Civic mobilisation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Romanian NGOs help the disabled and the needy in times of crisis

Christine Leșcu, 13.05.2020, 02:00

The pandemic triggered by
the new COVID-19 caused fatalities all over the world. We are well aware of
that. But we are also aware of the fact that its tragic aftermath has so far
favoured the strengthening of human solidarity and cooperation. In Romania, a
great many non-governmental associations and civic or private initiatives
support vulnerable areas, as well as the natural persons worst-hit by the
pandemic’s socio-economic aftermath. A telling example of that is the Emergency
Fund for Hospitals. It was created as early as the initial stage of the
COVID-19 outbreak by the Save Romania Children Association. The association has
for many years now been jointly working with maternities and medical units.
These days, the money donated by companies or natural persons for the Emergency
Fund is earmarked to those who have been on the frontline in the fight against
COVID-19.

The representative of the Save the
Children Association, Stefania Mircea:

The
Romanian medical system has engaged in the war against the vulnerabilities we
are familiar with, so it was all the more needed for us to be responsible and
stay united. Everybody’s lives depend on the medical staff that has been on the
barricades, and a doctor who is deprived of protection is putting his own life
in danger, at once jeopardising the lives of the people around him. The medical
doctor and the medical staff are, unfortunately, the most exposed to that,
since they do not stay at home. They are on the frontline in the fight against
pandemic, a scourge that, as we all know, has claimed the lives of so many
people around the world. Besides, with no protection equipment, with no medical
equipment, they cannot save us, and they cannot save themselves either. We have
been receiving demands from medical doctors countrywide who need medical or
protection equipment. We record their application in a registry and, with our
donations, we try to reach the destinations where our stuff is most needed.

A bank account has been
opened for this emergency fund. Prospective donors can use it, and they can
also use a text message for that. So far, the donated sum amounts to roughly
500,000 Euros. Of that, around 135,000 Euros have been spent for medical
equipment and materials. 35 medical and patients’ care units as well as 74
family doctors’ offices in 17 counties have benefited from the aid provided by
the Save the Children Association. Medical ventilators, a portable echography scanner
kit, disinfection devices, cleaning and disinfection kits for hospital wards
and operating theatres have been donated, as well as gloves, bonnets, hospital
booties, overalls, visors. Three incubators for premature babies have also been
donated, as well as disinfection solutions. But the most impressive aspect of
this campaign was the mobilization of the laypeople. Of the total sum of money
that has been donated, 92,000 Euros have been donated by natural persons.

Stefania Mircea:

It is so
impressive to be able to see how laypersons have understood that solidarity was
most needed. Even one of the medical doctors we have worked with has launched
an appeal to his patients, and people donated various sums of money, ranging
from small sums to bigger sums, in a bid to help the medical system. It is so
impressive. So often we have heard that the crisis we are going through is
tantamount to going through a war. That is why the need to be humane was so
great. In times of crisis, people are quick to help the others and from the
bottom of our heart we thank those who have
offered their support so far, also making an appeal to the people, to continue
to get involved and donate, no matter how much or how little, and under what
form.

The elderly, especially the
needy and the lonely, have also been among those most exposed to danger during
the pandemic. The SNK Association, through its Seneca Ecologos and Seneca
Publishers, Romania’s first green publisher, during the pandemic, has been
doing what it has done before: promoting responsibility, this time towards the
elderly, through Our grandparents,
which is one of their programs. The program kicked off under the slogan We
provide safe donations and deliveries of food and hygiene products for the
vulnerable elderly people. Initially, the project was thought out for only one
month, but its scope turned out to be broader afterwards as, providing help for
the elderly, the people working with the Seneca Association have also
discovered other categories of vulnerable persons, day labourers, single
mothers, people who have been made redundant or furlough employees. That is why
donations were most needed, made by companies or natural persons.

The representative of the SNK Association, Anastasia
Staicu:

For the first
month, we approached 85 grandparents, while at the moment we provide help for
700 people in 24 counties and more than 30 localities. We have also reached the
outlying areas. We offer our help in Bucharest, that’s for sure, but we also
try to reach various areas countrywide, the less accessible places. For the
first month alone, the project was implemented using the Association’s
financial resources. Then we spread the news we would like to carry on, so more
people joined us, thousands of people of the Declic community, all of them
donated sums of money. And their donations overwhelmed us. The sum amounted to
as much 80,000 Euros, or thereabouts and with that sum we can provide help for
some 700 people every month. We work following a weekly plan, and we do not
have only individual cases. For instance, we also help 250 people placed in 15
elderly care homes in Giurgiu ( in the south). Also in Giurgiu, we offered
packs to child care centers and to care centers for people with disabilities.
Everything we have received helps us a great deal, so that in turn we may carry
on with our help.

Every week, SNK volunteers deliver
three self-contained packs, with food and hygiene products: milk, bread, potted
tomato sauce and vegetable stew, carrots, lemons, toothpaste, soap and kitchen
towels. As for the project itself, it may continue as soon as the state of
emergency ends and restrictions are gradually eased.

Anastasia Staicu:

We shall carry
on as much as we can afford it,
resource-wise. Also, we shall do that as long as the state of alert is in
place. However, in a couple of months’ time we hope solutions can be found at
state level. All private aid initiatives, for the time being, are a shield
protecting those who are most vulnerable in times of crisis, but we keep our
hopes alive that, later on, the authorities will also intervene to do their
job.

Until then, one of the most
sensible gains of this extremely difficult period is provided by the solidarity
private donors have shown so far.