Taking Care of Us from the Neighborhoods in Times of Quarantine. Citizen Solidarity Practices in Vallcarca, Barcelona (Spain)

Abstract

In the last weeks and months, COVID-19 has challenged and changed societies and social life around the world. In the case of Spain, the health crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic led to the declaration of a state of alert by the central government, which involved partial home confinement. Given this exceptional situation, neighborhood activation through mutual support networks has been very important in the city of Barcelona. This article describes and analyses, based on the method of autobiographical imagination, the example of a citizen solidarity practice Xarxa de Suport Mutu Vallcarca [Vallcarca mutual support network] in the Vallcarca neighborhood. Its main objective is to carry out actions of social support to palliate the effects of the confinement, fundamentally in the areas of care and support, as well as childhood and education. From 2008, the creativity of the neighborhoods and citizens has been a relevant motor and multiplier for social protection and change.