Sunday 1 June 2014

Kindness Day SG: A slice of kindness packs a healthy punch of happiness

By Priscilla Goy, The Straits Times, 31 May 2014

ABOUT 30 children yesterday joined Education Minister Heng Swee Keat in making "Singa" sandwiches, which have olives, cheese and cucumber on bread to look like the popular courtesy mascot.

The children were from West View Primary, one of the many schools marking Kindness Day SG.

The annual event was started by the Singapore Kindness Movement last year to encourage acts of kindness.

It falls on the last day of the second school term, which was yesterday.

Said Mr Heng as he launched this year's Kindness Day: "It is important for our children to be considerate, to think not just of their own needs, but also the needs of others, and to act on it."

Dr William Wan, general secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement, said it was important for adults to be kind as well.

"Kindness is not just taught, but also caught... If adults begin to model kindness, I think kids are going to catch that much more quickly."

As part of Kindness Day SG, students at all schools, including pre-university ones, were given resources to help them spread a message of kindness during the June holidays.

These include a board game that encourages teamwork and postcards for penning encouraging messages.

At yesterday's West View event, pupils were encouraged to pass their "Singa" sandwiches to friends, parents or school staff as a form of appreciation.

Primary 6 pupil Liaw Jun Hao, 12, said: "If we help others, Singapore becomes a kinder place and the whole world becomes happy.

"Because if we do kind acts, others would appreciate us and they'll be happy."

Last night, a concert featuring local artists such as Hossan Leong and Lorraine Tan was held at Clarke Quay to mark the day. Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng was guest of honour.

World Kindness Day is on Nov 13 every year.







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