Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg is joining Danish NGO Human Act to launch an initiative in an effort to help children affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
“Like the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic is a child-rights crisis,” Thunberg said in a statement.
She added, “It will affect all children, now and in the long-term, but vulnerable groups will be impacted the most. I’m asking everyone to step up and join me in support of UNICEF’s vital work to save children’s lives, to protect health and continue education.”
The campaign, created by Human Act and Thunberg, will donate a total of $200,000 to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), including $100,000 of prize money Thunberg received from the Human Act for her global activism.
Thunberg also announced the initiative in a tweet.
“Very honoured to receive Human Act Award. The prize money – USD 100’000 – will be donated to [UNICEF]. Human Act will match this donation with an additional USD 100,000,” Thunberg wrote.
She added, “Today we’re launching a funding campaign to support UNICEF in the corona crisis.”
Very honoured to receive Human Act Award. The prize money – USD 100’000 – will be donated to @unicef . Human Act will match this donation with an additional USD 100,000.
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) April 30, 2020
Today we’re launching a funding campaign to support UNICEF in the corona crisis. https://t.co/UuvPxsq9O6 pic.twitter.com/SsztkZIfbC
Proceeds will go to UNICEF’s programs providing “soap, masks, gloves, hygiene kits, protective equipment, life-saving information and other support to healthcare systems,” as the press release reads.
According to a report issued by the United Nations, children are among the outbreak’s biggest victims. They are being affected by socio-economic impacts and measures to prevent the spread that end up doing more harm than good.
More than 1.5 billion children are affected by school closures across 188 countries.
Children are at a higher risk of experiencing violence and domestic abuse amid lockdowns and stay-at-home orders.
“Now is the time to step up international solidarity for children and humanity— and to lay the foundations for a deeper transformation of the way we nurture and invest in our world’s youngest generation,” the report reads.
As of Thursday morning, there are more than 3,222,000 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide and nearly 229,000 deaths.