THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Roma Cohen of Sydmar Lodge recreates David Bowie’s classic Aladdin Sane album cover
In July, four months into lockdown, staff at Sydmar Lodge Care Center, in Edgware, North London, came up with a unique way to keep their elderly residents entertained.
Robert Speker, the home’s activities coordinator, used his photography skills and creative spark to recreate classic album covers from pop stars including Madonna, David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen with the home’s residents. And after the photography project went viral, he created a GoFundMe to help raise money for dementia charities.
He said, “As this situation is on-going it could be months before the situation changes for them and the need to keep them happy, entertained, and full of spirit has never been more crucial. It’s been my job and privilege.”
CLAPPING FOR CARERS
A community in London, UK., pay tribute to healthcare workers // 📸: Getty Images
As most of us went into lockdown and began adjusting to our new lives of Zoom calls and working from the safety of our homes, healthcare workers continued to go to work every day on the frontline of the fight against Covid-19.
But their courageous work did not go unnoticed, and communities around the world began heading to their balconies, gardens, open windows and local streets once a week to cheer and applaud their efforts, bringing heartfelt moments of collective hope and positivity when we needed it most.
WITH PEOPLE OUT THE WAY, THE WILDLIFE PLAYS
Deer in Harold Hill, Essex, UK, during the pandemic // 📸: Getty Images
With air and car travel substantially cut by lockdowns around the world, air pollution and nitrogen dioxide has been reduced which has been good news for the environment and wildlife.
And many animals in our busy cities, seas and parks have taken advantage of the pause in human activity, with examples including more rare pink dolphins spotted in the ocean near Hong Kong, more deer roaming the streets of London, and bears coming out of hiding in the deserted Yosemite National Park in California.
TEACHER URGES PARENTS TO FOCUS ON LOVE, NOT GRADES
Mr Hodder addresses parents in his viral video // 📸: Facebook
With face-to-face interaction in short supply this year, many have taken to the internet to share support and wisdom with their community.
One of the first viral stars of the pandemic was Mr Hodder, who teaches ten and 11-year-olds at The Cathedral Catholic Primary School in Lancaster, England, and urged stressed parents to not obsess about grades and timetables during homeschooling, and instead focus on baking cakes, making dens, and hugs.
He told parents of his pupils in his Facebook video that was shared throughout the world, “Just be what they need. They need love, they need reassurance. We can’t control the situation but we can control how we react to it.”
ZOOMERS HELPING BOOMERS
Zoomers for Boomers at work // 📸: Instagram
The pandemic has impacted us all in our own way, but the virus left the elderly the most at risk, and therefore the most isolated.
So 17-year-old Daniel Goldberg and his high school pals in Santa Barbara, California, created Zoomers to Boomers, a free service that delivers groceries to the elderly and immunocompromised, with their website stating, “We are Generation Z and we are here to help.”
The program soon spread to 37 cities across the US in an inspiring example of communities and generations uniting.
