Last week I sat staring at my laptop screen. My intention was to write a message of solidarity from CivSource, as we all face the Corona pandemic. I scratched my head to find the right words. What would I say that hadn’t already been said? How could I say it differently and bring a breath of fresh air?
Then an idea struck me. Last year, one of the team building activities we did was a ‘bring-your-child-to-office’ day. We wanted to meet our children, we wanted our children to meet each other, and we wanted our children to get an understanding of the work we do. We had loads of fun as we took pictures with the children, ate lunch with them, did face painting and we even had a bouncing castle. Each of the staff members was tasked to show another staff member’s child around the office, to explain the different elements of the space.
This year though, because of the Corona pandemic and all it portends, we may not be able to hold a similar event.
Additionally, as often happens, the Corona pandemic has a lot of adults talking to and at us. We have hardly heard the voices of children. Not many have stopped to ask what children think or feel, how they are coping with the lock down and extended stays from school, their friends and their usual routine.
I thought, rather than pen a message, we would instead hear from our children. I asked the staff members to ask their children if they could draw and write messages of solidarity to whomever they chose.
In the coming few weeks, we are going to bring you our children’s messages on our website and other social media(Facebook and Twitter) platforms.
I hope the messages warm your heart as much as they did mine. And from our heart to yours, through our children, we are thinking about you and standing with you in these unusual times.
Sincerely,
By: Jaqueline Asiimwe Chief Executive Officer CivSource Africa