SERES COVID-19 response

To all of our community, 

We want to share with you how we are navigating through uncertain times to have a brighter future. 

We know that the situation we are facing is serious and requires efforts at any level - personal, family, community, national, international -. Since March 16th in both countries, Guatemala and El Salvador, governments issued a national state of emergency and have applied the suspension of certain constitutional guarantees for a period of time such as:

- Prohibition or suspension of public, private shows, and any kind of meetings.

- Suspension of public transport.

- All necessary measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Based on the measures of both governments, we decided to suspend all program activities in the communities where we work, until further notice. Our focus is on informing, following up, and supporting youth, families, and the community at this time. 

As we face this pandemic, we have integrated an emergency committee and together we have developed a series of guidelines, measures, and actions to follow that will respond to the crisis.

 We have established main actions such as: 

• Following official information and recommendations from the World Health Organization - WHO- and national governments.  

• Mapping information on health insurance, nearby hospitals, and available clinics.

• Suspending local, regional and international meetings. 

• Working remotely with the SERES team. 

• We are rethinking our activities to offer them in a different format and we are in constant communication and scenario planning with our youth network. 

We are aware that this is a time of physical distancing and yet we must look after and support each other.  In the past weeks, we have been offering and facilitating spaces to have powerful, meaningful conversations, and we are listening to the needs and interests youth are experiencing now. 

We want to let you know that the team continues to work remotely to support our youth encouraging them to be role models of positive attitudes towards this crisis.

Once again we want to thank you for being part of our community, and your support for this greater mission that we have no matter what: catalyze young people to build more resilient communities.

Peace and health, 

Sara and Abigail

Co-Executive Directors, SERES