:38.83] However, Halloween was canceled in many parts of the world. What we saw, though, is that Canadian families and Canadian children stepped up again. And they actually loved Halloween this year.

[00:24:50.25] We actually did way better than we thought. And many parents, their comments to us was this is a great way to keep our children engaged. This is a great way for children to still celebrate Halloween, but also a great way for children to think beyond themselves, and to think about other children around the world.

[00:25:07.08] And that's exactly what we were hoping to achieve. So that was a really, really, really great. And we've also maintained our influence with other key partners, such as the government of Canada. The government of Canada came to us and said, how can you help keep children in school? The most vulnerable children, the most dangerous parts of the world, how can you help to keep them in school? And UNICEF stepped on that as well.

[00:25:33.37] So that's just a couple of things that I'm particularly proud of. There's so many. But I think when we think of how much support we've gotten from Canadians, that we're on the right track.

[00:25:46.65] I think you're right. Despite all that we're facing, it does feel that we've got a chance to be on the right track to be on a better track once we come out of the pandemic. So thanks for all you do, Rowena. So it's a pleasure to work with you, and to have you on the show.

[00:26:07.12] Thank you, David, for leadership through all of this.

[00:26:19.17] Hearing from Chris and Rowena leaves me with a sense of pride and hope of what we've been able to achieve in a challenging year, and hope that through all our upcoming work, we can reimagine what 2021 will look like for children. So before we dive into fighting off challenges that lie ahead, I want to take this moment to be grateful. I want to thank each one of you, every donor, every supporter, and every listener on behalf of every child you have helped this year.

[00:26:56.67] That brings us to the end of our episode for December, the last podcast episode of this year. If you liked what you heard, and you want to learn more, or support the work we do, please visit UNICEF.ca. That's UNICEF.ca.

[00:27:15.60] And I hope you and your family stay well, stay safe. Thanks for listening in. I look forward to talking to you again in 2021. Happy holidays.

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