{"id":2364,"date":"2025-05-16T16:16:50","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T16:16:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/haella.nl\/foundation\/?post_type=news&p=2364"},"modified":"2025-05-16T16:16:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T16:16:52","slug":"what-to-do-in-the-face-of-despair","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/haella.nl\/foundation\/news\/what-to-do-in-the-face-of-despair\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do in the face of despair?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since I returned from Lesbos, I\u2019ve spoken with many people and addressed various gatherings. I find it important \u2014 and meaningful \u2014 to share stories and reflect on what I\u2019ve seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I often encounter is a deep sense of despair and sadness in people about what\u2019s happening. Whether I speak about the hellish conditions at the edges of Europe or small projects here in the Netherlands, the reaction is often: I didn\u2019t know<\/em>. Not that this is going on. Not how serious the problems are. But also not how many people care \u2014 and take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s like practicing the art of not becoming disheartened<\/strong>. Because despair leads to helplessness, which leads to apathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where do you find hope, and what should we do to hold onto it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I get asked this more and more, and the question seems to become more urgent each week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no standard answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there are<\/em> things I\u2019ve learned that help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Look at what is happening.<\/strong> At all the people who are taking action. Wherever, however. There really are so many<\/em>!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Contribute financially<\/strong> to initiatives where there is immediate need. Now<\/em> is the time. Donate to the last remaining community centers in Gaza, support organizations that strive to preserve humanity in the hell at Europe\u2019s borders, back that tiny neighborhood initiative helping people no one sees. And trust them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Don\u2019t drown in the big-picture, systemic issues<\/strong> that seem impossible to solve. That can make you feel powerless. Instead, look at now<\/em> \u2014 there is something you can do today<\/em>, even if it\u2019s small. And small steps are always more than nothing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Stay informed.<\/strong> Even if the news overwhelms you. Even if it\u2019s just on one topic close to your heart.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Join those already doing something.<\/strong> That feels far less lonely. So many people have already started \u2014 help is needed everywhere. Even if you have little time, there\u2019s always<\/em> something you can contribute.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Sign petitions. March.<\/strong> Join the Red Line<\/em> in The Hague tomorrow and Straat op!<\/em> in Amsterdam next week. It may not change the world overnight \u2014 but it will<\/em> change your sense of hope and courage. You are not alone<\/em>, and we show the world that we do care<\/em>. Moral support can sometimes be more powerful than financial. People from Haella will be at both protests \u2014 don\u2019t want to walk alone? Let us know, and we\u2019ll create a meeting point.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Take care of each other \u2014 and yourself.<\/strong> Share your grief and frustration, and share your hope. Again and again. You are not alone. Truly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Since I returned from Lesbos, I\u2019ve spoken with many people and addressed various gatherings. I find it important \u2014 and meaningful \u2014 to share stories and reflect on what I\u2019ve seen. What I often encounter is a deep sense of despair and sadness in people about what\u2019s happening. Whether I speak about the hellish conditions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2365,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[83,92,49],"news-category":[134,126,133],"class_list":["post-2364","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-empathy","tag-humanity","tag-solidarity","news-category-hope","news-category-humanity","news-category-society"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat to do in the face of despair? - Haella Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/haella.nl\/foundation\/news\/what-to-do-in-the-face-of-despair\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What to do in the face of despair? - Haella Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Since I returned from Lesbos, I\u2019ve spoken with many people and addressed various gatherings. 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