This episode focuses on how COVID-19 is being contained in the smiling coast of Africa, the Gambia. Members of Starfish International, a Girls' Education Program in Lamin Village, dedicated to empowering students through service to humanity will share their thoughts on the Ministry of Health’s and the Government’s response to COVID 19. The starfish team provides insight into the accuracy of COVID-19 cases, the lack of testing, and Gambia’s health infrastructure. The absence of government funding has left services such as public transit unable to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Co-Hosts: Micah Martin-Parchment and Nya Jones

Guests:

Mam Mary Fatima Sarrfox: Student Representative and Poet

Awa Ceesay: Operations Manager

Rene Moses Ceesay: Media House/Photography Coordinator

Fatoumata Jaiteh: Development Director

This episode focuses on how Costa Rica, despite still being a third world country in Latin America, has been able to successfully keep their numbers of positive COVID-19 tests relatively low. In order to gain more insight into what Costa Rica is doing to contain this virus, we spoke to Dr. Eduardo Alberto Zuniga Delgado, a clinical chemical microbiologist, so he could explain to us the rules and guidelines that must be followed in the country in order to adjust to this new reality we’re all living through. He also touches on what Costa Rica is doing that other Latin American countries aren’t doing, which could hinder their success in containing this virus. At the end of this episode, we briefly talked to Yorleni Moreno, an administrator of a hotel lodge in Costa Rica, about what the country is doing to contain this virus while also providing their students with an education.

Host: Melissa Navarro

Guests:

Eduardo Zuniga: Clinical chemical microbiologist

Yorleni Moreno: Administrator near the southern border

This episode is dedicated to Fairfield’s partners in Brazil, Iracambi. Along the time limit, we talk about the current situation of the global pandemic and how that has affected the endeavors of Iracambi, such as its projects and very educational volunteer program. Transitioning from that, we discuss the new discovery of Tree Bathing and lastly we dive into detail about the false marketing of drugs to cure COVID from the president and his continuous attempt to avoid the pandemic regulations.

Host: Lucas Santiago

Guests: Binka

This episode focuses on the impact of COVID on the livelihoods of Informal traders moving through Zambia’s landlocked borders. A significant portion of Zambia’s population works predominantly as informal traders, frequently crossing borders to buy goods abroad and provide for their markets in Zambia. The pandemic brought change to this centuries old practice by forcing the government to close down the most frequented border crossing; the Nakonde border, as a result of a spike in COVID cases. The impact of the days of closure will likely be felt for years to come particularly for the small - scale traders. Our guest, Ms. Purity Kutale, a precious metal minor and trader will provide in-depth explanations of what the informal traders are, who they are composed of, the impact of the pandemic and border closures, as well as many other topics. 

Host: Diana Muteba

Guests:

Purity Kutale: Miner and Trader

Kenniece Coker: Student at the University of Connecticut Storrs, CT.

This episode focuses on Costa Rica’s migration and border control ever since COVID-19 halted the world to a stop. Nicaraguan journalist Cindy Regidor, who is based in Costa Rica, talks to us about what the situation was like before COVID-19 at the northern border and how Nicaraguans are being affected by this change since many of them commute across the border to work. In this episode, we also spoke to Yorleni Moreno, an administrator who runs a hotel lodge near the Panamanian border. Her knowledge and experience living near the southern border will serve as a comparison to how Nicaraguans are treated compared to any other group of migrants who come to live in the country.

Host: Melissa Navarro

Guests: 

Cindy Regidor: Journalist

Yorleni Moreno: Administrator near the southern border

Language: English and Spanish

Although the Zambian government has been working tirelessly to provide access to education for every child, the pandemic forced school closures and, subsequently, the disruption of education. In an attempt to provide some form of instruction, the government-sanctioned the creation of e-learning channels for grades one through twelve on topics like literature, science, mathematics etc. While this was a commendable effort, the lack of reliable internet access left many students unable to access the programs or school work provided by their teachers. David Willima, a teacher in Zambia, will provide in-depth information on the state of education before the pandemic, the issues of internet reliability, governmental policies, and if the educational system will be able to return to normal. 

Host: Diana Muteba

Guests: David Willima, Primary School Teacher in Lusaka, Zambia. 

This episode focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on education in the United Kingdom, particularly England. Educators Collette and Charlotte Jewell, a mother and daughter from the northeast of England, speak with us about their respective experiences in the UK education sector throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This fruitful conversation highlights the challenges COVID-19 has imposed on education in the UK, at both primary and secondary levels, as well as explores schooling plans moving forward and changes in daily and professional life. 

Host: Caroline Timmerman

Guests: 

Collette Jewell: Educator/Administrator at St. Aiden’s RC First School

Charlotte Jewell: Educator/Tutor at Maximize Education

The episode focuses on how COVID-19 has affected education in the Philippines. Mrs. Mary Grace M. Paayas, RN, MAN, a college administrator at a private university shares insights and her take on the adjustments made by the higher education sector in order to continue providing education to students and how this will affect teaching and learning. The episode will also discuss the initiatives that the government has put in place in order to support the education sector. 

Host: Martha Maree Quiblat

Guests : Mary Grace M. Paayas, RN, MAN

This episode focuses on how COVID-19 has impacted education in the smiling coast of Africa, the Gambia. Members of Starfish International, a Girls' Education Program in Lamin Village, dedicated to empowering students through service to humanity will discuss their transition to online learning and how they continue to educate the Gambian community, students, and mentors about COVID-19. 

Co-Hosts: Micah Martin-Parchment and Nya Jones

Guests 

Mam Mary Fatima Sarrfox: Student Representative and Poet

Awa Ceesay: Operations Manager

Rene Moses Ceesay: Media House/Photography Coordinator

Fatoumata Jaiteh: Development Director

In this episode of COVID around the world, the focus is on the country of Ecuador in South America. Members of the Starfish foundation, a Guayaquil based organization dedicated to helping underprivileged students, shed some light on how COVID-19 has affected the education system of students around the country. 

Host: Laura Seeger

Guests: 

Jenn Zocco: Co-Founder The Starfish Foundation 

Stephanie Allen: Project Manager: The Starfish Foundation

Fred Schick: Education Manager: The Starfish Foundation 

Welcome to COVID Around the World, the podcast dedicated to connecting with Fairfield University’s international partners during COVID-19.

Hosts: Laura Seeger, Micah Martin-Parchment, Nya Jones, Martha Maree Quiblat, Caroline Timmerman, Melissa Navarro and Lucas Santiago.