“Solidarity that encourages”: a website that helps to multiply good works

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, companies, institutions and individuals around the world have mobilized through a network of solidarity to help those most in need. These actions range from donating their time to help their neighbours with market purchases to providing free hospital equipment.

In the financial area, considering these almost four months of social isolation, donations have reached almost R$ 6 billion throughout Brazil, according to the  Monitor of Donations.

Chain of Solidarity

In this context, the “Solidariedade aquece”, ( Solidarity that encourages) emerged, a space built to bring together good actions and ideas capable of encouraging others to do good, and thus be a means of education for solidarity. The website was created at the beginning of the quarantine, but is now being relaunched with a new look and more inspiring initiatives.

“Acting for the common good and creating opportunities for all is part of our Marist way of life. We want to inspire people and companies to maintain this chain of solidarity,” explains June Cruz, executive director of the Marist Province of Brasil Centro-Sul (PMBCS).

Virtual platform

The portal is divided into sections, to facilitate the search for information from different perspectives. The section “Boas Notícias” (Good News), for example, includes actions carried out by the community and the business community to protect people in  situations of risk. The Solidarity Playlist presents a series of videos, interviews and discussion panels, which build an educational environment for solidarity.

The Caminho Pastoral publishing house, in turn, promotes and shares actions for collection and mobilization carried out by the Catholic Church in Brazil and around the world. In addition, some campaigns linked to the Marist Mission can also be found by visitors to the site, including SOS Vila Torres, which has already managed to collect 10,000 baskets of basic foodstuffs and to assist 2,000 families in Curitiba.

Information

“Solidariedade que aquece” (Solidarity that encourages) also presents research and reports, in a space created to build knowledge. They are analyses of contexts, habits, mental health and impacts that the pandemic is causing all over the world. In fact, they provide information that can be useful for decision-making and help health professionals, the local economy and society in general.

“What we have mapped is only a part of all the actions that are being carried out around the world. From these examples, our intention is that more people and institutions may feel encouraged to help those who need it most at this time,” notes June Cruz.

This virtual area is a joint initiative of PMBCS, the Marist Group and the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR). Get to know it and be part of the initiative: www.solidariedadequeaquece.com.br