Almost 40% of young people have felt more aware of being part of a global community since the coronavirus pandemic began, aid and development charity Christian Aid has revealed today.
In a survey* by Savanta ComRes, commissioned by the charity, 39% of people aged 18-34 said they felt more part of a global community than before the virus outbreak. This compares with just 21% of people aged over 55.
Closer to home, 39% of people aged 18-34 also felt an increased sense of community spirit in their local neighbourhood, a figure which jumps to 49% of people aged 55 and over and 53% for those over 65.
Responding to the poll findings, Christian Aid’s Head of Community Fundraising and Public Engagement, Chine McDonald said: “Covid-19 may have forced us to physically separate, but connection and community have been huge themes this year.
“It’s exciting to see a significant number of young people indicating that they feel more part of our global community.
“It’s because our supporters feel connection with those trapped in poverty that they act to bring about change. Neighbours here in the UK are transforming people’s lives when they come together, online or otherwise, and through our partner organisations our supporters reach out to their global neighbours too.
“We have been bowled over by people’s understanding that Covid-19 is also devastating lives in parts of the world much less resilient than ours. Although we are still dealing with the virus here, people can see how awful the impact of this disease is on people without safety nets and without access to good healthcare.”
For its Autumn appeal launched this month, Christian Aid is encouraging people to connect locally and globally by coming together, digitally or otherwise, to celebrate communities who are uniting in times of crisis.
The appeal highlights the charity’s work in countries like Nicaragua where communities have joined forces to overcome the crises of poverty and injustice. It asks supporters to give: to help communities around the world come together to overcome poverty; to act: to call for the cancellation of debt repayments for low-income countries during the coronavirus pandemic so they can better address this crisis; and to pray for our global neighbours facing crisis in all its various forms. Churches across England and Ireland have been supporting the appeal by holding a Global Neighbours Service.
For further information: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/global-neighbours-autumn-appeal
Ends
*Methodology note: Savanta ComRes interviewed 2,315 UK adults online between 4th and 7th September 2020. Data were weighted to be nationally representative of all UK adults by key demographic characteristics including age, gender, region and social grade. Savanta ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Full tables at ww.comresglobal.com.
