By Carola Matarazzo
About a year ago we could not have imagined what the future months would hold for us: 14.8 million unemployed, an unemployment rate of 14.7% in the first quarter of 2021 (in the first quarter of 2020 the rate was 12.2% ), according to data from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (Pnad) of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). It is the highest rate in the historical series , which began in 2012. Unexpected challenges, fear, insecurity and a lot of resilience.
Vaccination arrived bringing hope, but the road to immunization in sufficient quantity to guarantee peace of mind is long and intercepted by new, more contagious variants emerging in Brazil and around the world. The most vulnerable, in addition to being most affected by the disease, also live with hunger, thirst and other fatal injuries . We know that in many places we can barely address the need to wash our hands because there is not even water to drink.
When there is a large valley that separates us from the rest of the path, it is necessary to build bridges. Modern thinker Zygmunt Bauman argues that we should not build walls, but rather build bridges. At the current moment, the bridge that needs to be built is to save thousands of lives. What do we face post-pandemic, from the impacts of the economic crisis to the health consequences of patients who continue to suffer from Covid-19? The third sector is responsible for helping to get through the pandemic until the end.
The trajectory involves thinking about income generation , distance training and actions to reduce poverty. Invest in large initiatives and support small sectors, which create a wave of impact that begins in the neighborhood and extends to the community and the city.
I believe that our bridge must have three main pillars: fighting hunger and thirst , productive inclusion in the job market and connectivity, without leaving aside health and education, the essential foundation. Continue with joint efforts to make social results , scale changes and address new public policies. Build the link between the public and private sectors, ensure that a structure is solid , resilient and helps us go beyond this place that Covid-19 has placed us in. The bridge is the space in which we will prepare the restoration of the economy, the resumption of employment, social balance. Like many patients, our society also faces prolonged symptoms that last for years. Many people need help in guaranteeing their basic essential rights and the crossing also involves this construction.
The dictionary shows us that bridge is synonymous with connection, connection, link, association, union, bond. In philanthropy , we add collaboration. Bridges strengthen relationships and bonds, something fundamental for living in a more inclusive and plural society. Let's build bridges – this is the invitation I make to everyone who is involved with philanthropy and the Donation Culture Movement in the country. When we act together and coordinated, we are capable of great transformations .
This article was originally published on the website of the newspaper O Povo Mais – CE.
