How is Plan responding?
Plan International is building on expertise from past health emergencies such as Ebola and Zika, to which we effectively responded from 2014 to 2016. We are presently active in more than 54,000 communities in over 70 countries, and we are working with communities to message the importance of hygiene and healthy behaviors, such as hand-washing. Plan is also providing sanitation and hygiene kits and building access to water and safe bathrooms. We are working to protect girls, who are among the most vulnerable during a crisis, by working against harmful practices like child marriage, trafficking and gender-based violence, which can escalate during emergencies.
Your support to Plan’s COVID-19 response is changing girls’ and children’s lives across the world. A total of 81,944,345 girls, children, young women, adolescents, parents and community members have been reached through your support to Plan's COVID-19 response. Hover your mouse over the map below to see what we’re doing in many of our program countries — because of you — to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Here are a few snapshots of Plan’s ongoing response around the world:
Zoom in on the map and click on any of the locations to read more about the work being done in Plan communities.
Letter from our CEO
I know this is an uncertain time. In just a few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed our day-to-day lives. It's easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed right now. But times like these also remind us how connected we all are. As a global community, we're all in this together. That's why I want to update you on Plan International's response to COVID-19, and say thank you for the lifesaving impact you continue to make for the most vulnerable girls and children around the world.
From distributing health equipment in the Philippines, to guiding parents in Senegal on how to help their children learn to read at home, your support has been essential to strengthening the systems needed to help communities respond in times of crisis. In many communities, the livelihood programs you support are helping families create sustainable food sources, while protection programs are keeping girls safe from abuse.
Today, like all of us, the children and families in the communities you support are struggling to respond to enormous changes to their lives — closed borders, shelter-in-place orders and complete lockdowns in some cases. Girls and young women who were already vulnerable are now in even more danger. In many of the places where we work, practicing social distancing is a luxury far out of reach.
One thing I can tell you with certainty is this: we won’t stop. Plan will keep working around the world to keep girls and their families safe and healthy — and we can do that because of you. You are the reason we can look girls in the eye and promise we will not forget about you.
To learn how you can support girls and children in need, click here.
In the past, your support has allowed Plan to combat the spread of diseases like Ebola and Zika. Now, we're bringing that experience and expertise, working closely with communities, governments and partners, to tackle the spread of COVID-19. Because of your support, we're providing medical supplies, distributing sanitation and hygiene kits, constructing handwashing stations and educating communities on the importance of good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of infection. We're also working with governments around the world to raise awareness through social media, radio, posters and banners.
We're also doing our part as good community citizens to keep children and families safe, including suspension of all travel that is not absolutely critical and donor visits to Plan communities until further notice. Mail between sponsors and sponsored children will be delayed during this time to make sure we are not further endangering the children of their communities. But we urge you to take this time to write letters to your sponsored child, so that when mail can be delivered again, they will have your letters to look forward to. We continue to work to monitor our sponsorship communities and plan to take appropriate action to support your sponsored child’s health, as needed. We're also working with local partners to provide necessary protective materials for frontline health workers, so they can better serve children and families.
In times like these we, understandably, look inward. We focus on our families, friends and community. But despite our very human need to attend to our own first, I know you will not forget the very fragile communities, families, children and girls around the world who are the most vulnerable in emergency situations. In addition to being the humane thing to do, focusing on helping those most vulnerable outside our borders keeps us and the rest of the world safer.
Supporters like you are helping to combat harmful practices like child marriage, trafficking and gender-based violence, which escalate during times of crisis.
In this time of anxiety and fear, we’re living from one news alert to the next, with plans for the future put on hold. It’s easy to feel helpless. I know I have. But by continuing your support or making an additional gift to Plan, you will make a difference in this fight. And there’s nothing helpless about that.
We must ensure COVID-19 does not stop this critical work, at a time when it is needed more than ever. To learn more about how you can help, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact our Donor Loyalty team at 800.556.7918, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. You can also email us at donorrelations@planusa.org or chat with us online through our donor portal.
I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. Our hearts go out to those impacted by this crisis. Together we will get through this. Thank you for all you do, and take care.
Dr. Tessie San Martin
President & CEO

Want to make a direct impact with a tangible gift?
With hand-washing stations, clean drinking water and sanitation kits, we can stay safe from disease. But what about the girls and families who don’t have access to these basic resources? No one deserves to feel helpless during the COVID-19 crisis. No child deserves to suffer. Make a real impact for real people and shop COVID-19 Response Gifts of Hope here.
Talk to an expert
Our experts are available for media interviews. Please contact:
Robin Costello
Sr. Director, Public Engagement and Advocacy
Robin.Costello@planusa.org
401.562.8427
Bernice Morquette
Sr. Media Manager
Bernice.morquette@planusa.org
202.617.2245












