Kindness City-School: International Contest

Kindness City-School: International Contest provides a safe virtual space to present creative ideas, images, and thoughts of the school that was transformed into a Kindness City!

A Kindness School is an educational institution that fosters a distinctive culture centered around the daily acknowledgment and promotion of acts of kindness as the fundamental norm of behavior. Rooted in the ethos of respecting children’s rights, a Kindness School is committed to providing the essential conditions and guidance for students and staff to express kindness in a diverse range of age-, gender-, ethnicity-, and culture-appropriate ways.

Mission of the Kindness City-School project is to harness and celebrate the unique perspectives and valuable approaches generated by children. Through these insights, the project seeks to cultivate a nurturing and inclusive educational environment where kindness becomes the cornerstone of all interpersonal interactions. By prioritizing the recognition and encouragement of daily acts of kindness, the project aims to help establishing a unique culture within every school-participant that transcends traditional norms and fosters a sense of community, empathy, and understanding.

This initiative is dedicated to ensuring that students and personnel have the necessary support and resources to embody kindness in their daily lives. Through consistent practice, the project endeavors to instill a resilient and “contagious” element within the school culture. This ‘contagious’ kindness is not confined to the school premises but extends its reach to students’ families and the broader community, contributing to the creation of a positive and harmonious society. The ultimate goal is to inspire a ripple effect of kindness that transcends the confines of the school, creating a lasting impact on individuals and communities.

Organizer:

 

International Kindness Reset (IKR) is a nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of Minnesota.

The purpose of IKR is to champion education based on kindness by providing comprehensive educational services for children and adults. IKR mission is centered around establishing and nurturing educational institutions and communities dedicated to cultivating kindness as the prevailing societal norm. IKR is committed to delivering learning resources, curricula, training, and professional development, along with direct instruction and support to a diverse range of educational environments, including schools, universities, outside-of-school care facilities, families, community/civic/religious centers, elder living communities, and other organizations involved in the learning process for children, youth, and adults.

Furthermore, IKR is actively engaged in organizing international and national projects aimed at fostering kindness as a universally embraced value. Through these initiatives, IKR seeks to create a positive and inclusive impact on individuals, communities, and societies at large, with the ultimate goal of building a world where kindness is not only taught but widely practiced and celebrated.

Our Inspiration

For our Kindness City-School project, we draw inspiration from various Kindness Exemplars and philosophies embraced by entrants in past Kindness-related media projects. Among the numerous influencers, three stand out prominently: the compassionate wisdom of Dalai Lama, the insightful teachings of Janusz Korczak, and the Aloha Spirit as demonstrated by Duke Kahanamoku. His Aloha Spirit was so profound that he is considered by lawmakers the  “original ambassador of Aloha”. Learn more about the sources of our inspiration below and join us in celebrating and spreading the ethos of kindness through creative expression while building your own Kindness City-School.

Throughout his life, The Dalai Lama has been a powerful advocate for the principles of kindness and compassion, promoting a philosophy that transcends cultural and religious boundaries. His message is simple: be kind not just to those close to you, but to everyone. He once said, “Choose being kind over being right, and you’ll always be right.” For him, kindness and compassion are the keys to a meaningful and happy life.

He believes that real happiness comes from caring about others. His teachings have inspired millions worldwide, bringing people together and reminding us of our shared humanity. The Dalai Lama is all about peaceful resolutions and promoting values that make us better humans. His down-to-earth and caring attitude has touched people from all walks of life and made him a true Kindness Exemplar. What is more, he is not just a leader, he is an inspiration. Through his teachings and actions, he continues to be a beacon of hope, reminding us of the transformative power of love, kindness, and empathy in building a more compassionate world.  Our Kindness City-School project’s purpose encompasses this peaceful and mindful attitude.

Janusz Korczak (1878-1942), pediatrician, educator, and author, dedicated his life to advocating for the rights and well-being of children. However, it is his unwavering commitment to kindness, compassion, and service to children that truly set him apart. He believed that every child deserved respect, understanding, and love. His emphasis on kindness was deeply rooted in the idea that fostering a compassionate environment was crucial for the healthy development of children. 

Korczak pioneered child-centered approaches in education, advocating for the acknowledgment of children as individuals with rights and unique personalities. Korczak believed in giving children a voice, allowing them to participate in decision-making processes and encouraging them to express their thoughts and emotions freely. In the face of adversity and the threat of the Holocaust, Korczak’s commitment to kindness and compassion shone even brighter. He chose to stay with the children under his care in the Warsaw Ghetto, revealing an extraordinary level of selflessness.

Korczak’s legacy lives on as a testament to the transformative power of kindness and compassion in shaping the lives of children. His teachings continue to inspire educators and advocates for children’s rights worldwide, demonstrating the profound impact that a nurturing and empathetic approach can have on the well-being and development of future generations. The “Kindness City-School” initiative seeks to inspire children to contribute their imaginative ideas for cultivating a culture of kindness within schools and larger communities. We believe that the visionary educator Janusz Korczak would have been enthralled by the prospect of this project.

The Aloha Spirit and Duke Kahanamoku. The Aloha Spirit is a Hawaiian philosophy and way of being that is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. These traits of character teach children and adults to treat others with kindness, to be expressed with tenderness, “Akahai”; unity, to be expressed with harmony, “Lokahi”; agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness, “Oluolu”; humility, to be expressed with modesty, “Haahaa”; and patience, to be expressed with perseverance, “Ahonui”. Aloha means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable.

People who embrace the Aloha Spirit fully understand the importance of friendship, care, and cooperation, they are prepared to foster an environment where each child feels valued and supported, just like the tight-knit communities in Hawaii, like classrooms where kindness is the norm, where students work together like a team of explorers on a grand adventure. Such was Duke Kahanamoku.

As highlighted in the Senate Bill: “Duke Kahanamoku was a four-time Olympic medalist in swimming and water polo, a sheriff of the city and county of Honolulu, and an early champion of volunteerism. Duke Kahanamoku shared surfing and the Aloha Spirit with the world, and in doing so, brought Hawai’i to the world’s attention.” Duke gave back to his community as a Shriner and Scottish Rite Freemason. He is credited with saving countless people’s lives as a volunteer lifeguard. It is no wonder why State Senate of Hawai’i recently passed a bill to honor his legacy with a special license plate emblazoned with his name and likeness.

Children and educators alike can carry the Aloha Spirit with them, becoming ambassadors of kindness, love, and goodwill. Our project allows to demonstrate how to build a Kindness City-School where the Aloha Spirit shines brightly, lighting us up with the warmth of genuine aloha.