Children's kindness project inspires commuters
28 Nov 2014 | Action for Happiness
Pupils at John Stainer School re-branded
Anti-Bullying Week as "It's Cool To Be Kind Week" and have been
spreading kindness at school and in their local community.
As well as being challenged to carry out random acts of kindness
in the school, the children have also being doing kind things at
home and in their local neighbourhood - anything from
clearing litter in the park to performing a song at a local elderly
home.
The activities at John Stainer school were part of a
wider Kindness
Project In Schools initiated by Action for Happiness,
in collaboration with Bernadette
Russell, author of Do Nice, Be Kind, Spread Happy - a book
all about acts of kindness for children.
One of the highlights was when Year 3 pupils decided to hand out
free Metro newspapers to rush-hour commuters at Brockley tube
station, with hand-written inspiring notes attached.
Commuter Ayesha said: "Today as I left Brockley train station,
one of the students from John Stainer primary school handed me a
newspaper with a note on the front that said 'If you want to feel
good, do good'. It really made me happy and brightened up my
day".
Johanna said: "The past days were not easy for me and I had a
horrible morning today. But on my way to work I picked up a Metro
that was left behind. The little sentence 'Do all things with love'
on the paper really made my day".
Meanwhile, two Year 5 classes decided to sing "Don't Stop
Believing" to commuters, which clearly left a number of them very
moved and inspired.
Passer-by Caroline said: "I just wanted to drop a note to say
that I was moved to tears yesterday by the beautiful singing from
your pupils - and staff! It was just so heartbreakingly
amazing. As a mother of a mixed race son it was just so
beautiful to see all the students standing there together in
harmony. Whatever you are doing, keep doing it. If this is the
future my son would have at a local primary I would be so proud and
happy".
Back at the school, pupils created a huge Good Deed Feed
where they shared acts of kindness that people had done for them or
that they'd seen people do for others.
Teacher Adrian Bethune, who had the idea for the project
said: "We know that carrying out kind acts creates a virtuous
circle and the more kindness is praised and modelled by the staff
in our school, the less incidences of bullying and unkind behaviour
there are".
The Kindness
Project In Schools has seen 350 schools across the UK sign
up to run their own Kindness Projects.
Alex Nunn, Head of Campaigns and Communications at Action for
Happiness, said: "It's just great to see so many people
supporting our call for more kindness in schools.
We're hopeful this will touch the lives of thousands
of people across the country. Helping the next generation discover
the joy of helping others is vital part of our mission to inspire a
happier and more caring society".
The project even seems to have had a positive effect on
Transport for London staff. The school received a message saying
"Hello. I'm a train driver on the underground. I came across a
'cool to be kind' note on a train on the Bakerloo line and it
brightened my day!"