Project Description - Sethule Trust’s COVID-19 Community Response

The COVID-19 Support Project responded to the growing public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. During this challenging period, Sethule Trust continued to meet the needs of people who relied on its support, helping to fill gaps in the health delivery system through community-based projects focused on health education, health promotion and community development.

The Ministry of Health led the implementation of plans to combat COVID-19, and Sethule Trust worked alongside the Ministry to support the flow of information and to equip and empower communities with the knowledge and resources they needed to protect themselves from the virus.

The coronavirus pandemic also had a devastating impact on food security and livelihoods. Sethule Trust recognised the urgent need to respond to these challenges and remain connected to the communities it served. As the pandemic created new and additional needs, Sethule rapidly adapted its programmes to provide practical support. This included distributing food to the most vulnerable families and providing hand sanitiser and face masks to schools.

At Sethule Trust, staff and volunteers shared the same challenges as the communities they served. This gave the organisation a unique understanding of the difficulties faced by vulnerable and marginalised people and enabled it to support authorities in reaching those most in need during an uncertain and difficult time.

For some families, there was no certainty about where their next meal would come from. Sethule Trust responded by visiting vulnerable households and providing food hampers containing essential basic food supplies. During Zimbabwe’s 30-day full lockdown, the situation became particularly desperate for some of the poorest communities. Some people were forced to break lockdown restrictions by buying and selling goods in order to feed their families. Others waited and hoped for financial support from relatives living abroad, while many relied on neighbours or charitable organisations operating feeding programmes.

One family that received support was the Sibanda family of seven. Their home had been burnt to the ground in 2018, destroying all their belongings, and their lives had never fully recovered. They struggled to make ends meet, from replacing identity documents and purchasing basic clothing and bedding to paying school fees. The family depended on the meagre income of a farm worker to meet these needs.

When Sethule Trust staff arrived at their home unexpectedly with a food hamper, the family were overwhelmed with relief. The support provided much-needed food at a time when they were struggling to provide for themselves.

Through its COVID-19 response, Sethule Trust touched the lives of many vulnerable families and communities. By distributing food hampers, providing protective equipment and sharing vital health information, Sethule Trust helped communities navigate the unprecedented challenges created by the pandemic and supported some of the people who were most vulnerable during this difficult period.

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