United through Distance

Is it hard to learn from the past? Tuscany region in Italy shows that it is not! While reopening the businesses after corona, many entrepreneurs introduced a way to keep their companies alive, and yet to protect both their employees as well as customers. They went far to the history for their inspiration: they re-opened medieval wine windows, stopping the spread of plague back in the days.

Medieval ‘wine windows’ are reopening, reviving Italian plague tradition It’s a quaint tradition — with a very dark history.

"Tomas Kapler knew nothing about ventilators — he’s an online business consultant, not an engineer or a medical technician. But when he saw that shortages of the vital machines had imperiled critically ill COVID-19 patients in northern Italy, he was moved to action.(...) A crowd-funding campaign ensured the necessary finances in just hours. (...)They had a working prototype in five days, something that would normally take a year."
“I had to quit my job and I have been without pay for several months,” he [Kapler] said. “But otherwise, it was mostly positive for me. I’ve met many fantastic people who are willing to help.”

Czech volunteers develop functioning ventilator in days PRAGUE — Tomas Kapler knew nothing about ventilators — he’s an online business consultant, not an engineer or a medical technician. But when he saw that shortages of the vital machines had imperile…

This is a beautiful story ❤️

Artist with autism creates balloon sculptures to thank essential workers 'We want to extend our gratitude to the people who went above and beyond to perform their daily jobs during this time,' the artist's mother said.

In 1847, the Choctaw people sent $170, back then a huge amount of money, to help during the potato famine in Ireland. Now hundreds of Irish people are repaying that old kindness by raising more than $1.8 million to help supply clean water, food and health supplies to people in the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Reservation suffering in the Covid-19 pandemic. The donations are often accompanied by messages, such as "We never forgot" or "Ireland remembers".

Sources:
https://eu.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2020/05/08/irish-people-aid-navajo-hopi-tribes-during-covid-19-pandemic/3086326001/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/world/coronavirus-ireland-native-american-tribes.html
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/beyond-amazing-navajo-nation-s-ag-praises-irish-generosity-to-coronavirus-fund-1.4251381

'We never forgot': Why the Irish are helping Navajo and Hopi tribes hit by pandemic Irish people are repaying Natives peoples for their help during the 19th-century potato famine by contributing to a GoFundMe for COVID-19 relief.

Online second-hand shops put Corona relief in the limelight! For example, Dutch Marktplaats now has a hashtag for ads for relevant products such as face masks, and Norwegian Finn.no now has a shortcut ( ) to ads where people offer or ask for help or products related to the COVID-19 situation.

https://www.marktplaats.nl/
https://www.finn.no/

Due to the social distancing restrictions, people have "gathered" via video conferences in Norway to tend their indoor gardens together.

https://www.aftenposten.no/osloby/i/EWMmWK/savnet-aa-vaere-sosial-laget-kafe-paa-fortauet?fbclid=IwAR0352j0Zb0SwYG_Fk1Pv4zzyq0tPHDq7GvVnAWSoFlwhp4MYFhEPBXBaXw

Have you heard about an interesting initiative which we have not written about yet? Did a remarkable story of bravery or compassion take place in your country or town? Let us know! Share your contribution with a hashtag or send us a PM!

“A beautiful image of humanity and solidarity”, as the mayor of Palermo, Leoluca Orlando, called it, has spread around multiple cities in Italy. Initiatives of their inhabitants are helping those who are currently too vulnerable to go grocery-shopping. At certain locations, whether it is a square in Rome or a beach in Palermo, people are leaving non-perishable food, such as pasta, rice, canned goods, long-life milk, sugar, biscuits, but also disinfectants and cleaning products. Who is able, leaves them there, who needs them, can take them. In Rome, the municipality has also organised a collection of food, later distributed among vulnerable citizens. Even supermarkets joined this warm-hearted effort: In Naples, if you order your groceries online, you can also contribute a few Euro for those less lucky.
https://www.redattoresociale.it/article/home/covid19_pacchi_di_pasta_in_strada_e_spesa_sospesa_in_aiuto_ai_bisognosi #

Covid19, pasta in strada e “spesa sospesa” in aiuto a chi ha bisogno Da Roma a Napoli fino alla Sicilia e alla Sardegna sono tante le iniziative dal basso per aiutare chi non riesce neanche più a fare la spesa: dai generi di prima necessità lasciati in strada alle iniziative che coinvolgono i supermercati

A story from true society-wide cooperation comes from the Czech Republic. We all know that there has been a lack of medical equipment at medical facilities worldwide. However, thanks to civic activity (rather than organised action by the government), it has been handled quite well in this country. First, a speaker, writer, and a social media influencer Petr Ludwig published a video explaining the benefits of wearing a mask and supported people in making and wearing them. Right away, other influencers started their online campaigns to support people’s interest about the topic. Then, dressmakers created YouTube tutorials on how to sew a surgical mask made of 100% cotton. Shortly after, Czech people from all over the country created groups on social media and started sewing masks for medical facilities from whatever suitable material they had at home. The Vietnamese and Roma communities followed, and nursing homes turned into temporary tailor’s factories. An app “Dame rousky” was created to help communication between makers and users, but often people just left the masks on the fence of their houses so that anyone could take them for free.

The story — #Masks4All During the COVID-19 crisis, the Czech Republic has experienced shortages of protective equipment (masks and respirators). What little was available was saved for the most vulnerable workers - doctors, nurses, social workers etc.