Covid Around the World Fairfield University's International Studies and Business Program

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

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.