There Were Many Bright Spots to Be Found Amid the Doom and Gloom of 2016 · Global Voices
A collage of photos from Global Voices coverage in 2016. Created by <PERSON>.
The idea that 2016 was a particularly terrible year is widespread, so much so that there are several popular Internet memes on the topic. Perhaps it's true. The year was indeed marred by war, violence, death, persecution, xenophobia, and censorship, and in our minds just as in the media, if it bleeds, it leads.
But dig a little deeper, and you'll see that 2016 also offered us plenty of moments of friendship, creativity, humor and strength.
Global Voices’ virtual, community-driven newsroom worked hard this year to build understanding across borders and language barriers through stories that challenge narratives of power and privilege. Our reporting often highlighted kindness in the face of cruelty, love in the face of hate, and resilience in the face of adversity.
So before we bid farewell to 2016, take heart in the following list of 41 stories. The year was pretty bad, but not all bad.
1. A hilarious meme leads to a serious campaign for children in Ghana
An Instagram photo of a young boy named <PERSON> drawing intently at school in a Ghanaian village inspired dozens of memes. The man behind the snapshot, <PERSON>, then turned the attention into a crowdfunding campaign to support <PERSON> and other children's education, raising more than $13,000.
2. A Kyrgyz woman singer remakes a poem traditionally sung by men
Kyrgyz artist <PERSON> recorded a powerful take on the Manas epic, or manaschi, which are guardians of an oral folklore. They are also almost always men. <PERSON>'s version carries a new twist, urging the preservation of the country's nature and nomadic heritage.
3. ‘Walls of kindness’ and ‘walls of empathy’ promote unity and love
“Walls of kindness” (Deewar-e-Meherbani) began as an outdoor charity drive for Iran's homeless. The walls featured clothing on hooks beside the phrase, “Take one if you need it. Give one if you don't.” The idea then spread to China and Pakistan. Meanwhile, in the US, collaborative walls of empathy in San Francisco's subway stations offered messages of love and unity after a particularly divisive election.
Photo by Somali Faces. 926
Used with permission.
4. ‘Somali Faces’ challenges stereotypes with personal stories of hope
A new online project shares stories of ordinary Somalis to counter international perceptions of Somalis and encourage Somalis to rise above petty clannism. Readers can learn about people like “The Activist,” who describes how she overcame the loss of her legs as a child to become an advocate for disabled people. “If you have an ambition, there are many ways to achieve it,” she says.
5. Imams and priests square off in a friendly soccer match in Denmark
A group of priests and imams challenged each other on the soccer field in June to defy media narratives that divide Danes along cultural and religious lines. Co-founder of the initiative <PERSON> explained, “We need something that shows that we as human beings are able to live together.”
6. A massive virtual library opens its doors to Croatians for free
Croatia became a “Free Reading Zone” in December for all residents willing to install a mobile app that provided access to an e-book library 100,000 titles strong. The month was sponsored by portal No Shelf Required, and the initiative was the brainchild of <PERSON>, a Croatian immigrant to the US who believes access to knowledge is a basic human right.
7. Volunteer disaster relief cultivates Taiwanese-Japanese friendship
At Taiwan Presbyterian Church, Japanese volunteers outnumbered Taiwanese volunteers following the Tainan earthquake, which killed more than 100 people and leveled buildings around southern Taiwan. Japanese volunteers said they felt compelled to help, since Taiwan had donated the most money out of all countries following the March 11, 2011 quake that devastated Japan.
<PERSON>. Photo: <PERSON> / GoFundMe
8. The inspiring, viral story of Mexican immigrant <PERSON>
A crowdfunding campaign raised more than $380,000 for an 89-year-old Mexican man named <PERSON>, who works as a street seller of popsicles and ice cream in Chicago. <PERSON> had recently lost his daughter, leaving her two children in his care. The money was meant to give the hard-working man a well-deserved retirement.
9. Meet <PERSON>, a symbol of Mali's resilience
<PERSON> challenges gender roles in Mali and helps the conflict-raddled country rebuild its economy at the same time. 157