Between March and June 2020, the Cayman Islands endured a lockdown over many weeks to prevent and suppress the spread of Covid-19. There was an instant need to feed vast numbers of people made jobless, and ARK played a key role in the relief efforts by rapidly deploying our Kindness Kitchen and an army of volunteers who made that possible.
The end result is that Cayman has been declared free of Covid-19 - but there are also unpleasant consequences. Among these are widespread unemployment, psychological trauma, and educational setbacks, which have fallen disproportionately on the poorest and least fortunate citizens and residents of the Cayman Islands.
Children were required to attend school from home. During the remainder of the school year, ARK's Mentor-Educate-Reinforce program continued to serve its enrolled students, ages 8-11, whose family lives were already disadvantaged before Covid-19.
This August, ARK volunteers are focusing on the "mentoring" part of the program. They are giving these students amazing experiences outside of their homes and school. Through interactions with adults who take an interest in them and dote on them, the "M" in MER is intended to foster self confidence, inspire the children, and create positive relationships with both peers and adults.
We will be updating our "news and updates" with pictures and stories about our activities with these precious children.
