Leading the Response to Help those Impacted by the Pandemic and

Lockdown --- The Poor, Marginalized Farmers, Migrant Workers

HARISH HANDE, 2012 Magsaysay Awardee from India, Founder, SELCO Foundation

· During the first week of the lock down- SELCO teams conducted an extensive qualitative study by
reaching out to 200+ end users, 30+ enterprises and 15+ financing agencies among other
stakeholders. The SELCO foundation has launched a portal for COVID19 response on its website that
links directly from the website homepage. This page will consistently house the weekly updates on the
knowledge and implementation work ongoing in response to the pandemic.

· SELCO in partnership with Public Health Foundation of India, Center for Chronic Diseases,
Healthcare without Harm and Shakti Foundation held a webinar in which close to 400 health care
professionals and sustainability champions participated. State governments and professionals
(engaged in COVID task forces) needed to hear from each other on the approaches taken toward
building resilient infrastructure and health systems in response to current and future needs.

· A Webinar was hosted with 80+ clean energy driven Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), 20+
finance and business planning experts with a special guest speaker from a National Bank (Ministry of
Small and Medium Enterprises – MSME). The report of the webinar with micro and small clean energy
and technology enterprises has been published for the sector to be able to take key insights from,
especially for practitioners working with micro, small and medium enterprises. In addition, resources
collated for COVID-19 related finance, schemes and funding and opportunities for clean energy
driven SMEs is now made available to all entrepreneurs.

· Dealing with COVID19-Guidelines for People with Disability: Through its network of champion
doctors and disability experts, SELCO developed a toolkit with guidelines (as social distancing and other
priorities for such high-risk institutes are very different from general guidelines). SELCO developed the
guidelines with and for Association for People with Disability and Voices of the World – two institutes
where it has now been actively implemented.

· Key solutions case studies across multiple instances were highlighted, some of them include: solar
powered sewing machine units now producing masks, solar lighting and mobile charging for police and

Summis:
security checkpoints and supporting in the interim plus connecting migrant populations or other
extremely vulnerable end users with organizations like Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives (APPI) and
ZOMATO for immediate relief and aid.

ANSHU GUPTA, 2012 Magsaysay Awardee, India; Founder of GOONJ

• Goonj distributes food gathered locally, putting local farmers directly in touch with consumers.
Through its supply chain, Goonj delivers weekly ration kits consisting of rice or flour, pulses, spices, oil,
soap, and other needs to feed a family of four for seven to 10 days.
• Goonj hopes to serve 1 million people, focusing on migrant workers who have been hardest by the
pandemic.
 • 15 women of the Goonj Foundation are working round the clock to make cotton masks for poor people.
From making 400-500 masks daily, they have now increased production to 1,200 masks, on target to
achieving 1500 masks per day.

• Goonj is also giving grocery kits which include wheat, rice and spices.

• Goonj started a fundraiser called #RahatCOVID-19, encouraging everyone (people who contributed
material, friends, volunteers, partners, admirers of their work) to do their share and build this campaign
in their own network of family and friends.

Praesent vitae nisl.

DOMPET DHUAFA, 2016 Magsaysay Awardee (organization) from Indonesia

• Dompet Dhuafa (Wallet of the Poor) (DD) and its provincial branches have begun the distribution of
essential goods to daily workers in 32 provinces in Indonesia, who are affected by the lockdown.

• The Dompet Dhuafa Disaster Management Center (DMC) team carries out cleaning and spraying of
disinfectants in public areas, schools, offices,
and houses of worship: mosques, churches,
temples, and other places of worship.

• The DMC also installed disinfection/sterilization
chambers for medical check-up of gravediggers
in cemeteries who have been exposed to
COVID-19-infected cadavers.

• DD has launched a COVID-19 fundraiser, to help
pay for hospitals to buy medical supplies, cover
the daily needs of families in isolation because
of the coronavirus, as well as for disinfection of
public areas.

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 PRATEEP UNGSONGTHAM HATA, 1978 Magsaysay Awardee from
Thailand; Founder, Duang Prateep Foundation
• The Duang Prateep Foundation (DPF) led by Khun Prateep
Ungsongtham Hata has been working with at least five non-
governmental organisations (NGO) and volunteer groups to
provide necessity items including mask, hand sanitizer, soap and
canned food for the needy.

• With the support of donors, the foundation was able to put
together gift bags for the elderly and disabled. The Foundation
staff went to the communities to personally distribute gift bags
to those who were bedridden and those too old to travel.

• Another donor, the

Gulf Group, provided
2,000 pre-packed
meal boxes per day to
27 communities
recommended by DPF
in Bangkok to be
distributed by DPF to
people with
disabilities, bedridden
individuals, the
elderly, the poor and
families with young
children.

BANGLADESH RURAL ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE (BRAC) OF FAZLE HASAN ABED, 1980 Magsaysay
Awardee from Bangladesh

• BRAC’s field officials working under different programmes across the country joined forces with its
health programme to act as health volunteers in different awareness campaigns for coronavirus
prevention.
• Aside from working in the fields, BRAC is using its
social media platforms to raise awareness. Relevant
content on proper handwashing and respiratory hygiene
is being regularly promoted through BRAC Facebook
page and blog. BRAC has also set up a dedicated web
portal http://www.brac.net/COVID-19/ on
BRAC website where people can access concrete,
reliable and updated information.

• Besides operating mass awareness campaign reaching to millions of people, BRAC has started
manufacturing over 200,000 pieces of reusable masks through its hygienic home-based production
method for community use as part of the organisation's extensive campaign against COVID-19. It is
also exploring and building its capacity to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) and
hopes to go into large scale production once the process is perfected per scientific standards.

• BRAC has also stopped collecting installments from its

microloan borrowers and had disbursed cash to those
in need in 20 cities of the country. Low-income
families in urban slums, semi-urban and hard-to-reach
areas, whose livelihood have been impacted due to
the social distancing measures of COVID-19 pandemic
was provided with BDT 1,500 (per family) as an
emergency food assistance fund.

• BRAC also distributed 7,500 food packages, hygiene products, masks and gloves door-to-door to the
extreme poor communities and daily wage earners, who have been without work since the
government imposed a country-wide "general leave."

• In urban slums and public hotspots, BRAC has set up hand washing stations and has undertaken a
disinfecting campaign in public transportations in partnership with city corporations.|

• BRAC is also partnering with Psychosocial Health and Wellness Centre (PHWC) and Kaan Pete Roi in
launching a nation-wide tele-counselling platform titled "Kaan Pete Roi" for persons in distress, owing
to the panic created by COVID-19.

RYAN CAYABYAB, 2019 Magsaysay Awardee from the Philippines

National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab launched FB live concerts with local artists to raise funds to
support the urban poor of Metro Manila affected by COVID-19. Dubbed as “Bayanihan, Musikahan” the
series aired via Facebook Live from March 19 until April 15. The fundraiser featured a number of top
Filipino talents performing live in their respective Facebook pages. It also aired on the concert series’
official Facebook page and in Cayabyab's Facebook account. In less than a week after being launched, the
“Bayanihan, Musikahan” series has reportedly raised at least P13.8 million.

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 GAWAD KALINGA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION INC., 2006 Magsaysay Awardee
(organization) from the Philippines
• Gawad Kalinga has mounted Operation “Walang Iwanan, Walang Hawaan” (Leave No One Behind
But Leave Covid-19 Behind). The goal of the campaign is to bring relief and help to those in need.

• Gawad Kalinga identifies poor communities across the country that are the most vulnerable
economically due to the current crisis. Depending on the location of the targeted community, the
mode of relief distribution could either be thru Cash Transfers, Food Vouchers or establishment
of Food Banks.

• For poor communities in urban areas and

places with connectivity, cash will be
transferred digitally to a family beneficiary
through established electronic money
platforms like GCash or PayMaya to
supplement existing relief distributions in
the locality.

• For rural communities where electronic

cash transfers are not feasible, distribution of relief packs through a voucher system is being
implemented. Gawad Kalinga negotiates with local grocery stores near the targeted community
to purchase the required food items. Family beneficiaries claim the food packs from the grocery
store using both the vouchers (SMS format) from GK and the government-issued Quarantine
Pass.

• For selected areas where actual handling of inventory is the only option, GK sets up Food Banks
where nearby family beneficiaries could redeem food items using also vouchers and government-
issued quarantine passes.

Leading LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE

PARK WON SOON, 2006 Magsaysay Awardee from
South Korea; Currently the Mayor of Seoul

Transparency and speed have been the key factors
that helped Seoul City Mayor Park Won-soon and
South Korea “bend the curve” against coronavirus
infections through pre-emptive countermeasures:

• From the early stages of the outbreak in mid-
February, the Seoul Metropolitan
Government began operating the 24-hour
Disaster and Safety Countermeasures
Headquarters.

• It shared information including COVID-19 confirmed case status, confirmed patients’ movement
history and screening clinic information through a website and via emergency text alerts.

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 • Efforts were made to communicate with foreign residents in different languages including the
translation of screening clinic information, COVID-19 infectious status and disease prevention
guidelines.
• Shuttle buses were made available to foreign students from the airport who had arrived from a country
with confirmed cases and offering temporary accommodation to international students who showed
symptoms.
• Temperature checks were done at all immigration ports of entry.
• Drive-through screening stations for quick testing were provided.
• Testing of 15,000 samples were done daily.


ARVIND KEJRIWAL, 2006 Magsaysay Awardee for Emergent Leadership, India; currently the Chief
Minister of New Delhi

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal assures his Delhi constituents that all steps are being taken to contain the
spread of COVID-19 virus in his area. Delhi has 1154 total cases and 24 deaths as of April 13.
• Kejriwal launched a WhatsApp
helpline for people to enquire about
COVID-19, food banks, shelters
among others.
• The Delhi government started a
massive sanitation drive in the city’s
COVID-19 containment zones,
declared as ‘Red Zones’ and the
high-risk zones, identified as
‘Orange Zones’; 34 hotspots in the

national capital have been identified as COVID-19 containment zones.
• He launched a comprehensive plan named `SHIELD` to control the spread of coronavirus in Delhi:
Ø S - sealing of localities, to control the movement of people
Ø H - home quarantine
Ø I - isolation of COVID-19 patients and tracing of contacts for isolation too.
Ø E - essential supplies for door to door delivery service.
Ø L - local sanitation on a regular basis.
Ø D - door-to-door checking of any person having symptoms of coronavirus, for their samples to
be taken.

Leading the Response to Help the Frontliners
TZU CHI FOUNDATION (Shih Cheng Yen, Founder, 1991 Magsaysay Awardee from Taiwan)


• At the invitation of the Tainan city government, Tzu Chi
volunteers pitched in to help in the production of surgical
masks. They joined the production lines at a mask factory in
Tainan, working a daily shift from eight in the morning to four in
the afternoon.

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• The official website of the Tzu Chi Foundation started publishing a daily reminder from Dharma Master
Cheng Yen to help reduce anxiety and fear that has accompanied the spread of the coronavirus. A daily
prayer event was launched at Tzu Chi facilities around the world, with volunteers and employees
praying at the same time every day for blessings for the world.

Aid to Medical Workers
• Tzu Chi volunteers in countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, the USA, China, and Russia
prepared hospital supplies and had them delivered to hospitals in areas hit hard by the epidemic. The
supplies included isolation gowns, safety goggles, surgical caps, medical gloves, and bed sheets for
hospital beds.
• Volunteers in China gave gifts of medical supplies and
nutritious foodstuffs, including multigrain powder and
oatmeal, to front-line medical workers.
• Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation,
headquartered in Taiwan, has so far donated some 4,000
masks to the Vatican Pharmacy to ensure “the safety and
protection of those Catholic nuns, priests and workers who
are committed to providing comfort, guidance and spiritual
relief in times of fear and anxiety.”
• Tzu Chi USA is sending medical supplies to hospitals
and medical centers across the country, and giving charity to
those most vulnerable, like the homeless, elderly, and the
undocumented. They are supporting healthcare workers
around the country by sourcing, purchasing, and sending medical supplies in the safest ways possible,
and opening up its charity services to those most critically impacted by the pandemic – including those
with low-income, the elderly, the undocumented, and many more. This may be through food, supplies,
cash relief, and much more.

HRH MAHA CHAKRI SIRINDHORN, 1991 Magsaysay Awardee, Thailand, Founder, Chaipattana Foundation

In Thailand, the Chaipattana Foundation at the behest of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, has
established a fund to receive donations to battle the coronavirus outbreak. Princess Sirindhorn, as its
executive chairperson, has instructed the foundation to accept donations from the public and distribute
them to hospitals and medical personnel to buy equipment to treat COVID-19 patients. The fund is named
"the Chaipattana Fund to fight against COVID-19 [and other diseases]".

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SYED ADIBUL HASAN RIZVI, 1998 Magsaysay Awardee, Pakistan; Founder, Sindh Institute of Urology and
Transplantation (SIUT)
• SIUT established a Coronavirus Clinic on the 18th of
March 2020.
• In the midst of the biggest medical emergency, SIUT has
extended its services to combat Corona Virus with free
screening and testing along with fully equipped isolation
wards and COVID-19 ICU. Its dialysis service is available
24/7.
• A separate 50-bedded isolation ward was established for
corona patients, where mild to moderate patients will be
admitted.
• Since then over 3,000 people have been screened for Corona
virus. Over 300 have been screened in the last two days.
• SIUT is also providing timely medical treatment to
immune-compromised cancer and transplant patients.
• SIUT corona virus “Helpline” (021 99215469) is also
playing an important role in assisting public round the
clock, where doctors provide them information about
preventive measures and guidelines.

MURLIDHAR DEVIDAS AMTE (+), 1985 Magsaysay Awardee from

India, Founder of Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS)


The third generation of the family of late Murlidhar Devidas Amte,
better known as Baba Amte, has continued his legacy of social work
through the MSS community hospital for the poor.
• Members of Maharogi Sewa Samiti have dedicated a
manufacturing unit to produce multi-layered, reusable and
washable cloth masks.
• Sharing the design with government, MSS has now received
a bulk order from government for 40,000 masks; 3,600 have been
manufactured and 1,390 distributed, as of April 6.
• MSS is also producing two pouches to go with the masks to
ensure sterilization. The pouches are meant to segregate them
accordingly. MSS has received many orders also from groups of
migrants and ground staff.

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MAHABIR PUN, 2007 Magsaysay Awardee from Nepal, Founder of National Innovation Center
Since the coronavirus outbreak in Nepal, Pun and his team from his
National Innovation Centre are working day and night to support the
country with various protective gear for frontliners.
• He and his team have been producing Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) in Nepal and distributing them along with mask, gloves and
goggles to the doctors.
• They have started working on PPE booth-making in Bhaktapur. The
booth will be made of aluminum and the cost for it is borne by
various groups.
• Already finished PPE booths were sent to Maharajgunj-based
Teaching Hospital, Army Hospital, Bir Hospital and Bhaktapur Hospital
in Kathmandu valley. Some more booths were sent to Kailali,
Pokhara, Butwal and Birtamod.

EDHI FOUNDATION (Founders Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilqis Bano Edhi, 1986 Magsaysay Awardee from
Pakistan)
• Edhi Foundation, a relief agency founded
by the internationally-acclaimed social
worker, Abdul Sattar Edhi (deceased) and
now being managed by his wife Bilqis, is
importing coronavirus testing kits, which
will be provided to the government and
charity hospitals in the country's remote
areas.
• Using its fleet of 1,500 ambulances the
foundation also distributes rations among
needy families.
• The charity has made available its
ambulances to transport the suspected COVID-19 patients to the hospitals and quarantine centers
across the country. It is working 24/7 to assist the government in battle against coronavirus.

CYNTHIA MAUNG, 2002 Magsaysay Awardee, Myanmar;
Founder, Mae Tao Clinic

Mae Tao Clinic has been serving the refugee population in Mae Sot, at the
Thailand-Myanmar borders since 1989 and has grown to service 75,000
patients a year.

Mae Tao Clinic has been taking steps to prepare, prevent and respond to the
COVID-19 emergency to protect both patients and staff. Actions such as
providing personal protective equipment (PPE), patient care supplies, and
ongoing staff training are essential, yet create an increased burden on an
already overstretched and under resourced health care clinic. Mae Tao Clinic is asking for donations and
support during this especially difficult time.

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Mae Sot Clinic founder and director, Dr. Cynthia Maung says the response to COVID-19 requires a strategic
plan that considers the migrant and refugee community in Mae Sot who have less access to information
and resources.
• Mae Tao Clinic has upgraded hand washing facilities and are focusing on hygiene promotion. Staff
numbers have been reduced and subsequently so have cases.
• All non-emergency procedures have been closed. Mae Tao Clinic relies on a community of
volunteers to provide coronavirus-related information to their communities.
• Mae Tao Clinic is monitoring the situation closely and encouraging parents and children not to
travel.

UNILAB Inc. co-founded by Howard Q. Dee, 2019 Magsaysay Awardee from the Philippines

Unilab Inc., the pharmaceutical firm co-founded by Howard Q. Dee has quietly released some P665 million
worth of donations to its partner-institutions, with the amount seen to surge to a billion pesos in the next
few weeks as its response to the country’s COVID-19 crisis. It has delivered to its partners P317 million
worth of essential medicines and vitamins; personal protective equipment (PPE) sets which consist of
coveralls, isolation gowns, face shields, N95 and surgical masks, gloves and shoe covers worth P192 million;
alcohol, hygiene and basic protective kits worth P45 million; support for COVID-19 test kit development
worth P50 million; and P11 million worth of ventilators.

Unilab has also supported the fundraising drives of civil society groups for the underprivileged communities
with donations worth P50 million.

Netizens cited Unilab for working with government agencies, local government units (LGUs), non-
government organizations and the private sector even without getting media attention, in keeping with the
company’s low-key policy for its philanthropic works as espoused by its founders.

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It also demonstrated its excellence in execution by closely coordinating with the Department of Health and
the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in identifying the types of critical support required by priority
recipients, especially the frontliners and vulnerable sectors. Currently, more than 400 hospitals nationwide
have already received support from the company.

By partnering with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), University of the Philippines-
National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) and other government and private organizations, Unilab is also
working on the possibility of significant increase in the country’s capacity to do testing, which is an
important component of the drive to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Fe Del Mundo Hospital, co-founded by Dr. Fe Del Mundo (+) 1977 Magsaysay Awardee from the Philippines

Fe del Mundo Medical Center has responded to the need for more private hospitals to care for COVID-
positive patients. The Center has an initial 30 bed capacity and is prepared to admit mild to moderately
severe cases. The hospital management is also looking to increase its bed capacity.

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