- Were you the beneficiary of an act of kindness from an everyday hero in Corona Times? Did you witness random acts of kindness in your community? Did you volunteer in some capacity over the past year? Tell your story (2 paragraphs). Provide a photo or a drawing if you can.
I live in Stockholm, and honestly, I haven’t seen any act of kindness, rather the opposite; people not respecting distancing, not wearing face masks since it’s not mandatory. Only a few people like me actually wear a mask in stores and public transportation. In Sweden, the shutdown has been much more liberal than in the rest of the world. The school has mostly been open, at least to the younger students. The production industry has broadly rolled on as usual, and the service sector has been hit hard, especially the hotel and restaurant industries. Measures from the authorities have primarily been based on recommendations to the public. However, compared to other Nordic countries, the spread of infection and deaths due to Covid-19 in Sweden has been enormously more significant.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to volunteer because I don’t have time. I work and study full time. I also run a small business where I, together with a Bolivian team of seamstresses, shoemakers, and embroiderers, make Bolivian dance costumes. Since all the dance events got canceled due to Covid-19, Bolivian artisans ended up with no jobs. Together with a Bolivian dance group located in Stockholm, we decided to collaborate and purchase new customs for the group (for future performances) to allow these artisans to work and get some income during these difficult times.
2. Inspired by the list of Pandemic Celebrities and Everyday Heroes named above, add a profile and image to this positivity pantheon. Summarize the good works and the story of uplift that has inspired you in Corona Times. (2 paragraphs)
The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, established in 1998, started with the mission of protecting the environment; he quietly donated $100 million with the help of his charity to help combat climate change. Leonardo DiCaprio has always been an advocate for nature and wildlife and people’s health and well-being.
Together with Lauren Powell Jobs and Apple, Leonardo DiCaprio helped launch America’s Food Fund as a way of fighting against Covid-19. Americas Food Fund is an organization that aims to help low-income families, the elderly, and children who rely on school lunches. America’s Food Fund has raised almost 45 million dollars.
