How RSA Fellows are uniting to tackle Covid-19 challenges

We recently launched a new online collaboration platform, Wazoku – a space dedicated to social or community projects that are attempting to tackle the innumerable issues caused by coronavirus. The response from RSA Fellows has been fantastic – and we want to see more.

We’ve had over 50 projects submitted, all showing the numerous ways that Fellows are dealing with the problems posed by the pandemic. Initiatives have ranged from providing art kits to those in temporary accommodation, training to help look after the mental health of ourselves and others, and an app for the UK’s care workers – to projects using the pandemic to address homelessness, and a group for making scrubs for frontline workers.

Over 80 people have now contributed to the platform, but all our projects are after more input and support. It is only through collaboration and a strong network of Fellows committed to social change that these initiatives can grow and develop.

So if you’ve helped community projects before, supported grassroots work, or are just looking for a way to help address the effects of the pandemic, then register for an account and offer whatever help you can. Once you’ve found a project that you’re interested in, just outline what you can do to help in the comments section at the bottom of each post.

Wazoku allows you to collaborate no matter where you or the project you’re interested in are based. To get an idea of how the platform works, please watch the introductory video.

This space is for anyone looking for ways to support communities and social change throughout the pandemic. If you’ve got a project that’s addressing any of the numerous challenges caused by coronavirus and you’re in need of help and expertise from other Fellows, why not submit a post?

We’re also pleased to be hosting our first online Wazoku event on Wednesday 20 May. Tickets are still available, so do register if you’re free. The two projects we’re spotlighting are a festival to support the fragile economy of coastal communities, and an initiative to provide homes for NHS workers during the crisis. This event is about striking up connections and making real progress through collaboration – if you know of anyone who might be able to help, invite them along.

Please be aware that you need to register to comment and/or post your projects, and that Wazoku is not a platform for business proposals or any product, ideas or strategies that result in commercial gain. If you have any questions, do feel free to get in touch at fellowship@rsa.org.uk.