In times of crisis, one premise stands out above all others: we will get through this together! Empathy and solidarity become the key to connecting efforts and supporting those who need it most. These initiatives are proof of this.

With a video recorded from his office, Spanish doctor Jesús Candel went viral announcing that COVID-19 can be defeated with solidarity: a magic word that can have a powerful impact to cushion the economic, social and emotional effects caused by a public health crisis.

This is demonstrated by these seven initiatives that have managed to unite wills and make their contribution to overcome this situation. Get to know them!

1. Applause and more applause!: Medical personnel around the world are the first line of defense in a health crisis and, although it seems like a simple act, feeling recognized for their work encourages them to continue and maintain high morale. This idea was born in Europe and has spread to all countries that have been affected by the pandemic.

2. Letters of support: A surgeon at the La Princesa Hospital in Madrid asked her followers on social media to write letters to coronavirus patients to encourage them and accompany them in their recovery process. Together we will defeat the virus is the name of the campaign that has managed to gather more than 35 thousand anonymous letters to brighten the days of hospitalization of patients.

3. Positive for Solidarity: This is the name of the campaign carried out by the Universidad de los Andes (Colombia) that seeks to help 350 families who live around the university and derive their livelihood from professors and students. The university hopes to give 50 million pesos to these families to help them during this period.
In addition, the institution's management decided to change the type of contract for permanent professors and administrative staff to an indefinite term in order to guarantee the job stability of its employees.

4. Together we feed more people: The large market chains in Ecuador, together with their clients and the public sector, created a large food bank that has managed to alleviate one of the most palpable conditions in times of crisis: hunger. The first families to whom the food kits were delivered are from Guayaquil, Durán, Samborondón and Daule.

5. Essay on Solidarity: This is the name given by the WHO to its project that aims to share research and data on COVID-19 to find the most effective way of treatment and, of course, a possible vaccine. The Trial is the union of efforts of 10 countries working together to find a solution.

6. Production of alcohol gel and face masks: In the city of Moreno, Argentina, the company Natura & Co suspended the production of its beauty and perfume line to produce alcohol gel and donate it to medical services and the community in general through the Ministry of Health. Along the same lines, the Colombian brewery Bavaria is using alcohol extracted during the production of one of its beers to produce 100.000 bottles of antibacterial gel, in partnership with Binner Personal Care. In Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela, the military industry has made its production available to make face masks and provide them to citizens who need them.

7. Hospital equipment: The business sector of the department of Antioquia (Colombia) donated more than 15 billion pesos for the expansion and equipment of ICU rooms in two important hospitals in the department. In Mexico, businessman Germán Larrea donated a hospital in Juchitán, Oaxaca. Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon, also announced a donation to help medical services in the United States.

Do you know of any initiatives in your city or country to address the crisis? Feel free to support them and share their actions.