Care is boundless. Without rigid boundaries, we can give empathy in abundance. That doesn’t mean depleting ourselves; it means offering our fullest, most genuine capacity to others. To me, the depth and sincerity of care matters more than its quantity.

Care Activist

Kosovo

To me ... care is not simply an act of kindness, compassion, or love, it also asks us to think about responsibility, to think who gives care, who receives it, under what conditions and who carries the time, effort, and cost needed to sustain life. In this sense, I understand care as the ongoing work of maintaining, continuing and repairing our world so that life can be lived as well as possible.

Student

Colombia

Care is the act of intentionally whole-heartedly choosing to provide support for one another. Intentionally choosing means the absense of force, one's own decision to do so out of sincerity. Support can be defined as many meaning according to different context, be it medical, emotional, financial, physical etc. One another covers not only fellow human but also the beings and the world that surrounds them such as animal, and nature.

Care is not doing what makes you feel good. Care is not based on mutual benefits. Care is not performative. Care is not political (questionable but would love to discuss more :D)

Care is a right. Care is innate.

Hongly - ResFut 28

Student

Cambodia

For me, care starts from a humanist perspective of lived empathy towards the things around you ( not just anthropocentrically).

In terms of design I see care as an important board member on the proverbial council of design intentions, if I may say so. Each project has a set of generators at the helm of the process. For example it could be materiality, form, product-market fit, or a bunch of other factors that are driving it; but care is important for without it, the practice of design becomes a bit disingenuous i think.

Of course things can be designed without care and they may do the job but having an aspect of care makes the experience richer for maybe other stakeholders apart from the user. That's also important as a contribution or an improvement.

I think my deepest understanding of care is that it's a lived experience that permeates your life, regardless of the design contexts in which you are able to realise it or not.

Student

India

Providing support to another person which one recognizes through emotional connection - empathy. Care to me is first and foremost all about the intention, that the caregiver recognizes not just the physical pain but also mental and maybe even spiritual pain - perhaps the highest level of care idk? However, it should all starts with empathy, otherwise it would be providing medical service - which can never be enough.
- Mai -

Student

Vietnam

Care is kindness paired with action.

Student

Indonesia

For me, care means to feel. You have to feel empathy, love, sadness, and more so you can show you care. You have to feel everything. And the power of those feelings is what moves you to create things that can help other people feel better. Good. At peace.

Student

Costa Rica

Caring for someone or something means putting yourself in their shoes and thinking about their needs, feelings, and perspectives. Caring is NOT controlling, but about understanding and supporting.

Student

Indonesia

Care is the act of willingly prioritizing someone else's suffering over your own needs. It requires listening and observing deeply because you understand the cost of overlooking even the smallest details. Care starts with the pain you feel when another being is hurting, driving you to go beyond empathy and show up for them as they need. Care takes action and can be draining while remaining invisible.

Student

Iran

Care is a system or structure that catches people when they fall and fills in the gaps where they might be lacking. Whether it's universal healthcare or your Mom buying your favourite snacks before you get home, it requires careful attention, planning and execution.

Student

Nigeria

I see care as both an action and an attitude towards another person’s physical and psychological well-being. It is not limited to providing practical help. Paying attention, listening, showing concern, and trying to understand someone’s needs and experiences are also forms of care. For me, care exists in both what we do and how we relate to and understand others.

-- Joyce LIN

Student

China

lived and practiced compassion against all hurdles, that the system throws in your way. Against all bureocracy, all worries, all the financial stress, the burdens, the mental load, the grief of seeing human pain - regardless of whether as a professional caregiver or as a family member providing care.

Care Professional

Germany

La cura és una actitud existencial i ètica que ens vincula amb els altres i ens fa responsables del que és vulnerable.

Care Professional

Spain

Compassion and kindness

Care Activist

Philippines

Living a life where my values are activated and reflected in my life & work. The lack of harmony between our internal visions and the corruption we live on almost all levels in society is causing us frustrations and sickness.

Other

Germany

Care means to find the light in others (and if they can't then hold yours for them until they can), amplify it, reflect it and let it shine.

Care Activist

Pakistan

Care is the act of giving and receiving on the grounds of empathy, will and trust

Student

Turkey

To me, care is both a feeling and an action, an expression of positivity, concern, and self-realized responsibility. Whether it’s feeding stray dogs, listening to a struggling friend, respecting boundaries, supporting an elderly parent, or taking responsibility for the environment, each of these acts embodies what care means to me.

Student

Bangladesh

Care is helping a person live our their day here.

Student

Kosovo

To care and to be cared for are both fundamental needs and fundamental rights. Care is the natural result of acknowledging that we are all connected. The lack of acknowledgement of this unchangeable truth is what leads to the abscence of care and its many faces: isolation, rejection, violence.
To care for someone means to be curious and listen to their needs. It means to have them in consideration and involve them in the decisions that affect them directly. And it means to continue showing up for both them and yourself, maintaining a sustainable balance so that care can continue existing.

Care Activist

Netherlands

Paying attention to people with empathy.
:-)

Care Activist

France

Real and deep listening and attention towards others, humans and non-humans.

Academic

Spain

Per a mi les cures sostenen la vida, empoderen la diversitat i redefineixen la equitat

Caregiver

Spain

La CURA es l'atenciò a la persona amb les seves mancances, foscors i llums. Desde que neixem necessitem cura i afecte.

Other

Spain

La cura per a mi es "tractar als altres com vols que et tractin a tu" tan en els aspectes fisics com en les teves situacions del teu estat "interior"

Activista

Espanya

La cura és l’acció de benestar emocional i de poder estar acompanyada que hauria de ser un drets reconegut, molt resumidamente.

Other

Spain

Una capacitat humana que respon a una necessitat humana

Es inevitable necessitar dels altres al llarg de la vida, tot i que en diferents intensitat o tipologia segons el moment vital o personal. I alhora és quelcom que en un moment o altre ens demanarà de nosaltres.

Per tant, tenim la possibilitat de respondre als reclams d'ajuda dels altres i desenvolupar les nostres capacitats humanes en empatitzar i donar-nos. I la possibilitat de rebre dels altres segons les necessitats i predisposicio dels altres

Professional de la Cura

Espanya

La CURA per a mi, és tractar a la persona com un bé tan preuat que el poguem fer sentir que és la protagonista iel centre de la nostra atenció, que és IMPORTANT per nosaltres i volem que se senti atesa.

Activista

Espanya

Trobo que és difícil, doncs les paraules i definicions no acaben de recollir el que és es la vida: és estima, és dolor, és deure, és deute, és agraïment, és retorn...

Professional de la Cura

Espanya

-fer el que cal perquè la vida segueixi ..i confortablement
-respecte, oferiment, companyia
-fer atenció,

Ciutadàna

Espanya

Respectar el dret a poder viure de manera sana, digna i amb condicions amables

Investigador/a

Espanya

Una necessitat que tenim totes d'atencions i estima.

Ciutadàna

Espanya

Estimar als altres

Cuidadora

Espanya

Per nosaltres les cures són un negoci descontrolat per les administracions , on les cuidadores patim tot tipus de violències ! Sobretot, institucional!

Cuidadora

Espanya

Compromís

Cuidadora

Espanya

Care is life.

Care Activist

Spain

Taking care is an attitude, such as empathy. Empathy or care design methods are so wrong: theses attitudes are seen as "a phase" in a project methodology, when they should be a state of mind all along the project, a way to act, a way to be. Enabling care as a state of mind, as a spirit, not as a methodology!

Care Activist

France

Care is where you will think of my physical well-being, provide emotional & psychological support, enable social engagement, push for cognitive stimulation, respect my spiritual & cultural self, cover my safety & security, empower my independence, tailor my care plan and give me dignity by supporting my end-of-life options.

Student

Singapore

"Care," like "love," is an emotion and also an action verb. In my experience, the "healthcare" situation in the US is neither health nor care. I am a senior and a patient with a complex medical history that no clinician seems to have time for. Managing the provider's busy schedule has become the priority, not patient care. I'm not sure how I can advocate for improvement in our broken system, driven by the insurance industry. I plan to do some writing to raise awareness of these concerns, so they don't become any further normalized.

Citizen

United States

-a support system designed longitudinally, where authentic relationships are cultivated and nourished, and everyone contributes to the care of the collective
- access to basic health care needs
- transparent communication and a genuine interest in listening and integrating feedback
-care for oneself, others and the planet that holds all beings
-a nondual approach to living and relating
-respect for diverse perspectives and POVs

Care Professional

United States

Care means compassion, clear non judgemental communication, relating to both physical and emotional needs and desires, dealing with the whole person and their life circumstances, always listening and access to experienced medical and scientific knowledge.

Other

United States

Care for me means not having to worry something will be missed when I'm feeling poorly and need to rely on (trust) medical professionals to navigate our healthcare system and practice at their best to help me manage my acute & chronic needs.

Quynh Tran ("other" - as I don't identify w/ any single category.)

Other

United States

CARE is the most adequate response to patients' needs - resulting in improved health and wellbeing, a great care experience and done by activating the systems and the patients / family resources in an optimal and efficient way.

Academic

Spain

I have the support and resources being easily accessible for me and my loved ones, where I can access these in my own time.

Care Activist

Singapore

To support and journey together with the people around us to maintain and improve health, social and mental wellbeing.

Academic

Singapore