Proceedings of The 6th International Conference on Future of Social Sciences
Year: 2023
DOI:
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An Exploration of The Impact of Mutual Aid on the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic Response
Dr. Kalimah Ibrahiim, Victor Oghenenyerovwome Iki, Douglene Jackson, PhD
ABSTRACT:
During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, mutual aid responses occurred at the national and community level. Presented is a study in the United Kingdom examining how grassroots community action supports people during pandemics and emergency situations. Also assessed are the need for community self-organizing, their effectiveness, and issues that arose. An interpretative approach was used to understand the perspectives of organizers, volunteers, and recipients of support from mutual aid (N=15) who formed the first mutual aid group in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A purposive sampling technique was used with semi-structured interviews conducted virtually. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic content analysis, yielding the following themes: 1) lack of trust in government during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) people feeling forgotten by the national government and their local council, and 3) the need to support vulnerable populations and members of the community, including those who belong to marginalized groups. Demonstrated is how grassroots community organizing in efforts to bolster local and national government initiatives is possible, especially in times of emergency that can bring communities together to support one another. Such an approach could be used to co-produce sustainable public health services in collaboration with communities and government, developing trust and meeting population health needs.
Keywords: community organizing, grassroots, mutual aid, population health, disparities