As Israeli parents prepare to send their children back to school, a survey commissioned by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and conducted by the Geocartography Knowledge Group revealed shocking statistics on how the wave of poverty brought on by the coronavirus pandemic is affecting children.
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More than a quarter (26%) of the parents surveyed said they don't have the financial means to buy school supplies for their children. About 30% said that they don't have the equipment necessary for their children to participate in distance learning, which is still a critical component of school as the pandemic continues. About two-thirds of parents have had to limit buying new clothing for their children due to lack of funds.
The survey showed that the pandemic hit economically vulnerable populations particularly hard. Out of this group, more than half (54%) said they could not afford to buy school supplies for all of their children, while a similar number (52%) said they could not afford to buy them new backpacks.
In response, IFCJ has committed to address need, and provide backpacks full of school supplies to 900 of Israel's neediest children. This is part of a larger initiative IFCJ is launching for Rosh Hashanah, which more than doubles its High Holy Days support in 2020 to $11 million.
"As a mother of four, I know how important school is for children," said IFCJ President and CEO Yael Eckstein.
"They need a safe place to learn, to socialize, to have structure in their lives at a time when the world seems so chaotic. And they need the tools to learn. Lack of funds should not be a barrier. We're so grateful for our hundreds of thousands of donors who are giving Israeli schoolchildren – and their parents – the support they need at a time when so many are struggling."
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