Help in the pandemic – Storytelling

Challenge and selection.

Storytelling is an amazing tool that is used all the time. I am a college student who focuses on  helping people in need. I mean vulnerable and fragile people. I constantly volunteer and I have  learned that it is easy to assume needs, but we are not always correct. In the wake of the  pandemic, a group of friends and I got together to talk about the help we could provide to people  who are having a worse time, I am referring to covid patients. Each one shared their experience  and their point of view of the problem we wanted to tackle in order to find a solution together. I  shared a story of my life so that more or less they have a perspective of what a covid patient  suffers from day to day and we can better understand the problem and find a solution.

Application

Following the idea in the previous paragraph, after we got together and shared our personal  stories about the pandemic and the covid patients, an idea came up. We realized that it would be  best to do a little more research on what these people, whom we wanted to help, go through in  their day-to-day lives. We asked them personally what they would like to improve in their current  situation. They told us many things and we learned a lot from them. We learned that, not counting  all the bodily suffering they have, these people spend their days confined and separated from  everything. Many of them were diagnosed with depression, they felt lonely. They also told us that  they had strict hours for calls and for supervised visits. They didn't feel like themselves and they  just wanted to get out of there. So, we thought, how to make them feel accompanied and  comfortable without risking being infected.

Insight and Approach

Knowing the stories of the people who lived in confinement was very revealing and motivating.  We thought about how we could get closer without having to be in person. That is when it  occurred to us to send them motivational messages every day, but how? A text message would be  very common, so why not send them letters. Letters would be our way of showing them that we  cared about them. A personalized letter would show them dedication, interest and company.   There we would tell them our experience, point of view, anecdotes or even jokes to make their  day better. We managed to raise the funds to start this beautiful volunteer called One Letter Two  Hearts. We have volunteers who help us write letters for patients, families, and medical staff.

This beautiful initiative arose thanks to the idea of contributing to our environment, since we are  going through such difficult situations. Hundreds of covid patients receive letters every day. The  most gratifying thing is that some of them have answered our letters and told us that it has helped  them to move forward. We also receive photos of them when they are recovered and they  appreciate all our help.

This course made me see that as a tool in a new sense. The power of stories can help us see reality  from a different perspective and get a better focus in everything we do.

Looking back, I don't think I would change anything. I think I followed the four steps of design  thinking. Thanks to this course we will expand to other areas of the hospital and redesign the  content of the letters. I am so grateful for this.


Help in the pandemic – Storytelling Challenge and selection . Storytelling is an amazing tool that is used all the time . I am a college student who focuses on helping people in need . I mean vulnerable and fragile people . I constantly volunteer and I have learned that it is easy to assume needs , but we are not always correct . In the wake of the pandemic , a group of friends and I got together to talk about the help we could provide to people who are having a worse time , I am referring to covid patients . Each one shared their experience and their point of view of the problem we wanted to tackle in order to find a solution together . I shared a story of my life so that more or less they have a perspective of what a covid patient suffers from day to day and we can better understand the problem and find a solution . Application Following the idea in the previous paragraph , after we got together and shared our personal stories about the pandemic and the covid patients , an idea came up . We realized that it would be best to do a little more research on what these people , whom we wanted to help , go through in their day - to - day lives . We asked them personally what they would like to improve in their current situation . They told us many things and we learned a lot from them . We learned that , not counting all the bodily suffering they have , these people spend their days confined and separated from everything . Many of them were diagnosed with depression , they felt lonely . They also told us that they had strict hours for calls and for supervised visits . They did n't feel like themselves and they just wanted to get out of there . So , we thought , how to make them feel accompanied and comfortable without risking being infected . Insight and Approach Knowing the stories of the people who lived in confinement was very revealing and motivating . We thought about how we could get closer without having to be in person . That is when it occurred to us to send them motivational messages every day , but how ? A text message would be very common , so why not send them letters . Letters would be our way of showing them that we cared about them . A personalized letter would show them dedication , interest and company . There we would tell them our experience , point of view , anecdotes or even jokes to make their day better . We managed to raise the funds to start this beautiful volunteer called One Letter Two Hearts . We have volunteers who help us write letters for patients , families , and medical staff . This beautiful initiative arose thanks to the idea of contributing to our environment , since we are going through such difficult situations . Hundreds of covid patients receive letters every day . The most gratifying thing is that some of them have answered our letters and told us that it has helped them to move forward . We also receive photos of them when they are recovered and they appreciate all our help . This course made me see that as a tool in a new sense . The power of stories can help us see reality from a different perspective and get a better focus in everything we do . Looking back , I do n't think I would change anything . I think I followed the four steps of design thinking . Thanks to this course we will expand to other areas of the hospital and redesign the content of the letters . I am so grateful for this .