Covid-19 Updates
We are closely monitoring the development of COVID-19.
As awareness of the global pandemic grows in our North American context, please remember World Renew has an active and ongoing presence in over 20 countries currently impacted by COVID-19. During this challenging period of history, World Renew, our partners, and communities must join in efforts to slow the transmission and continue to work with the vulnerable and poor. While governments in developed nations turn their primary attention to protecting their citizens and economies, we are deeply concerned with those forgotten communities of the displaced and the poor.With poor hygiene conditions, malnutrition and hunger, these communities will be more vulnerable. Health care systems vary in quality and access throughout the world are often minimal for those displaced or poor.
Your support to the COVID-19 response will help to continue World Renew’s life-saving programming with these vulnerable communities and support efforts to educate and reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
As the situation progresses, World Renew will use this page to provide regular updates on the use of funds and the stories of hope occurring throughout the world. Thank you for your extraordinary love in a time of such extraordinary crisis.
FAQs
With the shift to remote work for our home office staff, donation receipting is slightly delayed. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this season.
Your choice to practice social distancing and minimize physical contact with others is the greatest act of love and care you can give to fight this virus. Minimizing physical contact during this time protects the vulnerable, slows the spread of the virus both locally and globally, and saves lives. Take initiative and self-isolate if you have recently travelled or been in contact with someone who has COVID-19.
For ongoing updates, we refer you to the information provided by national public health organizations like Canada Public Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.
The IRM and DRS Recruitment Tour has officially been cancelled. Our staff is still eager to field all volunteer inquiries and happy to send you additional materials on these volunteer experiences. You can request those materials here.
All international trips with the Global Volunteer Program through June 1, 2020 have been cancelled. If this impacts your plans, contact us here. For trips scheduled later than this, we ask that you wait until your trip is 6-weeks out prior to contacting us for an update. With the situation of the outbreak still emerging, we will not be able to give you an accurate sense of World Renew’s response until that time.
All DRS trips through June 1, 2020 have been cancelled. If this impacts your plans, contact us here. For DRS trips into the summer, planning for all long-term trips has been postponed. For updates on your one-week trips scheduled throughout the summer, we are continuing to monitor the situation and ask that you check back with us in late April. With the situation of the outbreak still emerging, we will not be able to give you an accurate status update until that time.
The Connections Tours for Malawi and Guatemala have officially been cancelled. For the tours for Bangladesh, Kenya, and Uganda, the situation is being closely monitored. The same is true for Leanne Geisterfer’s farewell tour. If you would like to explore digital alternatives for connecting World Renew field staff with your church during this season, please contact us here.
World Renew understands that with the shifts brought on by the virus outbreak, giving must be engaged mindfully. Our donor relations managers are here to walk through any questions or concerns you may have and you can set up a time to chat with them personally here.
World Renew works in 32 countries worldwide, and we have started receiving donations to address the virus in our work around the world. In addition, we are doing all that we can to keep communities safe and take the precautions needed to ensure the health of those around us. We are adhering to the recommended international, national, local, and denominational guidelines, and we are eager not only to resume our work as usual, but mitigating the effects of the virus where we can. Please join with us with your prayers and support for those most impacted by this disease and for a timely cure.
For any other questions, we continually monitor info@worldrenew.ca. You and your loved ones are being held near in our thoughts, and we welcome the chance to address any concerns you have.
To learn about World Renew’s response of hope in this time, visit our webpage:
Memos
March 19, 2020
“Given [our] level of responsibility and especially our relationships with local partners and communities in contexts of limited health services, it is critical that we take all the precautions necessary to prevent further spread of the pandemic, with particular attention to encouraging safety and protection for those most vulnerable. In that respect, we adhere to all recommended international, national, local, and denominational guidelines in the way we do our work.”- World Renew Canada Director, Ida Kaastra-Mutoigo
Read the full memo here.
March 13, 2020
World Renew Disaster Response Services is suspending all volunteer activities in response to the COVID19 outbreak, effective immediately, through June 1, 2020. This includes groups, 1-week and 3-week volunteers and long-term volunteers, as well as warehouse and office volunteers.
World Renew DRS staff and volunteer managers will review options with those volunteers who are currently on-site in North America. In May, a situational review will be completed to determine whether or not volunteer activities and sites can safely be restarted on June 1, 2020.
If you need more information about your DRS volunteer placement, please call World Renew DRS at 800-848-5818 or email drs@worldrenew.net.
To read the full memo, please click here.
March 12, 2020
As COVID-19 has spread globally and reached pandemic levels, World Renew teams, across the globe, are doing all that we can to keep communities safe.
At this time, World Renew is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of those around us. This means that as an organization, we are assessing staff, volunteer and in-field travel on a daily basis. As always, we care deeply about the communities we serve and we take this duty of care to heart.
Please join with us in prayer for those most impacted by this disease and for a timely cure.
STORIES AND NEWS ABOUT COVID-19
Protecting Women, Girls, and Other Vulnerable Groups During the Pandemic
God cares deeply about vulnerable people. Psalm 146 tells us that He “upholds the cause of the oppressed” and that
Praying and Preparing for COVID-19 Around the World
Right now, men and women across the globe are bracing themselves for the full force of the
COVID-19 in Latin America
From her home in Honduras, Leanne Talen Geistefer, Latin America Team Leader, says World Renew staff are doing what
