Month: April 2020

Nicolas Vogogna is a 15-year-old student in Monaco completing his last year of high school. He spoke to Monaco Life about what it’s been like during lockdown.
 
What did you first think when you heard about the lockdown? 
I was a little worried. I didn’t know what I was going to do while in lockdown and you don’t know what to expect. Normally when they tell you you’re going to be in lockdown they tell you the reason why, but in this case, we just knew that the coronavirus was spreading.
What did an average school day look like before the lockdown?
Usually we would start at 8am and finish at 3.40pm. 
What does an average school day look like now for you? 
Everything changed in our time tables. We start at 9am and finish probably around 6pm. Personally, I think it’s pretty dumb to change our time tables because we get less family time but more work.
The exam process will be changed this year because of the crisis, how do you feel about that? 
My friends and I are supposed to be passing the brevet. It’s pretty frustrating because we all studied very hard, but the good thing is now we don’t have the pressure on us.
How are you keeping busy?
I’m keeping myself busy by staying on the phone and talking to my friends, or doing sports and reading.
How are you staying fit and healthy during lockdown? 
I’m staying healthy and fit just by doing sports and not eating too much. Probably my biggest accomplishment is not going insane. But I guess that everybody’s doing the same thing.
How much of your classes are taken online in virtual classrooms? 
I do have a lot of online classes, for example each Monday at 11am to 2pm I have a conference call with all of my classmates and my teacher.
Is it difficult staying motivated to do all your schoolwork?
Well I’m not going to lie, it’s really difficult being motivated to do all of the schoolwork because you don’t really feel like doing it. Plus, you get distracted easily.
Have you found any techniques or apps that are particularly helpful? 
There is one app that is really helpful called Teams for conference calls with your teacher or your friends. There’s also an app called Pluto which is an entertainment app with a lot of games that you can play with your friends or family while texting and some of my friends use it.
Do you have any concerns once the lockdown is lifted?
I do have concerns for when the lockdown is lifted because we don’t know what to expect, especially at school.
 
 

The most isolated and vulnerable people in Monaco during the Covid-19 health crisis, the elderly, are being given free digital devices to help stay in touch with family while maintaining social distancing.
While many of us are able to navigate our way around Zoom and Teams to chat face-to-face with friends and family during the health crisis, the same can’t necessary be said for the elderly in the community – those who should maintain a certain level of confinement despite a lifting of the lockdown on Monday.
Helping in the fight against the isolation of elders, being by their side on a daily basis and promoting an intergenerational bond are the daily missions of the staff of the Service des Seniors and de l’Action Sociale.
It is within this framework that the City of Monaco, in partnership with the Children and Future association and Monaco Telecom, is providing 100 digital tablets to 100 beneficiaries of this service.
The tablets will allow the most vulnerable in the community to keep in contact – visually – with their loved ones while staying safe during the current health crisis. Service staff will be responsible for guiding them in the operation of the devices.
The Children and Future association, annual organiser of the No Finish Line fundraising event, has financed the purchase of the digital tablets, and Monaco Telecom has provided free 4G connection until the end of the year. After this date, the cost of the annual subscription will be shared equally (50%) between Monaco Telecom and the City Council.
The tablet delivery was received at the City Hall by Mayor Georges Marsan on Wednesday 29^th April together with President of Children and Future Ariane Favaloro and Managing Director of Monaco Télécom Martin Peronnet.
 
 

F1 champion Charles Leclerc this week joined a campaign to thank the unsung heroes of the Covid-19 health crisis, handing out treats and putting smiles on faces. 
In a show of thanks and solidarity, volunteers and assistants at the Town Hall, Monaco Red Cross and the Société Monégasque d’Assainissement (SMA) were offered candied treats from fairground stallholders for their tireless work behind the scenes during the health crisis.
A selection of delectable items, including candied apples, nougat, lollipops and stuffed toys, were handed out to personal care assistants from the Town Hall on Tuesday by stallholders of the fair, led by the President of Stallholders Robert Dumont.
Mayor Georges Marsan welcomed the retinue, along with the Deputy Mayor of Social Affairs Camille Svara and Deputy Mayor Jacques Pastor.

The Town Hall wanted to spread the love and added the staffs of the SMA and Monaco Red Cross as recipients of goodies, as well. Each organisation received 200 snacks that were distributed at their headquarters.
Some lucky recipients were able to take their reward straight from the hands of Monegasque Formula Onedriver Charles Leclerc. Leclerc donated his time delivering equipment to the Princess Grace Hospital as well as passing out treats to Red Cross volunteers and staff.

Leclerc is no stranger to helping out the Red Cross. He also participates with Team Ferrari in their support of the Croce Rossa Italiano.
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have also publicly shown support and appreciation of the Monaco Red Cross, posing for a photo holding signs depicting unity and universality in the face of the Covid crisis. The Sovereign Prince is President of the Red Cross in the Principality, a privilege passed down since Prince Louis II inaugurated the Red Cross of Monaco in 1948.
 
Top photo: ©Manuel Vitali/Communication Department