Leicester Stories - #BuildBackBetter - Part 1

Dr Rob Watson interviewed me as part of Leicester Stories serie #BuildBackBetter in July 2021. Prior to the interview, he sent me few questions for me to prepare the interview and start thinking about what it means to Build Back Better post-pandemic. In the following post, I will take time to answer the questions I was sent and augment my response with some of the reflections I had through the interview.

R: I’d like to find out what we are still learning from the experience of the lockdown, particularly here in Leicester?

M: At Quetzal, the lockdown taught us and invited us to reflect on the following:

• What does it take to be a community that is not defined by a set location?
• What can we do to mobilise our partners, volunteers and collaborators from remote location?
• What does it takes to disseminate information and make it accessible to people who may not have access to the online world?
• What other type of event can we develop that keep ourselves and other safe?
• What special provision do we need to make to support better female survivors?

I learnt and appreciate crisis and disaster as a great opportunity to reach new level of consciousness providing new solutions to existing problems. I also appreciated how important and significant it is to take care of our mental health and how media is key to connect us with one another especially when the most low tech technology i.e. word of mouth and events are no longer readily accessible.