Challenging students to be ‘baik hati’ online
PETALING JAYA: In conjunction with the #StandTogether National Kindness Week campaign, Digi is challenging young netizens to make social media kind again.
The #5DaysBaikHatiChallenge involves schools uploading social media photos or videos about acts of kindness during the inaugural National Kindness Week from April 2 to 6.
The photos or videos must be based on a different “kindness theme” for each day of the week, with the themes to be announced on the campaign website www.baikhati.my.
“We hope through the sharing of real life stories, Malaysian youths can be inspired to create a better Internet culture by recognising and celebrating kindness online,” said Digi sustainability programme manager Phillip Ling.
The winners will receive a sponsored Teacher’s Day celebration to further promote a positive, caring culture in schools.
To promote the challenge, Digi and education group Study Hub Asia, both part of the #StandTogether National Kindness Week committee, have been visiting schools around the Klang Valley to talk about digital resilience and the importance of tackling bullying through kindness.
Ling spoke at SMK Damansara Jaya here on Tuesday, and his speech on the power of kindness and empathy struck a chord with students.
“Kindness is a subject all students, even adults, should take an interest in,” said Carmen Tai, 13.
“It’s something not just ‘good people’ should do. Everyone should be kind to one another.”
Sonia Sharma, 13, said that with all the negativity found online these days, it would be refreshing to kick start a wave of kindness and positivity.
“I’m excited for the competition because we can show people that we are kind, that Malaysia is kind,” she added.
According to SMK Damansara Jaya senior assistant teacher Shahlawati Ali, the new perspective on an old issue was greatly welcomed.
“It’s really important for schools to reinforce kindness among students even if there haven’t been any bullying cases for a while, because this is not something we can take for granted.
“Student know they should be kind, but not necessarily how, so that’s what we want to emphasise,” said Shahlawati.
Digi’s initiative is part of the wider #StandTogether National Kindness Week movement, which aims to create a new culture of kindness in Malaysia, starting with schools.
After a spate of horrific bullying and school violence cases last year, R.AGE and property developer SP Setia joined forces to initiate the campaign. Other organisations like Unicef, Teach For Malaysia, and 100 Percent Project quickly came on board as part of the organising committee.
Together, the committee developed a fiveday National Kindness Week programme for schools, approved by the Education Ministry.
All schools can download the programme for free from www.standtogether.my.
Students can also do their part by joining the #StandTogether competition.
Grants of up to RM1,000 each will be given to fund at least 25 student ideas on how to promote kindness in their schools.
Find out more at www.standtogether.my/ competition.