By Iva Taralezhkova | Board Chair of Devetaki Plateau Association
The COVID-19 pandemic illustrates the link between public health outcomes and social life, economics, culture and governance. Immediate national and international responses are focusing on medical and humanitarian assistance, but these alone will be insufficient to meet needs and respond to this crisis. A holistic response is required to protect communities, especially those who are far from the capitals, the big towns and the decision-makers. It is now more necessary than ever to protect democratic principles, build citizen trust and defend the rights of all members of the society.
Not health alone, culture, tourism and economics are in critical situation, also in our villages in the Devetaki Plateau. Due to the crisis, the sixth edition of our Jazz under the Stars Fest might not take place this year. This is a hard decision to take because the fest has already become a major event in the social and cultural life of the region and local people are looking forward to it. But we need to be responsible and we will follow the regulations and obstructions caused by the pandemic situation.
In the meantime, we have started working intensively with the communities in our villages to help people stay informed and to lift their spirits in times of social isolation. We initiated a rubric in the Devetaki Plateau Website and FB page under the name “This too shall pass”, an old saying indicating that all material conditions, positive or negative, are temporary. Every day we collect and post useful information about the situation and its repercussions for the villages’ everyday life. We also post interesting stories and cheer-up pictures, music and other online cultural events. We gave an outreach growth to 1053 only for the last week. Each publication is read by over 100 people and we have hundreds of new followers. So, we hope this is another way to respond to the crisis and keep the life in these villages going despite the difficulties.
If we do not detect any serious needs caused by the crisis that can be helped with the donations made generously by all of you in GlobalGiving, we will still use the money for the next edition of the fest, be it in 2020 or next year.
Until then, we hope you will stay healthy, stay with us and help others join our noble cause – revive nine Bulgarian villages.
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