While 2020 presented countless moments of tragedy and loss, it was also a year of great courage and compassion.
To celebrate this year's bright spots, Global Citizen launched the #My2020Hero social media campaign to invite people around the world to honor those who have brought hope and positivity to an especially tough year.
Your hero can be anyone who has made 2020 better for you or your community. They can be your friends and family who supported you through quarantine, or any of the incredible frontline workers you know who have put their lives at risk to help others.
Take a moment to think about the people in your life who stepped up this year and share a photo of your “2020 Hero,” along with a few sentences that highlight why you appreciate them.
By including #My2020Hero in your post, your hero could be celebrated as part of this year’s Global Citizen Prize, an award show hosted by John Legend on Dec. 19 that will celebrate the activists, world leaders, artists, and Global Citizens working to create a better future for all.
Here are just a few of the unsung heroes that Global Citizens have honored so far through this campaign.
1. A Frontline Worker
This badass has always been #MyHero, but esp #My2020Hero bc she's committed to caring for COVID patients even when they refuse to believe in the virus killing them, when they say racist shit bc she's Asian, when she gotta cobble together PPE from craft supplies. She rules! 💪🏾🔥👑 https://t.co/7tccvZdLFZ
— Cookie Hiponia Everman (@cookie_everman) November 23, 2020
2. Behind-the-Scenes Public Health Workers
#My2020Hero’es are all those amazing people #publichealth workers who are not visible but are making all the difference for #COVID19 response. #StrongerTogether@WHOWPRO strategic comms team @Melinda_Frost1@supriyabez@Nejapa1@BenDuncanStkhlm@VivianeLucia@husni_portraitshttps://t.co/4xmKY2SjOL
— Ljubica Latinovic (@draljubi) November 25, 2020
3. A Pair of Brothers
#My2020Hero is @2brositk, the 2 teenage brothers who volunteer their time making facemasks, baking cookies and delivering to schools to appreciate the teachers. I hope their act of kindness serves as a good example to many. From this we can learn to live a selfless life. pic.twitter.com/a3sQ9KNjOl
— JB Dondolo, Inc. (@JbDondolo) November 25, 2020
4. A Mother
My name is Romario from Durban and I am 9 years old #My2020Hero is my mum. She calls me a visionary and motivates me and help me achieve all my goals. https://t.co/hBykBwvIQ9
— Romario Valentine (@ArtistRomario) November 20, 2020
5. A Father
#my2020hero is my father he gave food to neighbouring 20 families in the covid19 pandemic,Am really proud of him.Thanks to all the global citizen team. pic.twitter.com/5XJplq0ewj
— @crystostylesug (@crystostylesug) November 24, 2020
6. A Sister
I’m choosing my sister @mojisolat a frontline NHS worker because the strength and the leadership skill she possesses makes everyone around her never want to give up. #My2020Heropic.twitter.com/Jdihz3NKNl
— 💗simbiat💟 (@cimbyy) November 21, 2020
7. A Son
#My2020Hero : my boy who inspires me daily ..one grateful dude on this #Thanksgiving2020 ..thanks @GlblCtzn 4 all that u all do 😎 pic.twitter.com/w45L4xFGeA
— S Michael Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) November 26, 2020
8. A Nurse
@HeadCountOrg
— Ellen Horvitz (@EllenHorvitz) November 23, 2020
Liz Doherty, Nurse at MGH in Boston, works day and night, including in the ICU during this pandemic #my2020heropic.twitter.com/JLZhBiMXrV
9. A Doctor
Dr. Mark Rupp, division chief, #UNMCIM@UNMC_ID, has done an extraordinary job with his team by coordinating COVID-related infection control programs at UNMC and in NE. He's been a calm voice providing important COVID info around the US and world. He is our #my2020hero!! pic.twitter.com/LXnx0tDcnM
— UNMC Department of Internal Medicine (@UNMC_IM) November 24, 2020
10. A Powerful Activist
11. A Fighter for Racial Justice
@GlblCtzn@GwenMadiba is also #My2020Hero because she also organizes bi-weekly community dialogues with members of the community and Allies to tackle racism and has managed to launch a beautiful local anti racism campaign during the pandemic to promote dialogue and combat racism! pic.twitter.com/tR06B4y2u6
— Maximus Tulipus (@MaximusTulipus) November 24, 2020
12. A Period Poverty Policymaker
I'm nominating my friend MSP Monica Lennon @MonicaLennon7 as #My2020Hero - proud of her for using her position of power to impact change with her Period Products Bill! ✊🏾🇿🇦
— Nokuzola Ndwandwe South African Activist 🇿🇦 (@Nokuzola_SA) November 21, 2020
In our pursuit to eradicate #periodpoverty by 2030! ⭕️ https://t.co/e1JLQcPpbi
13. A Wildlife Savior
My mum is my heroine. #My2020Hero During covid she helped me raise over R30,000 via @backabuddy for 900 birds at Umgeni River Bird Park. She taught me art from when I was 5 and I use my art to raise awareness for wildlife. She inspires me to stay optimistic pic.twitter.com/GbgEjuL1Wi
— Romario Valentine (@ArtistRomario) November 22, 2020
14. A Gender Equality Organization
My #2020Hero is @HeForShe, for their tireless work in bringing men and boys into the global effort to achieve #genderequality and raising awareness of #COVID19’s disparate impact on women and girls! Tagging @iamIqraKhalid, @Nonzad and @GGigauriIOM. Who is your #2020Hero? https://t.co/8t9dhK5Uky
— Sven Spengemann (@SvenTrueNorth) November 21, 2020
15. Scientists
This year more than the average year our hope is in #science. Science guides our responses to #COVID19, develops better testing, treatment & vaccines. Let's follow #my2020hero the scientists & counter misinformation.
— Mia Seppo (@MiaSeppo) November 23, 2020
Who is your #2020Hero@SaleemulHuq@runakhan_ed
@phedramoon ? https://t.co/G4mU9T6ec6
16. Anyone Who Acts With Kindess
#My2020Hero is everyone who acts w/ #kindness, #empathy & #joy even in darkest times of humanity.
— Mustafa Osman Turan (@Mustafa_O_Turan) November 23, 2020
The world thrives, thanks to resilience & shining lights of these humble heros & heroines all around & within us.
I ask @MiaSeppo@Rubanahuq@RensjeTeerink 2 nominate ⭕️ #2020Herohttps://t.co/gQQHbBXseM
17. A Governor
#My2020Hero is @NYGovCuomo who stepped up & presented his daily briefings which was relevant to any citizen anywhere in the world as #COVID19 pandemic spread. He initiated a video competition #WearAMask; #WashHands, #sanitize & #SocialDistance#NYTough@GlblCtznpic.twitter.com/uUhiVtqbMU
— Priscilla Naidoo (@priscillanaidoo) November 24, 2020
18. A Minister of Health
#my2020hero is the minister of health Rwanda @DrDanielNgamije, this pandemic gave him a difficult task i couldn’t believe he could handle but he come out with plans, measures and innovations, and my country is battling well. @GlblCtzn@RwandaHealthpic.twitter.com/COWkhpvtXW
— Thierry CYIZERE (@TCyizere) November 24, 2020
19. The Director-General of the World Health Organization
@DrTedros as a WHO leader,he gave pieces of advice , frequent breaf to people on what to do to avoid contacting Covid-19, I therefore benefited and still benefiting from his advice #My2020Hero. pic.twitter.com/tjooStOrpN
— Michael Jamwa🇰🇪 (@Leyjoy31) November 24, 2020
20. Kids
My #2020Hero, or rather superheroes, are all the KIDS out there who bravely adapted to a situation of #covid19 which has had immense consequences for their education, safety, health and general wellbeing.
— Alex Berg von Linde (@AlxBergvonLinde) November 22, 2020
Who is your #2020Hero? @sudiptomuk@NCCIB@AsaTorkelssonhttps://t.co/BdmP6EDLeXpic.twitter.com/mqnUiyN2xo