Faced with the Covid-19 health crisis, as social organizations we have had to face a large number of questions related to our subsistence and the permanence of our services. During this quarantine period, I have had the valuable opportunity to talk with many organizations that are now rethinking their functions, their structure, and looking for ways to survive. The numbers speak for themselves. According to the latest Pwc study published in June 2020, 38.7% of NPOs consider that they will have to close programs, and 15% will enter a state of hibernation or closure. 63.5% indicate that they do not have sufficient cash flow for 2020. In addition, 68.4% perceive that the pandemic will affect their ability to provide services or develop projects, and 58% of NPOs see the need to reinvent themselves.
Regarding this reinvention, I would like to share some brief reflections, which, although they are not the solution to the problems that afflict us, can help us in this path of “re-thinking” that we are going through as a civil society:
The first reflection is the tremendous importance of science for the development of humanity. Scientific knowledge and discoveries have gained relevance and recognition worldwide, as well as inventions related to hospital equipment. Scientists, usually invisible in their laboratories, health professionals, among others, are the new heroes and heroines, and that represents an opportunity for the NGOs that work in this field. Now is their time to grow, because the eyes of the world are on them.
The second reflection is related to the family environment. We will probably experience many quarantines over the next two years, perhaps not permanent but decreed from time to time. This will force us to live more korea whatsapp number
confined, in our homes and to share more closely with our family unit. This will further reveal the precariousness of housing, equipment such as computers and the internet, family conflicts and violence, among other problems. The NGOs that manage to intervene based on solutions within families
The third reflection has to do with the battle to survive. By this I mean that as a society we will be fighting not to get sick and not to make our families sick, taking special care of our parents and older adults. I also mean fighting to have something to eat. COVID has brought poverty and there are families who are hungry today, which has led communities to organize themselves through common pots, baskets, food boxes, among others. We cannot forget that in our country 20.7% of the population suffers from multidimensional poverty. This means precariousness in terms of employment, housing, health and education. In some way, we find ourselves in need as CSOs to focus on the base of the pyramid of needs. Do not worry if for a while you have to stop providing your previous services to focus on aspects related to survival. There will be time to rethink the work of your organization.
*Some people will say that other basic aspects are missing in this pyramid, but I mention Wi-Fi trying to say that without connectivity, it is difficult for us to receive education, generate job opportunities and access services that we can receive remotely and therefore, take care of our health.
Finally, a couple of considerations: companies, Civil Society and the State with their public policies will be fundamental to sustain a society that suffers. But without a doubt, it is Civil Society that knows the social problems best and can directly reach those who need it, because it has the knowledge of how to do so. This makes it even more important that as Civil Society we overcome the crisis, not only from the point of view of resources, but also with a purpose that makes sense to us in the current context. With a mission that helps lift others up and at the same time raises our motivation, being our driving force in this crisis. In addition, the time it takes us to do this will be decisive. This crisis set in very quickly and we also have to adapt quickly to it. Let us give it the urgency and time required to make a new proposal and change our structures. Let us not fall asleep in this quarantine, the world continues and its needs more than ever as well.