To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by Marloes van Engen

Valuing intergenerational interactions

Club Goud was launched by Moniek van Daal. Prior to launching the initiative, Moniek had spent more than 10 years volunteering at an elderly home, engaging in simple conversations over coffee with elderly residents. This experience revealed to her that the world of many elderly individuals becomes smaller and smaller, particularly for those who lack close family connections. Moniek strongly believed in the value of intergenerational interactions yet faced challenges in recruiting young volunteers. This motivated her to conceptualize events that could bridge the generation gap.

Organizing outdoor concerts at elderly care homes

Between March and September of 2020, Club Goud organized outdoor concerts at elderly care homes, featuring over 100 artists who delivered more than 250 concerts. This initiative arose as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Club Goud was a local organization that previously focused on intergenerational projects in the realms of music, dance, and art. Collaborations were forged with cultural institutions, art entities, care facilities, and the elderly themselves. The sudden cessation of activities due to lockdowns, coupled with the stringent restrictions in elderly homes, prompted Club Goud to devise the idea of hosting outdoor concerts. This allowed elderly residents to enjoy performances from behind their windows.

Expanding to the national level

Initially a local endeavor, Club Goud’s influence expanded nationally through a call on social media platform NL for each other. This call created enthusiastic responses from artists and care facilities alike. To facilitate smooth coordination between artists and care homes, Club Goud appointed regional coordinators, resulting in a well-organized initiative.

Photo by Thanos Pal from Unsplash

Find out more about the initiative

To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by Marloes van Engen

From Peru to Rotterdam

Hailing from Peru, Liesbeth Kerstens initiated an NGO during her volunteer work there, focusing on aiding street children who suffered from sexual violence, poverty, alcoholism, and neglect. When she got back to the Netherlands, she stayed very committed and didn’t change her focus. Initially, she worked on sourcing funds for the Peruvian context before collaborating with Patrick in 2005. Together, they adapted their efforts for Rotterdam’s local children, gradually shaping their initiative into a volunteer organization with a clear mission: from vulnerable to vigorous for those in need we make tailormade solutions by role models that have hands-on experience.”

A tailored digital programme

During the lockdown, Stichting Mano displayed resilience by swiftly developing digital programmes tailored to local citizens with limited literacy. These included personalized coaches for topics like ‘Literacy and Money’ and ‘Literacy and Health,’ along with essential language courses. These online alternatives replaced traditional in-person sessions and cafes, allowing for continued community engagement and education.

Find out more about the initiative

Image by Suad Kamardeen from Unsplash

To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by Marloes van Engen

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jaleesa den Haanin launched a project in the northern part of Rotterdam, known as Rotterdam Noord. Twice a week, dedicated volunteers delivered food to vulnerable individuals confined to their homes. This initiative started from Ketu Kitchen, a local bakery and café situated in the same area, which unfortunately had to shut its doors due to the lockdown.

An innovative project

In response to the challenging circumstances, Ketu Kitchen initiated “Ketu Care.” This innovative project involved preparing meals that community members could collect twice a week. Ketu Kitchen established a volunteer organization aiming at catering to vulnerable communities unable to leave their homes.

Compassion and resilience

Ketu Care demonstrated its resilience through envolving into WISE. The bakery dedicated its proceeds to sustain the ongoing mission of delivering meals to vulnerable individuals. This multifaceted approach ensured the continuation of meal services while introducing reduced-price food options for the ones who can’t afford the full-price.

Find out more about the initiative

Image of  Ismael Paramo from Unsplash

To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by Marloes van Engen

Challenges faced by transgender people during the pandemic

COVID-19 had several consequences for transgender people around the world. There are several studies that have investigated the effects of covid on transgender people. One such study is the TransCareCovid-19 study. This is a study in which 7,000 transgender people from all over the world participated. Almost half of participants who are already in treatment reported that access to care has become more limited. Those registered as male at birth and those with low incomes had an even higher risk of limitations in transgender care.

According to Transvision’s website, There were 355 participants from Flanders and the Netherlands in this study. It is striking that 1 in 3 participants has a disability. Access to hormones was restricted in 7 out of 100 participants. Although many appointments with psychologists were cancelled, this quickly resumed in the form of phone conversations or video calls, according to half of the participants. A lot of anxiety and stress has been reported, with the hope that waiting lists for transgender care will continue to grow.

An initiative that provides support to transgender individuals

During Covid-19 lockdowns many operations of transgenders were cancelled. Transvision offered all kinds of help, such as help via a chatline, telephone, and by providing information, such as information how to bind breasts safely for trans men that have not been able to operate their breasts. The project aspires to an inclusive society in which every transgender person has access to the right care, at the right time, in the right place, by a care provider with the right expertise.

Find out more about the initiative

Photo by Freepik

To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories currently cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by: Marloes van Engen

Nurses were hit hard by the corona crisis, among others, due to a shortage of materials and over- crowded hospital wards. If the health crisis revealed that nurses are among the most important employees in a hospital, they had until then little influence or say about hospital policies. This changed at the start of the pandemic, as nurses saw the opportunity to improve their position. They advocated for more influence on hospital policies.

When crisis teams in hospitals were made at the start of the corona crisis, nurses (or nursing advisory councils) were not included. In fact, they did not even know crisis teams were created, while they are the largest occupational group in hospitals and responsible for the large share of the crisis response. Nurses, however, do not think this happened intentionally, but they simply were not immediately thought of. After lobbying, they have entered the crisis team in many hospitals.

Establishing nursing advisory councils (VAR’s) has also become more common. VAR’s provide advice on a professional basis to the management or board of directors of an organization to ensure and improve the quality of care. The VAR’s are nowadays often represented in the crisis teams within hospitals. This implies that nurses have a voice in short- and long-term policies through their advisory role

The position of nurses has formally improved. In the near future, nurses will be asked to give advice about policies in some hospitals, just like medical staff and patient councils. Thus, the corona crises gave the emancipation of nurses an impulse. Increasing decision-making for nurses can also lead to better working conditions, which should help battle the shortage of medical personnel.