Helen in Auckland
A message from Minh.
At time of writing, Metro Manilla, where I presently reside, stands at 144,000 cases of Covid-19. This is half of the total of cases in the Philippines. As I look out at the 'pearl of the orient,’ I wonder about those indirectly affected, cut off from livelihoods, friends and pastimes, as we remain in partial lockdown in a cloud of uncertainties.
Across the world, foundations and think tanks are scrambling together data to recognise the true impacts of lockdown on our mental health and to advise us on how we might mitigate further damage through Covid-19 waves to come.
One such think tank is the Helen Clark Foundation, headed by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand and ex-Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, where we worked as colleagues for 8 years.
In August, Helen kindly took time from her grueling schedule to share her personal experience of lockdown and discuss with us the topic of loneliness and her take on the handling of the pandemic by female leaders.
My sincere thanks to Helen for sharing her hopes, worries and insights. And my thanks to you, dear visitor, for your continued interest during these extraordinary times.
Best wishes,
Minh Pham
Across the world, foundations and think tanks are scrambling together data to recognise the true impacts of lockdown on our mental health and to advise us on how we might mitigate further damage through Covid-19 waves to come.
One such think tank is the Helen Clark Foundation, headed by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand and ex-Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, where we worked as colleagues for 8 years.
In August, Helen kindly took time from her grueling schedule to share her personal experience of lockdown and discuss with us the topic of loneliness and her take on the handling of the pandemic by female leaders.
My sincere thanks to Helen for sharing her hopes, worries and insights. And my thanks to you, dear visitor, for your continued interest during these extraordinary times.
Best wishes,
Minh Pham
Helen in Auckland.
Helen Clark is not used to being stuck at home. As former PM of New Zealand and UN official, her default mode is on the road. So - how does a world leader cope with a world in standstill?
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We link you back to the multimedia homepage at the end, but if you want to return earlier just click the "start" button in the side menu at any time.
Sabbatical
Sabbatical.
“I’m
one of those people who quite enjoyed the lockdown, because normally my life
is so busy. Rushing here, rushing there, getting on a plane, getting off a plane.
And for the first few weeks of the lockdown, people hadn’t yet adapted to Zoom calls, which because of where my work is tend to be awkward time zones of New Zealand.
So I enjoyed it, but with one downside, and that was my very elderly father and not being able to go near him. Luckily, he has good care around him.
But for me, it was like a sabbatical at home.”
And for the first few weeks of the lockdown, people hadn’t yet adapted to Zoom calls, which because of where my work is tend to be awkward time zones of New Zealand.
So I enjoyed it, but with one downside, and that was my very elderly father and not being able to go near him. Luckily, he has good care around him.
But for me, it was like a sabbatical at home.”
Auntie Helen
“We were lucky in New Zealand
because we were allowed to go out. So I did a tremendous amount of walking
around my neighborhood and taking photos.
I would talk to my neighbours, walk along and people would shout out,
'There’s Auntie Helen, please come and take a photo!'"
I would talk to my neighbours, walk along and people would shout out,
'There’s Auntie Helen, please come and take a photo!'"
Physical distancing
Physical distancing.
“There’s
a difference between being isolated and being lonely. In New Zealand, we
didn’t talk about ‘social distancing’. We wanted people to be connected.
Instead we called it ‘physical distancing.’ You can be very connected while
you isolate."
Women Leaders
Goto first pageWomen leaders.
“On
average, the women leaders have done very well. Not every woman has done
well. We can think of countries where the results have been disastrous.
But I think people are recognising the achievements of women such as Jacinda Ardern, the female Prime Ministers of the Scandinavian countries, Angela Merkel, of course, the woman leader of Taiwan, as well.
Photograph: A young Helen, a young woman leader.
But I think people are recognising the achievements of women such as Jacinda Ardern, the female Prime Ministers of the Scandinavian countries, Angela Merkel, of course, the woman leader of Taiwan, as well.
Photograph: A young Helen, a young woman leader.
I don't think so!
I don't think so!
“It’s
very important now that leaders are very honest with their public. This is not going to go away anytime soon.
We see breathless reports about vaccines being around the corner. Hello?! I don’t think so!"
We see breathless reports about vaccines being around the corner. Hello?! I don’t think so!"
Can't let our hair down.
"So
the conversation leaders need to start having with their public is, ‘How do
we go forward for the long term? What’s it going to require of us?’
Rather than these frankly crazy scenes in the northern hemisphere of people crowding onto beaches. We have to get it into our head that physical distancing remains important."
Rather than these frankly crazy scenes in the northern hemisphere of people crowding onto beaches. We have to get it into our head that physical distancing remains important."
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All We Have
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For more from our global contributors in lockdown roam our digital exhibition or you might like one of the stories below:
Michael in New York.
Guarav in Jhansi
Vera in Brussels
Muntaha in Kashmir
Marianne in Arizona
Florence in LIma
Elisenda in Manlleu
Alessia in Dublin
Jonas & Johannes in Berlin
Ildiko in Vientiane
Gabriel & Ross in Lima
Stella in NYC
Dima in Sri Lanka
Suzanne in Hanoi
Adam in Beijing
Seamus in Melbourne
Marie in Paris
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A message from Minh.
Helen in Auckland.
Sabbatical.
Stay home.
Auntie Helen
Walking tours.
Physical distancing.
Third week in lockdown.
Physical distancing.
Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness & Response.
Women leaders.
Women leaders.
I don't think so!
Can't let our hair down.
Can't let our hair down
Helen's work.
All We Have