MARKHAM, Ont. — There has never been a greater need for the world and its communities to come together, and this unprecedented time has called on global citizens to get involved and take action now.
While the health and well-being of Canadians will continue to be a priority in our national fight against COVID-19, as the global crisis evolves, many want to help locally and internationally and give all they can to make a positive difference. A recent study+, commissioned by Children Believe, surveyed Canadians about their views on supporting international causes amid the pandemic. The goal was to encourage Canadians to think about what they can do to enable change. The study reveals that 88 percent of Canadians recognize the increased threat COVID-19 poses to vulnerable communities, and 74 percent feel they have a duty to support those less fortunate in Canada and beyond our borders.
Canadians believe
Children Believe is committed to improving the lives of children by helping them overcome barriers to education such as inequality, discrimination and violence, to access essential resources and to be able to exercise their rights.
Ninety-six percent of Canadians surveyed agree supporting children is vital and every child deserves access to education and basic life necessities, regardless of who they are and where they are from. While respondents believe support for local causes is important during COVID-19, more than half (55 percent) say they aim to support organizations that work within international development for children. Children Believe is working in Africa, Asia and the Americas to stop the spread of the virus, ensure children are nourished, keep kids safe from violence and help them continue learning.
“COVID-19 knows no borders and is wreaking havoc on the lives of children and youth in many of the communities we serve,” says Fred Witteveen, CEO at Children Believe. “Adults cannot work, children cannot go to school and shortages of food and critical supplies are rampant. I am so grateful, that through the generosity of Canadians, Children Believe has helped 572,000 people thus far during COVID-19. Through prevention messaging and education, the provision of protection supplies and equipment, food rations and food packages given to those in greatest need, mental health supports and learning aids for children, we’ve helped children and families weather this global storm.”
Taking Action on COVID-19 on a global scale
While the majority of Canadians say they stay up to date on COVID-19 news outside of Canada (82 percent), half report that they rarely read or hear about how COVID-19 is impacting communities beyond North America or Europe. This lack of information has made it difficult for Canadians to relate to the extreme challenges children and their families in low-income countries are facing. Children Believe is listening to community members, monitoring how things are going, and ensuring communities and children get the support they need. This makes it possible to share the stories and challenges in developing communities Canadians don’t hear otherwise, while maintaining transparency in reporting the results of the charity’s work.
Canadians recognize the need is great
- 96 percent agree many people around the world are not as fortunate as us to have the infrastructure and support systems in place during a pandemic
- Nine in 10 (91 percent) understand communities in vulnerable countries may not have the equipment or medical care to manage the impact of COVID-19
- Two-thirds (66 percent) are proactively trying to educate themselves on how COVID-19 is impacting other countries
A legacy of integrity
Throughout its 60 years of operation, Children Believe has ensured the highest standards of integrity across all levels of the organization. The non-profit has on-site global professionals working closely with community-based organizations and partners on the ground, who are knowledgeable about and can effectively address the needs of children and families.
“Our survey reveals that 89 percent of Canadians want charities to have a responsible and transparent fiscal approach to operations,” adds Fred Witteveen. “Canadians can be confident when supporting Children Believe that we uphold our commitment to maintaining open communication and trust with our partners, donors and the public at large.”
Children Believe’s success is rooted in its child sponsorship program, bringing together Canadians to help vulnerable children around the globe. Another way to help is through its Gifts for Good catalogue, which features 40 life-changing gifts — many of which bring relief to urgent COVID-19-related needs — that empower children through gifts of education, agriculture, health and more. For more details, visit childrenbelieve.ca/covid-19.
About Children Believe (formerly Christian Children’s Fund of Canada):
Children Believe has programs in 160 communities across 12 countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60 years, Children Believe has brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists with a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.
A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of 11 child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 16 million children and their families in more than 60 countries to overcome poverty and the underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. They work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.
+About this Survey:
These are the findings of a survey conducted by Children Believe from September 8 to September 9, 2020 with a representative sample of 1,507 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French.
About Angus Reid Forum Surveys:
The precision of Angus Reid Forum online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/- <2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadians been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
About the Angus Reid Forum:
The Angus Reid Forum is Canada’s most well-known and trusted online public opinion community consisting of engaged residents across the country who answer surveys on topical issues that matter to all Canadians.