The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge for all organizations, especially those that work in the social sphere, such as Save the Children and IWORDS Consulting. Contact and mobility restrictions have made it difficult to apply qualitative and quantitative methodologies. However, IWORDS Consulting has managed to adapt to these changes and successfully implement methodologies in the field. For this project, the IWORDS team worked with unaccompanied minors in Melilla. Activities such as in-depth interviews with minors, social mapping, or surveys were carried out, always under the supervision of Save the Children.

To comply with the protocols, the IWORDS Consulting team conducted the in-depth interviews in a large space with adequate ventilation. In addition, both the consulting team and the beneficiaries of the programme wore FPP2 masks, as required by law, and a two-meter distance was maintained. The results were satisfactory: the children spoke freely and openly with the IWORDS team.

Regarding the implementation of social mapping, the IWORDS Consulting team coordinated in advance with the Save the Children team on how the activity was going to be carried out. As several minors were going to be gathered for this activity, security measures were especially important in order to avoid transmissions or close contact with the virus. With this in mind, the IWORDS team and the Save the Children team asked all attendees to wash their hands before the activity. Then, IWORDS distributed the material to each minor and warned them about the importance of not exchanging said material with another minor until the end of the activity when it would be disinfected. The activity was a great success and all the minors participated and interacted with each other, always following the security measures (masks and social distancing).

Likewise, IWORDS and Save the Children implemented a survey in the field. Each Save the Children staff member used a single mobile phone with a link to the survey. After each interview they cleaned the mobile phone with an alcohol wipe.

After applying these qualitative and quantitative methodologies, IWORDS Consulting achieved one of the main objectives of the consultancy: to give a voice to those who do not have it, who, in this case, are unaccompanied children. Thanks to all the work carried out, it was possible to collect information on the vulnerabilities, expectations, and desires of the minors, as well as their perception of the project.

This experience in the field has helped IWORDS Consulting adapt its methodologies and confirm that, despite COVID-19, if the security measures are adequate, a good job can be done.