As the world comes together to face the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many questions around how each of us can play a role in supporting our local and global communities. I wanted to reach out to all of Moving the Goalposts’ supporters to share an update about MTG’s priorities during these challenging times. All of our responses are rooted in our commitment as an organization to the health, wellbeing, and empowerment of girls and young women in our communities.

PEOPLE

MTG is taking care of all of our people - our local and remote staff - by instituting a remote work policy for all of our team members. We mandated this policy in accordance with the Kenyan government’s decree for all citizens to limit interaction and with the goal of maintaining a safe and productive work environment. MTG is further supporting our staff by maintaining the World Health Organization’s recommendations for social distancing as well as sharing resources promoting correct hand washing and sanitizing techniques. Our department heads and staff leaders are routinely checking in with their teams regarding general well-being and we have been keeping our spirits high by engaging on our organization WhatsApp channel.

PROGRAMS

The Kenyan government has prohibited all public gatherings, restricted public transportation, and issued a stay at home mandate. To adhere to this mandate and to keep our staff and participants safe, MTG has suspended all programming. This includes football leagues, educational programs, savings groups, and the resource center. MTG will continue to adhere to these government mandates as long as they are active.

Although there are still many questions about the timeline of this health crisis, our team is constantly working on re-strategizing the implementation of our programs post COVID-19. This will include the review and/or redesign of MTG’s tournaments, annual leagues, and educational programming for the rest of the year. In the meantime, we are offering virtual support to participants via remote channels and communication.

PARTNERS

There is a lot of uncertainty during this time, but MTG is still committed to thinking long-term about our mission. We are working closely with our partners to determine the best way for MTG to support our participants and stakeholders over the coming months. Although our traditional programming is suspended, MTG is determined to find creative ways to continue impacting the lives of girls and young women in Coastal Kenya. We will continue to engage with our partners to share resources, information, and strategies to best serve our communities.

At MTG, 80% of our programs are donor-funded. Our partners play a critical role in the success and impact of MTG’s programs, which is why in times like now, more than ever, every ounce of support goes a long way. As we continue to seek ways to best serve girls and young women in our communities, we are stretching our resources like never before. Please consider supporting MTG and our cause by donating through this link:https://www.givengain.com/c/mtgk/

Thank you for your continued support for MTG and our mission. We will continue to engage our community of supporters in the coming weeks to keep you informed of how MTG plans to move forward and how you can help.

Sincerely,

Dorcas Amakobe

Moving the Goalposts Executive Director