This year has been like no other in our lifetime. From the catastrophic bushfires in Australia to the Covid-19 outbreak which quickly swept across the world and everything in-between, we have all been affected in ways that we could not have imagined at the beginning of the year.
For many, and though there have been many other incidents, the pandemic has been the highlight of the year.
Indeed, the pandemic and the new set of constraints it brought has caused huge disruptions to life and business as we know it. But it has also challenged us to redefine limits. To stretch ourselves and to learn new ways of working and living together.
And the world over, we all reacted and adjusted.
We have been reminded of how important it is to show compassion and empathy to one
another. Through resilience and embracing the digital revolution, we identified new ways of delivering products and services.
And even though many people recorded losses, the optimism of the human spirit against
such adversity continues to shine forth.
For all of us at Upside Africa, it has been a year that we have worked even more closely
together to ensure that the work we have set out to do continues. Even though it has been a tough one, it has also been a year of growth, discovery, and learning.
In fact, one of the many things that 2020 has taught us is the importance of staying
connected.
It is in that connectedness and the readiness to support each other that we have been able to continue our work with all our communities across Africa and the diaspora.
We have learned new ways of listening to each other which have helped us to work even more collaboratively in identifying and offering solutions to our communities.
And what a difference it made to know that we are not alone. As this year comes to an end, we would like to send our thoughts and prayers to everyone who has been affected by this terrible virus in one way or the other as well as express our gratitude to all frontline workers.
And as we continue to work towards showing and sharing the up side of Africa and Africans everywhere to the world, we especially thank everyone in our team, our partners, as well as our entire community who has continued to show and share faith, compassion, courage, and resilience.
We look forward to a healthier 2021 for you and all your loved ones.
Jane Oma Okoro.
Founder and President.