Kindness Week kicks off
Students, teachers and MPs pledge to be kind to one another
PENANG: The #StandTogether National Kindness Week has kicked off in hundreds of schools nationwide with students doing their part to create a kinder Malaysia.
The campaign involves students organising “Kindness Projects” in their schools as a way to introduce a new culture of kindness in Malaysia.
In Penang, SMK Convent Green Lane launched an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that allows students to share their problems safely and anonymously.
“I realised that Convent Green Lane students are very kind to other people, but they’re not so kind to themselves. (Some of them are) lonely and depressed.
“I wanted to give them something tangible that could help them deal with that,” said student Julia Hannah Zulkifli, 16, the brains behind the project.
Convent Green Lane was one of 40 schools to receive a grant of RM1,000 from SP Setia and R.AGE, the co-organisers of the #StandTogether movement. The school also received a celebrity visit from campaign ambassador Arwind Kumar, aka MakCik Roast-Mah.
Another grant-winning school, SK Taman Maluri, launched a weeklong series of activities including a Kindness Card Challenge and a tree mural with sticky note leaves saying kind things.
Selangor Princess and #StandTogether ambassador Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah visited the school and was inspired by the kindness she witnessed.
“I saw two students who don’t have special needs send kindness messages to a friend in a wheelchair.
“I think this is important; all of us being kind to one another and accepting each other and our differences,” she said.
Aside from the activities in schools, over 3,000 Malaysians have also signed up for the interactive Kindness Challenge on WhatsApp.
Participants will receive a “Kindness Mission” every morning, which they have to complete in 24 hours in order to unlock a special surprise.
“This challenge makes me feel so good about myself and others and it helps me to think positively about other people,” said student Nurul Fadhillah Mohamad Zohir, 20.
MPs from both sides of the political divide have voiced their support for the students’ efforts, and pledged to observe National Kindness Week in Parliament as well.
“You have to prove to the students that as MPs we are well-behaved, we know how to spread the kindness even when we have different opinions, we still respect each other,” said Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said the rest of the country should follow the example of the students driving the #StandTogether movement.
“There are many things that adults can teach students, but I believe when it comes to kindness, the students are the ones to teach us,” said Teo.
SP Setia head of group branding and communications Adelene Wong reaffirmed the company’s commitment to creating a kinder Malaysia.
“It’s our second year organising this kindness movement, and we decided to focus on words of kindness this year because words can be just as powerful as actions. They are a powerful affirmation of our thoughts,” said Wong.
To support the #StandTogether National Kindness Week, go to www.standtogether.my.
To sign up for the Kindness Challenge on WhatsApp, go to bit.ly/ stchallenge2019.