In the time of predicaments stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, economies of the world have shuddered, facing the whopping loss of loved ones’ lives, and lofty losses in jobs and businesses either they are top-notch, well stable or the startups. This tumultuous situation can be seen as more cramped in undeveloped countries that are already on the verge of chaos.
Under these circumstances to mitigate the pains of a novel coronavirus among people, especially children, myriads of feisty people came up with the idea of rainbow hope pictures and paintings, along with the slogan “ANDRA TUTTO BENE” meaning “Everything will be alright” started to pop up on streets, balconies, and walls of Italy. Hereby, this solidity started to disseminate all over Europe in different forms of messages, symbols, and pictures of like stay safe, thank you, love be kind and hope, etc. to encourage the people working outside to keep the people safe inside of the houses including paramedic staffs, emergency workers, delivery persons, health, defense and safety organizations and so on. Parents and children started engaging themselves in this activity by adorning the windows, doors, and walls of the houses with rainbow displays, not houses various organizations and institutions also took part and accessorized the buildings with colorful rainbow themes of the wreaths, balloons, garlands, posters, paintings, flowers, and holographic rainbows to reinforce the light of hope, kindness, and humanity in humans, also donated the money as much as they could.
Moreover, the NHS, one of the second largest systems of the publicly funded healthcare system in England, faced a crisis due to a pandemic situation in support of the BBC Casualty team. Write Out Loud website, and award-winning poet Andrew McMillan brought an ambitious idea of poetry competition to raise donations, claiming that money will instantly go for the charity to help the NHS. Kirsty Mitchell, BBC Casualty, stated that “We need you to donate. The NHS is going through the toughest time it has ever seen”.
The poetry theme was ‘Beyond the Storm’.
Being a human, we should devise some comprehensible strategies for diffusion of hope, love, kindness, and humanity in the world while humans seem to be in jeopardizing moments, sustainably believing that beyond the storms there’s always a rainbow shine
Andrew McMillan said: “I want this to bring in serious, considered poetry, but also to have a broader, public appeal, to boost donations at this most critical time in NHS history”. Donations are asked from the competition entries, poets from all across the globe that will take part in the poetry competition, the People’s Vote, online video views, or by just donating to support this appeal, however, journalists and influencers could also share their words under the theme.
“There are no cash prizes but poems will be recorded by Casualty actors after that, put to Public vote for a special ‘People’s Choice’ award, that would be based on top five poems recorded by Casualty actors, BBC Casualty actors Gabriella Leon, Olivia D’Lima and Kirsty Mitchell will recite shortlisted candidates poems online for a special ‘Peoples’ Vote furthermore, an anthology of selected competition entries is planned to create a poetic record of the pandemic era”.(The Write Out Loud poetry competition’ in aid of the NHS Charities’ Covid-19 appeal)
Besides, the fundamental purpose wasn’t to raise funds, even so, it was to encourage the people in this ordeal time by spreading the optimistic thoughts of poets. Succinctly, Beyond the storm, there’s sunshine as well as rainbow shine so “jiayou” meaning “don’t give up” until the relentless storm scurries away. Although the rainbow trend was started in Europe somehow it can also be seen all over the world in China with the message “jiayou” (don’t give up) why? Because better days are coming, message was flurrying and in Pakistan, the rainbow exhibits can also be found with the collaboration of American based Global Dignity Organization.
Being a human, we should devise some comprehensible strategies for diffusion of hope, love, kindness, and humanity in the world while humans seem to be in jeopardizing moments, sustainably believing that beyond the storms there’s always a rainbow shine.
The author is a fledgling writer who pens down her perceptions, thoughts and feelings. She can be reached at Email: naila.19shd@gmail.com