Initiatives Taken to Call for Solidarity in Member Cities under COVID-19

April 2020 [Barcelona, Spain / Montreal, Canada / Manchester, UK]

Member cities are taking steps to call for citizens’ solidarity amid the challenges presented by COVID-19.

In Barcelona, Spain, children are expressing their feelings through drawing while staying at home. Their works are posted on a website set up by the City and are presented as a “picture diary” of the whole city. In addition to drawings, the site shares a variety of works in other forms of art, such as poems, stories, and photographs. Their families, friends, and other community members can browse through the website and take in children’s feelings about the pandemic.


Drawings by children (Barcelona)

In Montreal, Canada, measures have been taken to ensure the hygiene, health and safety of the homeless by opening new shelters and providing food assistance and sanitary products. The City has announced it will contribute to an emergency fund in order to support the most vulnerable residents in need. Public health instructions are displayed in multiple languages to keep foreign residents informed.

In Manchester, UK, the streets are empty but people are staying in touch as best as they can. Many neighborhoods across the city have set up online chat groups for individual streets where neighbors can talk, ask for help and exchange information. Movements to support each other are growing, such as putting up pictures of rainbows in their windows to give walkers an uplifting message of solidarity.


Girl putting a picture of rainbow on window (Manchester)
Photo: Courtesy of Manchester City