COVID-19 Report | Ubuntu Pathways

Ubuntu's COVID-19 Response

When the pandemic hit South Africa, the impact was immediate. Families lost jobs, entire communities faced hunger and economic collapse, and the healthcare system was overwhelmed.

food security

Medical Services

REMOTE CASE MANAGEMENT & EDUCATION

job skills training

Watch Ubuntu's COVID-19 Crisis Response

FOOD SECURITY

The South African government imposed a lockdown on March 26th, which caused unemployment to soar. Many people could not access or afford food.

RECEIVED Monthly FOOD PARCELS

Parcels included FOOD, ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD GOODS, SANITIZATION SUPPLIES, & PPE

Distribution to 4,000 HOMES

Households range from 5-20 family members

Watch Ubuntu's Food Security Initiative During COVID-19

MEDICAL SERVICES

Ubuntu serves a disproportionately vulnerable population, including pregnant mothers living with HIV, immunocompromised children, and elderly heads of households.

Over R5M of PPE & TRAINING to 27 hospitals, clinics, & social service INSTITUTIONS

Remote consultations & contactless medication delivery

Life-saving clinical services to 716 people

uninterrupted anti-retroviral treatment for 100% OF CLIENTS LIVING WITH HIV

Watch Ubuntu’s COVID-19 medical outreach

REMOTE case management & Education

The Ubuntu Campus is more than just our school or clinic, it's a place where hundreds of families find support and safety.

2,079 virtual counseling & psychosocial support sessions

Socially distanced home visits & case management for 872 clients

Remote educational programming for 225 children

Watch Ubuntu's Remote Support During COVID-19

Job Skills Training

Nearly every graduate of our program lost their positions when the South African government imposed the economic lockdown. These young breadwinners are depended on by large extended families.

200+

candidates were placed back into work

212

students accessed remote support

73

local businesses partnered with Ubuntu to employ candidates

Implementing PARTners

“I witnessed the positive difference Ubuntu Pathways was making as a child here in Zwide and that work deserves our support. We will continue to stand side by side with you to combat the damage and suffering caused by this pandemic. No family should have to worry about where their next meal may be coming from.”

- Siya Kolisi, Springbok Captain and Founder, Kolisi Foundation

Over 20 years of building a global network while working hand-in-hand with local institutions positioned Ubuntu to lead the COVID-19 response.

When Siya and Rachel Kolisi launched the Kolisi Foundation, their first project was our partnership providing food security to 4,000 families in the community where he grew up. With Boxer Superstores, we streamlined packaging and delivery to our network of local partners to ensure every parcel got to the right place. When food storage facilities in our area were getting looted, local police offered additional patrols of the campus and security escorts for our food trucks. Two decades of trusted partnerships with local hospitals and clinics enabled us to meet their PPE shortage so they could serve tens of thousands of patients during this crisis.

Highlights of Ubuntu's Partnership with the kolisi foundation

Emergency COVID-19 response launched. Ubuntu shifted to a remote model for core services and began providing food security and medical support.

National lockdown announced in South Africa. Food insecurity in the townships worsened as vulnerable families struggled to survive.

Ubuntu began working with South African Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi and the Kolisi Foundation to provide food security to 1,000 households (8,000 individuals).

Established partnership with South African police force to provide Ubuntu staff and partners with security during food distribution.

Expanded delivery outreach to reach an additional 500 homes with life-saving food and essential household items totaling 1,500 households.

Signed partnership with Boxer Superstores to have food parcels pre-packaged, freeing up resources and clearing the way for us to reach more households.

Ubuntu distributed R500K of PPE to local clinics and began facilitating training for health facilities in the Gqeberha area, formerly known as Port Elizabeth.

Spikes in domestic violence were observed throughout our area. Ubuntu provided much-needed remote psychosocial support to 70 at-risk clients.

Second PPE and equipment distribution to 10 clinics, serving over 10,000 community members. Nurses tearfully recounted to us their fear and inability to safely do their jobs.

Scaled up food distribution program to include 3,520 households, each containing a month-long supply of hearty foods and essential health supplies.

Food parcels included fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, maize meal, baked beans, pilchards, salt, cooking oil, rice, pasta, teabags, soap, bleach, PPE, and sanitizer.

Thanks to additional funding, we increased our food distributions to 4,000 households (30,000 people), reaching our target and providing much-needed stability and relief to our community.

Due to staff being under great pressure and stress, Ubuntu bolstered our wellbeing services for staff, building out wellness initiatives and providing psychological support.

Ubuntu began conducting socially distanced home visits, providing in-person psychosocial support to some of our most vulnerable children and families.

Ubuntu delivered R 2.5M of PPE to the local hospital, 11 health clinics, and 15 community institutions.

Ubuntu partnered with Dora Nginza hospital to provide 4 truck loads of PPE and capacity support to 614 staff.

With Ubuntu’s support, a total of 206 young people who lost their jobs at the start of the pandemic returned to employment, generating a primary income for themselves and their families.

Began preparing for the Ubuntu Campus reopening in January 2021, prioritizing the health and wellbeing of our staff and clients.

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