With a blink of an eye, 2020 is more than halfway done. Here are some highlights from the work that we’ve done in July. In line with our mission as a group, we have dedicated our efforts during these unprecedented times to providing equitable educational opportunities. Given the indiscriminate nature of hardships—especially now—we have organically and temporarily shifted our focus to help not just school children, but all groups of individuals who may be affected by this pandemic. We have done so by
- assisting adults through the unemployment process
- providing online education opportunities
- raising awareness on the effects of COVID-19 and the importance of precautionary measures.
July started with a steady decline in the national unemployment rate. At the end of June, there was an 11.1% unemployment rate, which was down from the staggering 14.7% in April. Locally, Maryland also saw a slight decrease in unemployment, going from 10.0% (May) to 8.0% (June). However promising the rates may look, the number of workers who have been adversely affected by this is countless. Throughout the unemployment spike, PDRC has been dedicated to helping people through the unemployment process. This included assistance with the filing process and economic stimulus check. We have partnered with the Baltimore Association of Nepalese in America (BANA) during these times to deliver the most effective unemployment aid. With the network and community that BANA provided, we were able to help more employed individuals than we could ever imagine.
The pandemic that we are living through right now has also created a unique situation for students, teachers, and parents alike. It is imperative that today’s students receive a continuous and dependable stream of education, and the current pandemic does not help in that process at all. At PDRC International, we have taken it upon ourselves to do everything in our power to ensure that all students have equitable access to education, especially during these times of uncertainty. However, we have recognized that an academic education is not enough during a pandemic. In light of this, we have also provided live informative sessions that covered the effects of COVID-19 and preventative measures that can be taken to promote personal safety. In this vein, we have provided educational instruction, both academic and COVID-related, to groups of individuals in need from the Baltimore area.
With all that we at PDRC International have accomplished in July, we want to also reflect on all that we have been able to achieve in the 4 years since our founding. Under the leadership of Bhim Bahadur B.K, the International Development Director, we have become a coalition member of the Global Campaign for Education (GCE-US). With this partnership, we have been able to meet with state senators and representatives from the World Bank. Aside from what we have achieved through our partnership with GCE-US, we have also been able to share our mission with Harvard University and the High Level Political Forum of the United Nations.
Mr. Bhim was invited as a guest lecturer at Harvard University, which presented us a great opportunity to raise awareness of Dalit student issues at an international level. We established our network through coordination and collaboration at a local level. Locally through the school system and government at Baltimore, and at a state-wide level through immigrant, religious, and minority communities in Maryland. All of these connections have allowed PDRC International to establish its place in the non-profit field. Moving forward, we hope to find our footing at the highest level so that we can best help students in need. A more comprehensive reflection of the past 4 years will be in a separate release. We have high hopes for the future, and we look forward to helping as many students as possible achieve their dreams.
Cheers,
PDRC International