“The time is now, there isn’t a day to lose. We must unite together in this fight.”
Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg donated $100,000 to support children during the COVID-19 pandemic to kickstart a new campaign, with the help of Human Act Foundation and UNICEF, she announced on Thursday morning.
The 17 year old global climate change beacon initially received the monetary award from the Danish, Human Act Foundation during Earth Day 2020. Human Act stated that she is this year’s recipient because of “her fearless and determined efforts to mobilize millions of people around the world to fight climate change.”
Human Act Foundation said that they will match her donation to UNICEF.
“Together we want to inspire all fellow global citizens – from youth and grassroot level to politicians, scientists and high-level decision makers – to stand together in solidarity. No child should be left behind in the face of the pandemic. Please do what you can today.”
Djaffar Shalchi, founder of Human Act
Working together to protect children
During a UNICEF press release, Thunberg said, “Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child-rights crisis. It will affect all children, now and in the long-term, but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most. I’m asking everyone to step up and join me in support of UNICEF’s vital work to save children’s lives, to protect health and continue education.”
UNICEF:
UNICEF works with various global partners to offer educational resources, social protection and ongoing essential healthcare to millions of children who are out of school due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In Yemen, they are providing water and sanitation supplies to children. In Ecuador, UNICEF delivers essential protective supplies and equipment for children.
UNICEF said the funds would help in its battle to support children impacted by anti-virus lockdowns and school closures, particularly helping to in areas with “food shortages, strained health care systems, violence and lost education.”
UNICEF tweeted in response to the donations, “Thank you @GretaThunberg and Human Act for supporting our COVID-19 response.”
Greta Thunberg states that she had had contact with the novel coronavirus infection, COVID-19
In late march, Thunberg stated that she came in contact with the virus during her trip to Brussels with her father, although they were never tested. She had to self-isolate for 14 days by keeping away from her family members in a temporary apartment. “I was feeling tired, had shivers, a sore throat and coughed. My dad experienced the same symptoms, but much more intense and with a fever. In Sweden you can not test yourself for COVID-19 unless you’re in need of emergent medical treatment. Everyone feeling ill are told to stay at home and isolate themselves. I have therefore not been tested for COVID-19, but it’s extremely likely that I’ve had it, given the combined symptoms and circumstances,” she wrote on Instagram.
She reiterated the seriousness of this infection, saying that “I almost didn’t feel ill. My last cold was much worse than this! Had it not been for someone else having the virus simultaneously I might not even have suspected anything. Then I would just have thought I was feeling unusually tired with a bit of a cough. And this it what makes it so much more dangerous. Many (especially young people) might not notice any symptoms at all.”
She ended her statement writing, “we who don’t belong to a risk group have an enormous responsibility, our actions can be the difference between life and death for many others. Please keep that in mind, follow the advice from experts and your local authorities and #StayAtHome to slow the spread of the virus. And remember to always take care of each other and help those in need.”
See our complete Q&A guide on the novel coronavirus infection, COVID-19.
