Kindness project gains momentum
Movement goes strong in Sarawak and Sabah as students spread positivity through initiative
KUCHING: The #StandTogether National Kindness Week movement is going strong in Sarawak and Sabah, with students from several schools here volunteering to organise “Kindness Projects”.
Children as young as four gathered at SJK Chung Hua Kim Choo Seng here to learn how to be kind to one another yesterday, making scrapbooks to commemorate the lessons they learnt about kindness.
The school’s efforts were recognised by the #StandTogether campaign as one of the five best primary school projects and awarded with a RM1,000 grant from #StandTogether co-organisers R.AGE and SP Setia.
Pupils and teachers organised kindness-themed performances, writing competitions and activities throughout National Kindness Week (April 1-5).
Principal Tay Kui Choo, who helped lead the activities, believes that fun kindness activities are the best way to teach children.
“If you tell a child to sit down and learn, they will not want to, so we must use other techniques to teach them and make it fun for the pupils,” said Tay.
“When you feel good about doing something, you can get things done. But if you aren’t happy, you won’t want to and that is why we created these activities.”
In Miri, SMK Chung Hwa’s dedicated Sixth Formers created a whopping 10 Kindness Projects, and they were also selected for the #StandTogether grant funding.
“All of us have a responsibility to make our community a better place,” said Denise Vim.
“I’m already 19 and I feel like I haven’t done anything to contribute to the community. So I thought I better do something this year which I can do it with my friends.”
Both schools received a celebrity visit from singer Nik Qistina, who was blown away by the kindness she could see being practised in both schools.
“I loved the kindness scrapbooks. When I talk to the kids, they told me that they have personally done some of the kind acts in their scrapbook, like helping teachers carry heavy things if they see the teacher struggling, said Qistina.
“The kids are really learning respect and kindness. They said doing good brings them a warm feeling and they told me how happy they are when they have done something kind.”
The #StandTogether campaign has thousands of primary and secondary students around the country organising kindness projects throughout National Kindness Week.
Tomorrow, schools in Sabah will be showcasing their Kindness Projects when #StandTogether ambassador Ann Osman visits SMK Sanzac in Kota Kinabalu and SMJK Chung Hwa in Tenom.
In addition to the activities in schools, over 6,000 Malaysians have signed up for the interactive Kindness Challenge on WhatsApp.
Participants receive a new “Kindness Mission” every morning, and have 24 hours to complete it to unlock a special surprise.
The campaign is endorsed by the Education Ministry, which has encouraged all schools to observe the first week of April as National Kindness Week.
The #StandTogether campaign will culminate in a free Kindness Concert on May 4, 2019, at Setia City Convention Centre 2, an event for all to stand together in celebration of a kinder Malaysia.
Visit fb.com/standtogethermy for more details.