Solidarity Fund

Dear Colleagues,

Covid 19 has brought home to us just how fragile life can be, wherever we live in the world. 

At the previous Directors Leadership Team meeting, we opened to the heart-breaking news of the death of a youth volunteer, who was only 25. This volunteer was young and vibrant and had their whole life before them. It is a reminder that this disease can cruelly sweep in, even when we least expect it, leaving families, partners and children bereft. 

In some countries where we work, we are privileged to have some social protections when things go wrong.  But in others, life can change in an instant when illness strikes.  The loss of a breadwinner from Covid 19 can mean hunger and hardship.  Paying privately for healthcare may be the only option between living or dying, but the money may not be there to make that choice.

Across the Federation we have thousands of staff and volunteers, many living in the poorest countries of the world, with little access to decent healthcare and no right to social protection.  Our MAs themselves are struggling to survive and unable to keep people in employment.  This alone can be a devastating blow, even before illness strikes.

We often refer to our ‘IPPF Family’.  That is why I came up with the idea to launch the IPPF Family Solidarity Fund. This fund that will be used to provide direct emergency support to staff, volunteers and their loved ones when they most urgently need it. It might be to pay a hospital bill, or to tide a family over when the rent is due, or to pay childcare if two parents are sick. Please visit the microsite for more information on how to access the fund.

Our IPPF Family is a special thing to many of us.  You can click here to make whatever donation you can afford to help people from our family. Many thanks to those of you who have already made a contribution. I am touched by this act of compassion and unity.

I know life is uncertain for many of you right now, and you are already giving to others – both financially and of yourselves.  So, of course this is voluntary.  But even a very small donation can make a very big difference to someone in our IPPF Family during their time of need, so I hope you will consider joining me to support.

In solidarity,

Alvaro