S2, E1: The impact of Covid-19 on girls and young women
The impact of Covid-19 on girls and young women
Thursday 24th September 2020
Progress in securing the rights of women and girls could be set back decades by the coronavirus pandemic unless there is rapid action. For those who have experienced the least progress so far — young women and girls living on the streets — the impact is even more acute.
When lockdowns were imposed, girls and young women on the streets faced a perfect storm: loss of already precarious income, increased violence, restricted access to services and healthcare systems overwhelmed by the pandemic. The organisations supporting them had to rapidly adapt while facing their own resource constraints.
Paul and Bakiyam Sunder Singh from Karunalaya in India share how they responded to the pandemic with the girls living in Chennai’s pavement-dwelling communities. Liz Mnengwa from Glad’s House Kenya discusses the challenges encountered in supporting street-connected girls during lockdown and what still needs to be done to protect their rights and futures.
Our guests:
- Paul Sunder Singh: Karunalaya, India
- Bakiyam Sunder Singh: Karunalaya, India
- Liz Mnengwa: Glad’s House, Kenya
