Warm greetings from the GSEF Secretariat.  

In these critical times of COVID-19 pandemic, first of all, we would like to express our deepest solidarity and compassion to all. Amidst very rapid and unpredictable development of COVID-19 pandemic into all countries and continents, we are also observing and taking necessary decisions to face crisis, including home-based working and social distancing campaigns, as well as cancellation and postponement of some of the planned activities, travels and meetings.  

However, we do not yet consider the postponement of our GSEF 2020 which will take place in Mexico City from 21st to 23rd of October 2020, with the hope that all the efforts deployed by all citizens, stakeholders and above all, by all local and central governments will soon bear good fruits.  

Of course, we will monitor very carefully evolving situation and if necessary, we shall undertake a collective decision-making process even though it may lead us to a very tough decision to make. In the meantime, I would like to speak on behalf of the GSEF Secretariat; we will stay very close with you to keep close communication on our collective responsibility to stand in solidarity to ensure the health, safety and well-being of all our members, partners and friends. We also assure you that all our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted, their families, all countries and Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) stakeholders that are working day and night to overcome this crisis.  

It is a time that reminds us how much inter-connected community we live in sharing a common destiny, but at the same time it is also a time that a sense of connectedness is once again threatened by new types of challenges. We witness a lot of political will and firm willingness of communities fight actively against it and yet, we, as a community of SSE, know that we can’t overcome this crisis if we cede our hope to fear, and solidarity to self-centeredness.  

We urge all of you to share with us, any SSE initiative and important public policies taken by your Cities and Local governments responding to health, social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. They need to be shared with others so we can mutually learn from our creativities and innovations. If we stay together, we will grow stronger than the challenges faced and overcome this crisis very soon.  

We look forward to hearing from you all very soon,  
In Hope and Solidarity,  

Laurence KWARK  
Secretary General of GSEF