Light in dark times

What seemed no more than a warning back in March 2020 – that we were to navigate the same storm, but not in the same boat – proved to be exactly what lay ahead: Covid-19 has not only exposed but exacerbated existing inequalities, with shockwaves that are still reverberating around the world.

Over one year into this ghastly havoc, we turned to our partner organisations for some hands-on wisdom. Since the beginning of the pandemic, they have without exception stepped up to the crisis. Recognising the uncertainty, they have not only responded but adapted, strategized, repurposed, and restructured. Driven by their compelling missions to serve people in need, they have provided healthcare and education, sustained livelihoods and saved lives.

What has this period taught them, then? Was it really a “great reset”, a moment of awakening, as some say? Were they prepared for the challenges? Were they pushed off course, even momentarily? Were there any positive outcomes of the unexpected?

The answers we received to these many questions are honest and powerful. They bring insights into a global experience of darkly challenging times that saw luminous hope kindled in “a sense of interconnectedness and shared humanity like never before”, as Emma France, Global Development & Strategic Engagement Director of mother2mothers, beautifully points out.

COVID-19 was a stress test at all levels. It hit us as individuals, societies and organisations. Our new #unexpected series will explore this unprecedented time through our grantees’ eyes, mapping the terrain of the unplanned possibilities it revealed.

The articles of the series :

#2: In fear we found "Ubuntu"

#3: Focusing on needs, not fear

#4: Resilience in action

#5: Remote therapy forsters connectedness

#6: Everything changed, much remained the same