It’s the last Friday of the month – again – June is almost here. On the last Friday of each month bloggers from around the world post a good news story to help ameliorate the news that is often dark and confusing. Especially now when we are in the thick of covid-19, the effects of which are felt on thousands of levels including isolation, hunger, loss of income, restrictions, depression, despair …
It was not that easy this time round to find a single good news story. We certainly know of 1000’s of initiatives by NGO’s, businesses, individuals that are going all out to help communities and individuals in distress. Which doesn’t necessarily mean that only when faced with tragedies does the face of humanity present itself; but it does seem a time when an event of this nature pulls out all the stops to help those in need.
This story appealed to me. It’s of mothers and their babies in hospital, in the neonatal units of the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. I love that mother and baby are together, and the mother who is in isolation with her infant, can use technology to connect with her larger family, so that they can see the new infant, this new arrival, into a new world. The mother no longer feels so isolated and can spend time with family virtually.
There is connection.
Take a look at the mothers chatting to their loved ones and showing off their little babies below. The Newborns Trust was sponsored by RSA Web giving free wifi for mothers for this purpose. The little video is just under 4 minutes long (with thanks for this post to Tyler Leigh Vivier of GoodThingsGuy).
The last Friday of this month – how quickly ‘last Fridays of the month’ come by. Things race along as they do everyday while at the same time we’re in the midst of the biggest pause we’ve (or I’ve) ever been asked to experience. A huge pause in the last long while – and a long pause still to come – we’re caught in many complexes both individually and collectively.
#WATWB – We are the World is an initiative set up by Damyanti Biswas and Belinda McGrath Witzhuizen some years ago, as a way of broadcasting good news posts from bloggers around the world. It’s intention is to illustrate that in spite of the denseness of darkness that surrounds us and our communities and further beyond, there are those out there who are angels who see where a need is and take steps to fill that need for another, or for communities, or for planet earth and her inhabitants. Whether it is feeding programmes for the hungry, water for drought stricken areas, accommodation for the homeless, caring for abandoned pets, supporting businesses that have had to close – well, the list is long of those in need, sometimes dire. We’re all being stretched in many uncomfortable ways. We’re all facing the same storm that is covid-19, although our ships and sails are of different sizes and strengths and we sail them differently. Some storms are easier to sail, some very difficult …
‘When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’.
Mr Fred Rogers
Here in South Africa there are so many initiatives, from government, NGO’s, NPO’s, individuals, communities, businesses, CEO’s, in fact just about everyone who can, are donating their time, money and efforts to keep our people and animals as safe as possible in this lockdown from covid-19. Our greatest strength is our people as someone said –
The diamonds in the detritus are there –
faceted diamonds on dark background colourbox.com
I can’t decide what story to highlight – I know of sooooo many and I follow many of these initiatives very closely. Communities, individuals, organisations, businesses, stores – the whole bang shoot – coming together, practising UBUNTU, helping, sharing, being in compassion and in humanity, emptying their pockets as much as they can to help, where needed. Feeding the hungry is one of the priorities. People are being creative, sharing their ideas, making things like masks at their homes by the thousands, to buy and donate, many so very pretty, soft and comfortable, washable, affordable, and effective in preventing the spread of germs – #Masks4AllPlettandbeyondTeams
Feeding schemes request ice-cream and yoghurt containers and the like to be delivered at designated points to be collected and used to fill with soup and delivered to the needy. Animals who have been abandoned are lovingly taken care of and fed daily by volunteers. There are many designated places outside the stores where coffee, tea, bread, oil, maize meal, jam, peanut butter, basic provisions, where one can place their donations. Places to drop off your unused curtains, or any material used to make masks … these are just a few of many initiatives in Plettenberg Bay where I live –
The air is clearer is many parts of the world, rivers are cleaner, animals are returning to their natural habitat and numbers, coral is being restored inter alia which makes me realise how majestic Mother Nature is in her ability to strive for healing and balance. It is truly heart inspiring to see UBUNTU in action in very small and very large ways, humanity in action, caring for our neighbours and beyond. I believe we’re all striving for healing and balance.
Our co-hosts this month are as below. Do pop by and say hello. Their stories are bound to be fabulous and inspiring and bring a sense of the goodness that prevails in spite of –
Should you wish to take part in this monthly event and share some good news, we’d love to have you along. This is the linky-list to add your name. Posts to be be 500 words, non-religious, non-political and to say why you liked this particular spot of good news, and attach the link to the story, which I have NOT done this month. Please use social media to spread the good news, using the #WATWB hashtag and badge.
Thank you for reading. May the Force be with you and yours.
A lovely song below – 1min 31 secs., for those who have not seen it. An Irish Blessing, now a South African cover Blessing, in honour of all those in the front line –
‘In Darkness, Be Light’ has been the intention of this ‘We are the World Blogfest’ since its inception. In Darkness, Be Light.
We are entering the 4th year of this particular blogging platform. Small beginnings from 3 or 4 years ago. A handful of people, energetic, from different parts of the world, keen to shine some light on the world, by showing individual acts or collective acts that make a profound difference to another and/or to the/a community. Each month, on the last Friday of the month, a #WATWB blog is put up, of some act, by an individual or a collective, some initiative, that has hugely benefitted the receiver/s. Some person had an idea and wanted to do good in the world. These posts always make my blood vessels expand a little, I feel my my heart widen, and it always fills me with an abiding sense of the inherent goodness of men and women and children.
This is my offering this time, the song ‘We are the World’ Kenny Rogers – RIP – is in it. Willie, Tina, Michael, The Boss, Billy, Cyndy, Dionne, Stevie, Ray, Diana – many others. It’s about 6 mins long. And joyous. And a reminder of how we can make the world a better place for you and for me.
The co-hosts this time round are below and our thanks to them.
Do pop by them and check out their posts. You will be amazed and heartened at SO much good that is done in the world.
We really are going into the unknown at this time. We feel the ground beneath our feet is shaky. We are concerned for ourselves and loved ones, and concerned for all others too in the midst of this corona virus covid-19. (Corona is Latin for Crown – is the crown and all that is ‘at the top’ and overbearing, dissolving somewhat?) Whatever is happening, may we find meaning – and hope – that a new world may emerge that is for the better for us individually and collectively.
Thank you for reading. Take care, be safe, wash your hands. May you find togetherness in aloneness. May the Force and Grace be with you –
