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John, while much of our attention continues to be on the plight of children facing conflict in Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and so many other places, we wanted to take a moment to also reflect on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children these past two years. None of us knew what to expect when the pandemic began. I remember when the very first shelter-in-place order was issued – it was only meant to last a few weeks. Now, two years later, this pandemic has touched all of our lives in ways both big and small. We’ll feel its impact for years to come - and so will children. An entire generation of children across the globe has had their education disrupted. They’ve missed regular health screenings and vaccinations. Social isolation, anxiety and depression have increased, creating an unprecedented mental health crisis. These are problems that will take years to fully understand and address. Save the Children is committed to providing all the support children need to survive and thrive in the wake of this pandemic, and we’re so grateful for dedicated champions for children like you who share this important mission. This community’s support helps children like Robbie through programs like Journey of Hope. This child-focused social and emotional learning program draws on children's strengths to support their resilience. When the pandemic began, we knew it was more important than ever to keep programs like this alive, so we quickly worked to create a virtual Journey of Hope experience.
Robbie struggled with anxiety, stress and isolation as he adapted to virtual learning and long days at home. Enrolling in our virtual Journey of Hope program gave Robbie the additional social interaction he needed while also teaching him to identify, understand and cope with the complicated emotions he was feeling. Today, he continues to use the tools he learned from his Journey of Hope facilitator to manage his emotions during difficult moments. Of course, Robbie’s story is just one example of the millions of ways your support is making a difference for children in the United States and around the world. You can learn more about our work over the past two years helping lessen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic here. Thank you so much for your partnership in this important work and for your commitment to creating lasting change for the children who need it most. Cloe Chambers
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