COVID-19 Resources

The Corona virus outbreak is shedding light on the fragility of our social security, health & welfare systems and the level of solidarity in our societies. Our mission to put children at the heart of Europe is more important than ever!

Staff at the Brussels secretariat work from home following government guidelines. Reach us via email or for urgent queries please call +32 (0) 2 511 7083. For all medical questions and guidelines, please follow the World Health Organisation and your country guidelines.

We have prepared a list of resources to help individuals, parents, children as well as non-profit organisations. We thank all the organisations and individuals who have developed these resources.

Want to share a useful resource? Contact us at info(at)eurochild(dot)org

EUROCHILD RESOURCES

For parents:

• How to talk to your child about Coronavirus – 19: UNICEF
• Ten tips for dealing with the ‘stay at home’ situation:  Netherlands Youth Institute (in Dutch)
• Talking to children about Coronavirus - in Swedish
• Helping children cope with stress - WHO
• In times of crisis, children are often at a higher risk of violence and abuse. Discover resources to reduce violence and abuse - End violence against children  
• News and resources from across the world for kids and families - Leading for Kids

For children:

• Curious guide for courageous kids: The Italian Children's Museums have teamed up to create a comprehensive guide for children. It is available in 19 languages! 
• What kids should know about the coronavirus outbreak? KidsPost of Washington Post
• Just for Kids: A comic exploring the new coronavirus: NPR
• BBC newsround shares interesting information, from hand washing hit songs to advice on how to deal with your plans being cancelled.   
• WOW news shares positive news stories via newsletters and podcasts in English and French

• 10 questions about coronavirus and the lockdown answered in Italian.
• Free audiobooks in six languages for children - Audible

How to engage with children:

• Good example of decision-makers speaking directly to children about coronavirus: Norway’s Prime Minister hosts press conference with children asking questions. Similarly, Prime Ministers of Denmark and the Netherlands answered children's questions. 

• The Mayor of Rotterdam and Groningen in the Netherlands wrote letters to children explaining the corona virus and encouraging them to write cards to family members who they cannot visit now. 
  
• Good example from Malta of online classes for kindergarten age children: Contact Early Childhood Development Association of Malta for more.
  
• Talking with and listening to Children and Young People in Alternative Care: Martin James Foundation

• Online education: Estonian government offers digital education solutions to support other countries
• Distance learning solutions available in multiple languages and mostly free - UNESCO
  
• Activities for parents and children stuck at home - in French

For authorities, organisations and professionals:

• Technical guidance to help authorities and organisations strengthen protection measures for children during pandemic - UNICEF
• Crisis planning in government, the private sector, civil society or in your own community, must ensure robust safeguarding measures are in place to prevent child abuse - Keeping Children Safe
• Good example of the French government setting a 'social reserve' and mobilising social work students to ensure children and families in fragile situations are take care of - Press release in French
• Preventive and responsive support to children, families and alternative care providers - Better Care Network 
• Understand what responsibilities you have as an employer in relation to COVID-19, across multiple countries: Dentons
• 8 ways to look after your mental health: Mental Health Europe
• Home visits and face-to-face interventions: Martin James Foundation
• Well-being and self care resources for carers and practitioners: Martin James Foundation
• Easy to read information for people with intellectual disabilities - Inclusion Europe
• We're in this together - framing messages advice from Frameworks Institute
• Guidance for donors and intermediaries providing support to civil society - CIVICUS

Information in other languages:

• Resources in Spanish from our member Plataforma de Infancia
• Information for children in German provided by our member AGJ
• Information for children and professionals in Dutch developed by our member the Dutch Children's Rights Coalition
• Video for children explaining the coronavirus in Italian - Children's Museum Verona

Online tools for non-profits and individuals:

• Google Hangouts Premium is free through July 1.
• Microsoft Teams is available for free for six months.
• GoToMeeting is also offering their remote work tools free for three months.
• Nonprofits focused on fighting COVID-19 can access three months of free Dropbox Premium.
• To help teams collaborate while employees are away from the office, Quip Starter will be available for free to any Salesforce customer or non-profit organisation through September 30, 2020.

EUROCHILD MEMBERS' RESPONSE

International
EACH Statement: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Children in Healthcare

Albania

The Children's Human Rights Centre Albania - CRCA

This organisation is in urgent need of mobile phones and internet to complete online schooling. Read the advocacy message in English.

Austria

Vorarlberger Kinderdorf GmbH
Tips for children, parents and families how to cope with COVID-19 in German

SOS Children Villages International
A compilation of good practices on child protection, child-friendly language and advocacy in English.

Belgium

Learning for Well-Being Foundation
#ActOfKindness Campaign.

Don Bosco International
Responses to COVID-19. 

Child Rights Coalition Flanders (NPN)
Opinion piece about the impact of COVID-19 on children’s rights, in Dutch.

Bulgaria

National Network for Children
Actions,policy and position papers on several topics raising attention to the situation of children during the crisis. All documents available here in EN and BG

Children’s Rights Alliance produced regular updates on Covid 19 following meetings with its members

Estonia

Estonian Union for Child Welfare
"Every Student Online" movement.

Greece

Roots Research Centre
Online petition calling for activation of the foster care system.

Network for Children’s Rights

• “Coping with stress during the COVID-19 Period”

This guide includes a special sheet with activities to help children and young people stay occupied and handle the situation more positively. Both are available in Greek, English, Farsi, Arabic and Urdu. For all materials helping children to cope with COVID-19 and the lockdown check this site.

• Video activities 

Interactive videos for children of all ages to do home exercise and do interactive games. The titles are in Greek but there are English subtitles available.

Hungary

Hintalovon
Online safety in home learning, training material for teachers.

Portugal

Fundação Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso
Mental Health Helpline for Portuguese population.

Other Resources in Portuguese

Spain

Plataforma de Infancia
100 measures requested by children's organisations to protect children and adolescents in this health crisis were sent to the Government.
http://plataformadeinfancia.org/100-medidas-infancia-covid19/

Switzerland

Young Changemakers Report on Coronavirus published by Ariel Foundation International

The Netherlands

Utrecht University - Dynamics of Youth Strategic Programme
Research on child and youth development

Children's Parliament Scotland

• How are you doing?

Monthly national well-being survey drafted by children for children 8-14 to understand how children are coping. In April almost 4000 children participated. The report of the April survey is available here and the May survey has been released.

• Corona Times journal

This is an online journal capturing Members of Children's Parliament's experiences during this time.

• Mind Yer Time

Designed by children and young people from the Children's Parliament and the Scottish Youth Parliament, Mind Yer Time has been created to support everyone who loves social media and screen time. We've got positive tips, stories and information for children and young people, to help you use your screen time positively!

Children in Wales
National Lockdown Survey: Children and Young People’s views
Children in Wales, in partnership with the Welsh Government, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales and the Youth Parliament for Wales has launched a national survey to gather the views of children and young people about how they’ve felt about lockdown.

Refugee Rights Europe
Petition for the opening of access to asylum at the UK-France border highlighting the even more vulnerable situation of refugees during the crisis.
https://refugee-rights.eu/calling-for-change/northern-france/

UCLAN
Building on Rainbows, rapid evidence report
https://bit.ly/2LKY7Wc