LearnServe’s approach to Coronavirus

Dear LearnServe Abroad Students, Applicants, Families and Advisors,

We are reaching out today with an update of LearnServe’s approach to the novel Coronavirus outbreaks. We are monitoring The Centers for Disease Control website and will be following CDC as well as WHO recommendations. We have been reviewing and updating plans, staff, and students about prevention tips from the CDC (shared below).

As of today, the CDC has not issued any travel warnings for any of the four countries LearnServe travelers will visit this summer: Jamaica, Paraguay, South Africa and Zambia.  As of now, we are planning to conduct the trips as planned. We will continue to monitor travel alerts; given the constantly evolving situation, we cannot rule out the possibility of these trips being cancelled. You can find the CDC travel alerts here, and will be in touch with regular updates as the situation evolves.

At this point, we plan to proceed with our in-person LearnServe Abroad meetings in DC as planned.  Should the situation evolve in the greater DC area, we will consider cancelling in-person meetings, and instead offer virtual sessions via videoconferencing or phone.  We are considering a range of options, recognizing that families will have different levels of ability to engage in online learning.

Expect to receive regular communications from LearnServe about COVD-19 and our evolving plans to keep our community safe and healthy.  

Please let us know if you have any questions.

All the best,

Sabine and Scott

Disease Prevention Tips from the CDC

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and certainly if your commute includes public transit.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
  • Stay home when sick.  This is the most important measure our community members can take to protect each other. Please be on the lookout for symptoms such as fever, frequent coughing, body aches, and difficulty breathing. If you observe such symptoms while at home, please do not come to our programs. Contact your doctor.


Sabine Keinath | Director and COO | She/Her/Hers
LearnServe International | learn-serve.org
ph: +1 202 370-1865

Featured in the 2019-20 Catalogue for Philanthropy. “One of the best small charities in the Greater Washington region.”

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