Bus spreads messages of love during the Covid-19 pandemic

In Brussels, the public bus company wanted to uplift the citizens during lockdown by creating the Voices of Brussels bus, which drove around the city spreading messages of love and hope.

The company share the following message, to announce the initiative: “In this extraordinary period, we try as much as possible to keep in touch with our loved ones, even if it is not always easy. The morale of Brussels residents is important to us; that's why STIB decided to give you a little boost with "Voices of Brussels"! Send us your voice message via Messenger and our bus will deliver your sweet words to the person you miss the most!”

So, people wanting to participate could send voice messages for a loved one, along with an address, and the Voices of Brussels bus would then drive around the city, at sunset, delivering the messages through a loudspeaker at the doorstep of the recipients. “We miss you a lot. Big kisses” and “We are sending you a big kiss” are some of the messages that could be heard.

Bus driver Alex Vandecasteele gets to see every reaction first-hand. “They are very happy that we thought of them. They are suddenly surprised, by people - their family or friends - who have thought of them”, he says.

Carmen Diaz, recipient of one of the messages, shares her reaction: “It was a beautiful surprise. It warms the heart and makes people come together despite the lockdown.”

The initiative was a big success, with STIB being flooded with message requests and with people starting to call it “the love bus”.

Adapted from: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/brussels-love-bus-broadcasts-perso...
https://www.themayor.eu/en/your-personal-message-delivered-by-bus-in-bru...

https://youtu.be/dZdcCW0YYfw , https://youtu.be/alnI2wOlgJ4