ATO's Response on COVID-19 Pandemic Threat

Our Dear Fellow Members,

​This will be the first time that I will be giving my monthly address to all our members after a jam-packed schedule of meetings and work in the previous year/months. In a sudden, 2020 started with challenges and problems, however, it is not a time to overlook that we have opportunities and chances on how to use the time that we have. The COVID-19 Pandemic threat in our respective countries have brought us to lockdowns and isolation. 

Our internal team is trying to reach all members trying to cope up with the mental and physical challenge brought by this global emergency.

We have the following advices:

             1. Take General Precautions from the World Health Organization (WHO)  

• Wash your hands frequently- soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer simply kills viruses. 
• Maintain social distancing -maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) between yourself or anyone sneezing or coughing.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth- our hands which touch many surfaces may bring the virus in these “entry points” and thus bring infection to our body.
• Practice respiratory hygiene - Make sure to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, especially when there are people around you. Wash your hands afterwards with clean water and soap. 
• Stay home if you feel sick - this is to avoid contagion with other people. Please follow medical prescriptions and seek medical attention as soon as possible. 

              2. Taking care of our mental & emotional health  

• News and information about the Pandemic threat is overwhelming and may afflict negatively in your mental health. It is normal to feel anxious especially these days. In order to manage it, here are some advices:​
• Release those endorphins - get some physical exercise. Don’t forget to take care of your physical health by getting proper sleep and eating healthy.
• Maintain connection - talk to your fellow members, friends, and family about your feelings and concerns. They are there to help. Talking about what you feel improves you. 
• Taking a break - limit your worries and agitation by taking a break from watching, listening or reading media coverage when it looks overwhelming for you. Try to get literary readings or entertain yourself with non-online home activities. 

          3. Recognizing some of our members in the COVID19 frontline
We are honoring and recognizing some of our members who are volunteering and working in the medical and social work frontlines. We should thank and provide them moral support in these times.


         4. Maintaining coordination and communication
Even some of our activities for March-April 2020 were postponed due to the pandemic threat, we are very thankful to members and volunteers who continued to pursue efforts in working with our ongoing initiatives and projects. The organization currently exerts efforts to maintain coordination and strong communication with our members from all over the globe, through social media and conference call.  We are here to provide the best of what we could to help. 

       5. Staying healthy and safe
You are one of the organization’s component and therefore we are obliged to do its mission itself: international fraternity, solidarity, social and creative activism. Humanity since the very beginning, faced the same challenges and we always have surpassed it and learned. By staying physically and mentally healthy and safe, complying with the local health authorities, and maintaining communication and strong spirit, you are doing your part for humanity to triumph from all of this. 

Before ending this monthly address, let me quote a dialogue from a classic favorite (probably some of our members and mine) which provides us a glimmer of hope of what we should look at these times:

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

On behalf of the ATO Board of Trustees, we are wishing everyone good health and safety,
The ATO Board of Trustees

Statement Released: 26 March 2020