With a network of around 775+ Fellows from 96 countries specializing in a diverse array of professional fields, many Atlas Corps Alumni and current Fellows are making inspiring impacts against COVID-19. It is time to celebrate these achievements of our amazing network and share their advice on how we can all do our part to protect and support each other.
Today we want to talk with our Alum Olumide (Class 33, Nigeria) who is combating the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting communities in Nigeria. Thank you Olumide for everything that you do to raise awareness and support people and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. We wish you all the best with this impactful work!
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Name: Olumide Idowu Home Country: Nigeria Current organization: International Climate Change Development Initiative Africa (ICCDIA) Role at current organization: Co-founder & CEO Social Issues that you have worked with: Climate Action, Sustainable cities and communities |
Please share with us how you are working to fight against COVID-19 at your current organization and beyond?
I noticed early on in the pandemic that while the virus is a fast killer and climate change is a slower one, both present people with the opportunity to unite to save humanity. ICCDIA has noted how essential it is for our organization to rise to the task of combatting the present danger of COVID-19 while we continue to work on the more long-term danger that is climate change.
In April, we launched a fundraising campaign to raise funds for families who have been financially impacted by Nigeria’s lockdown. Many Nigerians already struggle to feed themselves, and in the wake of the restrictions caused by the lockdown, money is tighter than ever before and families now need to buy personal protective equipment such as masks and hand sanitizers in addition to their regular expenses. Supporting each other as a community is more important than ever before.
Additionally, ICCDIA hosted a “Climate Action and COVID-19” webinar which focused on health, education, agriculture, and water relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and our survival post-COVID on World Earth Day (April 22nd). The goal of the webinar was to draw people’s attention to the many issues that have arisen as a result of the virus and also offer sustainable solutions which we can implement to combat said issues.
Do you have anything you would like to say to everybody about how we can all do our part in this pandemic?
The pandemic has definitely devastated humanity, but it is also important to note the positive impact that the last few months have had on the environment — waterways are crystal clear and air pollution is decreasing. As humans we have not been doing a good job taking care of the environment which is exactly the reason why climate change has become such a threat.
Although living through COVID-19 has been a difficult time for all of us, we also need to recognize how the global social distancing and lockdown efforts are transforming the environment right before our eyes. Taking concrete steps towards combating climate change always seems too difficult or improbable, but if we as humans take notes from how we rearranged society to slow the spread of COVID-19, we could do the same with climate change and save our environment.
Support Atlas Corps Fellows during COVID-19
Help us to support Atlas Corps Fellows who cannot return home because of the COVID-19 lockdown. These Fellows face unique, unbudgeted, and completely unexpected expenses. Donations of ANY size make a big difference!
Donate at bit.ly/Fellowsupportfund.
