City councils, citizens and civil society organisations are creating measures in neighbourhoods and communities to sustain social cohesion and to keep our spirits up.
Establishing a support network in a city district
To support the elderly in shopping and health matters, the city district government set up its own network to connect younger and older citizens. Government actions to slow virus outbreaks can imply that specific vulnerable
University students tutor pupils for free
An educational initiative connects pupils studying at home with a university student willing to support them with their schoolwork.
Cooking for heroes
A platform lists restaurants that are offering meals for people working in the care sector and other essential professions.
Freshly cooked meals for hospital workers
To show solidarity to medical staff during the crisis, a group of volunteers mobilized to bring prepared meals to hospital workers.
Providing hospitals and frontline medical staff with necessary equipment
To provide hospitals with missing equipment, an initiative crowdsources necessary materials such as masks and visors.
A hotline for providing vulnerable groups with necessities
This initiative connects the elderly and those in need with volunteers and supermarkets to help them with their groceries.
App for finding suitable volunteer work
The Swiss “Five up” app offers easy access to suitable volunteer activities.
Study support for school children at home
An Italian volunteer organisation offers online tutoring to help kids through this period of remote learning.
Matchmaking for dog walking
A Facebook group helps people who are self-isolating at home to get help walking their dog.
EcoWalk
An Italian municipalitiy started a campaign to encourage people to combine jogging or walking with picking up trash, as a lockdown-compatible activity.
Telephone calls against loneliness
The social distancing measures implemented, are challenging for many people. To counter feelings of loneliness and isolation, a telephone project was initiated by the community on San Lazzaro (Italy). Community members are contacted and can share their feelings and needs or just have a quick exchange of words.
Hotel delivers food to senior citizens
According to the recommendations of the health authorities, the elderly should not leave their homes to minimise the risk of infection with Covid-19. That is why the InterContinental Hotel started a special food delivery campaign.