Entire Neighborhood Sings 'Happy Birthday' To Eight-Year-Old Girl During Isolation

Mar 27, 2020 by apost team

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, communities across the world have locked down, isolating themselves from the dangers of the virus. But thanks to people’s creativity, these safety measures haven’t meant a complete end to social contact. In one Southampton community, an entire neighborhood got together this week to sing happy birthday to one young woman, eight-year-old Sophia.

According to the BBC, the Cobden Gardens in Bitterne Park residents came up with the idea after the young woman’s parents announced her birthday in a community WhatsApp group. Thanks to the power of modern technology, the neighborhood quickly decided that they would not let their self quarantine get in the way of this girl’s special day — even if they couldn’t meet up in person. And so on the morning of Sophia’s eighth birthday, community members sang from windows, front yards and gardens. Even a local music teacher joined in on her trumpet. 

Like many of the heartwarming stories that are coming out of this moment of worldwide solidarity — from Instagram Live DJ sets to serenading neighbors from rooftops — the touching moment was captured on video, which spread like wildfire across the web. In the short but wholesome clip, the camera pans to show people throughout the neighborhood singing their hearts out. You can even make out one next door neighbor, an older man, who sticks his head of the window to join the community chorus. Meanwhile, little Sophia seems overwhelmed by the outpouring of community warmth as she buries her face in her hands while standing in front of her house. At one point the singing gets so loud that it is echoes throughout the Cobden Gardens in Bitterne Park community.

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This incredible sense of heartwarming community, creativity and thoughtfulness in the face of this global crisis has spread across the globe. Not only have people sung from rooftops and taken extra care to protect the most vulnerable among us, but folks are also making sure to continue having fun and maintain a sense of community even while maintaining social distance.

With over 100,000 people tuning into the livestream, DJ D-Nice deejayed an Instagram Live dance party from his kitchen for everyone who is stuck at home, according to Billboard. The dance party got so popular that tons of celebrities joined in, including Jennifer Lopez, Drake, Michelle Obama and Joe Biden. Talk about an A-list club.

“100,000 people were in that Live to hear what I wanted to play, and I was able to play from my heart. So I was able to just do what I love and it was a beautiful experience,” Dj D-Nice said in an interview with Jimmy Fallon this week.

So even though technology has a reputation of isolating us further, distracting us from our fellow humans, this crisis has shown that a sense of solidarity and a community WhatsApp group can go a long way to making someone’s day as we all navigate the difficulties of this strange time.

What do you think about the community's effort to make Sophia's birthday special? Let us know and pass this touching story on to your family and friends.