When I was 21 years old, I resided in Zimbabwe, Africa, for 3 months volunteering in a government school. One of the most powerful observations I made there had to do with human connectedness.
I found myself in a relatively less safe environment than what I was accustomed to, and it was not uncommon to walk down a residential street and pass by armed guards standing in front of homes. All properties were bordered by walls, often topped with barbed wire or glass shards to discourage intruders. I, myself, had at least 5 keys in order to get into my flat. One key was for the outside gate, one for the inside gate, one for the metal barred door, one for the actual door, and one for the back door.
Extra precautions were always attended to. Money was tucked into a pouch worn around the neck and tucked under the shirt. Eye contact was maintained with people walking down the street and walking was restricted to daylight hours, ideally with a trusted male escort. In a way, social distancing and isolation was physically promoted…for safety.
That is what made my observations on human connectedness so intriguing. During my 3-month stay, I got to know some people very well. They readily welcomed me into their homes and into their hearts. They bore their souls to me in easy, fluent conversation and communication, and there was no hesitation in their willingness to share what little they had with me and their other comrades. I had never experienced such warmth and generosity, so easily offered. I had never felt such a connectedness with near strangers.
Despite walls and locked doors in huge excess, people were trusting, caring and kind. They looked out for each other like family and treated me like one of their own.
At this time of sudden social isolation, it is my hope that these walls and barriers we are forced to create physically help us to learn to open up even more emotionally to each other. This is a time we need to lean on each other, support one another, and look out even for strangers in any way we safely can.
At Mind Over Learning, all of us work here because we genuinely care for humankind and for those who struggle. We will continue to support our students and our community in any way we can. As we strive to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we do so in order for all Canadians to have the opportunity to have medical care when needed. We will do our utmost to promote safety, kindness, and support.
We particularly open the doors to ideas of how we can best support you and your children academically. If you have a specific need, please feel most welcome to reach out to us with your questions and suggestions. You can email us at tutors@mindoverlearning.com.
Please also share your stories of how you have experienced human connection in this unusual time! We would love to hear how people have cared for each other in an era of uncertainty and need.