Covid has not stopped generosity
Children Believe survey has good news to share
CANADIANS REMAIN committed to supporting children in vulnerable situations despite the economic hardships of the pandemic, a recent survey suggests.
Children Believe, formerly Christian Children’s Fund of Canada, surveyed 1,500 Canadians and found 72 per cent feel they have a responsibility to support people in vulnerable situations, regardless of where people live. (The national survey was conducted in September by the Angus Reid Forum.)
Fred Witteveen, CEO of Children Believe, says these results give him courage. Children Believe supports children in 12 countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas, primarily through child sponsorship (www.ChildrenBelieve.ca). The charity works with local partners, often churches and other faith-based organizations, to ensure children have access to quality education and health care, and to protect them from violence and early marriage.
According to the survey 55 per cent of Canadians aim to support organizations that work with children internationally. Witteveen says Children Believe has experienced that firsthand during the pandemic. Much of their fundraising happens through face-to-face meetings at people’s homes. This summer he says more people opened their doors, listened to presentations and gave financially.
Every year some donors stop sponsoring children, Witteveen says. That number did not increase this year. “It was no more or no less than it would have been pre-Covid,” he says. “The sky didn’t fall.”
The pandemic has increased the need to protect children from violence and ensure they receive a quality education. “Because so many kids have been out of school and families have lost income, there’s lots of risk for early child marriage, child labour,” Witteveen says. “We’re going to have to be addressing all of those issues as we move out of Covid.”
72%
OF CANADIANS FEEL THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN VULNERABLE SITUATIONS, REGARDLESS OF WHERE PEOPLE LIVE
ANGUS REID, SEPT. 2020
55%
OF CANADIANS AIM TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH CHILDREN INTERNATIONALLY
ANGUS REID, SEPT. 2020