John, 

March marked one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. We all want to defeat this pandemic and get back some kind of normal life.

But getting COVID-19 vaccines to every part of the planet is just one piece of the global recovery puzzle. To protect people, tackle the global learning crisis, and get economies back on track we need to urgently address both the immediate effects and longer term aftershocks.

At the peak of the pandemic, 1.6 billion children were out of school and in the poorest countries, many of them may never go back. Some of the hardest hit countries are struggling to fund fragile healthcare systems that are on the brink of collapse with national debt repayments. Up to 163 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty in 2021, and COVID-19 is widening the inequality gap globally.

Over the next several months, as world leaders meet to address the multiple crises the world is facing, we'll be calling on them to tackle all of these global challenges for a truly global recovery that leaves no one behind. Share this message on your social channels now:

Greetings from Pandemica. It's the worst

"Pandemica" is our new animated series that highlights the urgent need for global access to COVID-19 vaccines. It’s a colourful world of creatures and critters living in a COVID-19 purgatory — illustrating the realities for people in low-income countries who are at risk of not receiving vaccine access until 2022 or even later.

Episodes feature voice overs from Bono, Penelope Cruz, David Oyelowo, and more big names. Watch the episodes now to find out why life in Pandemica is truly the worst.

What ending COVID-19 means for ONE supporters

As the global fight against COVID-19 continues we asked ONE supporters from around the world what ending this pandemic would mean to them.

We received inspiring, heartbreaking, and thoughtful messages from almost 3,000 people: grandparents eager to hug their grandchildren again, people desperate to be able to earn a decent living, activists longing to get back to their community projects, students yearning to get back into classrooms, community members missing their faith community, and many more.

Here are some of the messages we shared on social media to show the real impact of the pandemic on people across the world:

"If we do not build back better and build back more equally in the economy, our chances of full global economic recovery will be an impossibility"

- Melene Rossouw, gender equality activist

WATCH NOW: Melene and other gender equality activists on how world leaders can build back more equally after COVID-19.

Fighting inequality in South Africa

“You’ve got to find your battle,” says Rachel. “I believe that in finding your passion you also find your fight. When you find something that breaks your heart, that’s where I believe your passion is.”

Rachel Kolisi started the Kolisi Foundation in April 2020 with her husband, Siya Kolisi. Find out about their grassroots work targeting gender-based violence, food security, and support in education and sports development.

Other Interesting Reads:

• Vaccine access could save the future of education
• IKhaya Le Langa: Creating jobs and opportunities for young men in South Africa
• Rich Countries Signed Away a Chance to Vaccinate the World
• Five reasons why COVID herd immunity is probably impossible