Local Facebook group created to help cope with lockdown gains massive following

Online activity has surged across the world as people come to terms with life during an unprecedented lockdown. 

The spike in usage has also seen many people join online communities due mainly to the lack of opportunities to socialize. 

One such group, 'Africa Rock The Lockdown' has garnered over 24 000 members since its inception on the eve President Cyril Rapamahosa activated the lockdown. 

"We knew instantly that it was going to create panic. So, we wanted to bring positivity to people's lives through sharing, keeping it real and obviously motivating people through other people's experience and providing real news."

"To be able to encourage people to change their way of thinking during this epidemic. To be able to rewire their brains, to create a more positive space within themselves and to be able to adjust during this cause and to use this time wisely so that they can grow as people and to find this a more comforting place."

The brainchild of Durban couple Bruce and Karen Clark, the page is a hub of activity to keep one's mind off the lockdown. Everyone is welcome to contribute to the page - but its carefully curated to avoid all forms of negativity. 

"We can't get to post everyone's post. We are very selective as to what we post and what we allow to go out onto the platform. We don't allow any form of negativity, vulgarities, from a group point we don't see colour, race or religion. It's a very safe place for people to air their views and to share love and kindness to everyone," says Bruce. 

He adds: "The response has been absolutely overwhelming - it took off from the first evening when we started. I was hoping to just about one hundred people when have now gone up to 24 000, and it's still growing on a daily basis."

From morning at-home gym sessions to virtual braais and even live performances the page offers to everyone's palette. 

"We have had a lot of live watch parties where we go out and for example have a braai, and we have a very good response from it. We have a lot of interaction by going questions and answers... We have also used it as a platform to allow musicians and DJs to come in and showcase their skills. We keep it real and most natural experience in this unnatural time."

"We have also done a food initiative by creating more awareness. We were able to showcase and let people know that there are such amazing people out there. People who are going out there feeding kids. We have tried to bring in financial contribution and also food donations, so that the kids can be feed in different communities," says Bruce. 

It doesn't end there. Karen says they also offer skills programmes. 

"We also decided to use this platform to be able to handover our skills to other people, recognising earlier on that people would naturally move to the negative thoughts and what was going to occur during this lockdown.

"To be able to encourage people to change their way of thinking during this epidemic. To be able to rewire their brains, to create a more positive space within themselves and to be able to adjust during this cause and ti use this time wisely so that they can grow as people and to find this a more comforting place."

"As Neuro-linguistic programming practitioners, we offer a space for people to come and get the relevant help that they need through different sources that we have connected with on our page. So, people who are battling can come to us as practitioners, and we are more than happy to help free of charge during this lockdown."

The couple has also created a business page 'Africa Rocking the Lockdown Business Centre' to support local business affected the lockdown. 

"We have given people an opportunity to be able to advertise their businesses for free. So, during the lockdown, those people who can still operate can spread awareness, and even companies can spread awareness for when this lockdown is over. We are encouraging them to advertise so that we become aware of what opportunities we have and to celebrate our skills in our local communities. It's about supporting local."