Remaining Hopeful During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of NGOs in Filling the Social Support Gap for Vulnerable Children

Sijeong Lim, Chungshik Moon, Youngwan Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on children’s mental health worldwide. Existing studies suggest that children with greater levels of hope are more likely to be resilient in the face of disaster. While social support at the family and community level is proposed as an important factor in sustaining and fostering hope, the children of underprivileged households in developing countries tend to lack this support. We investigate whether development projects run by international NGOs are able to fill this gap and help children to remain hopeful during the pandemic. Using original survey data from 834 children in adolescence (aged between 10 and 18) in Kenya and Zambia, we show that children participating in Good Neighbors’ child sponsorship programs and community development projects exhibit higher scores on the Children’s Hope Scale than do non-participating children. These projects appear to foster hope by providing emotional and informational support.

Original languageEnglish
JournalYouth and Society
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2022

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • child sponsorship program
  • community development project
  • hope

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Social Sciences(all)

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