2020 was the most challenging year for the Zorg van de Zaak Foundation so fa

2020 hit us, as the board of the Foundation, very deeply in our hearts. For over 5 years we have been working on cooperation, new ways of poverty relief and participation. When the civid-pandemic was a fact in April, our partners were immediately at risk of pulling the short straw. The lockdown put a halt to everything: trading on markets, helping traumatised children and regular healthcare. In some areas, famine soon became a bigger danger than the Covid virus. Financial support of the Foundation reaches the people who need it directly through our partners. As a small foundation, we are not hindered by unnecessary administrative procedures, and we are able to act quickly. As a result, in April of last year, we were able to start up emergency aid project all around the world within 10 days. Our partners applied and a week later, everybody could get started. We decided to start with the projects that supported the most vulnerable people.

Over 95.000 euros were directly invested in food provision, hygiene kits, medical materials and education in April 2020. These projects gave various results:

• On tea plantations in Northeast India, massive information campaigns ensured that the spread of the covid virus remained relatively limited. Vulnerable people, among which were mothers and children, received milk powder, (enriched) semolina powder and almonds. One of the information campaigners is Dasoli Tanti: she spoke to hundreds of people on the plantation and organised many meetings.
• For Global Hospital in Northwest India, we ensured direct financial support. This hospital receives funding based on the number of surgeries and other medical proceedings they carry out. Due to the covid pandemic, this number quickly decreased. We gave direct financial support, so that doctors and nurses on the intensive care unit received salaries and covid patients could be treated.
• In Africa, the distribution of food packages ensured that families survived the lockdown. We were active in, among others, Kenya (Maasai), Burundi and South Africa.

Over a year after the start of the pandemic, we mourn the loss of many lives. In India, death rates are very high. In South America and Africa, as well as in countries in Asia, the Covid vaccine is very scarcely available. In countries with a low gross domestic product, less than 1% of the population is currently vaccinated against the Covid virus.

Many people decided to make the most of it last year. They proved to be combative and and managed, in their own way, to offer a positive contribution to their environment. In the year report of the Foundation, we interview three people:

Laurie Ijzerman works in Bolivia with a team of therapists to guide traumatised children.

Dasoli Tanti lives on the Saagmoo tea plantation in Assam and works as an information campaigner.

Maya Aumaj works in The Hague and guides young people with a labour disability who are looking for a job.