When students share their random acts of kindness, it inspires others to follow suit.

Kerala Samajam Model School, a CISCE-affiliated school in Golmuri, will give a platform to students to share their recent acts of kindness every Thursday, starting from the week after Children’s Day.

The school, which celebrated World Kindness Day on Wednesday for the first time aims, hosted a talk on the topic Being Kind.

Speakers Naveen Chaurasia from The Art of Living, entrepreneur Sourabh Mahato and radio jockey Prasun Upadhyay spoke about kindness and how it can easily become a part of everyday life.

“Kindness is something nice we do for others without expecting a return. Even animals like dogs and cats have an urge to help others, we are still humans,” Chaurasia said in his speech. Other speakers also shared their stories on how kindness comes back, makes both the giver and receiver happy, improves one’s health and mood. A short movie was also screened for students.

World Kindness Day was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of kindness NGOs, the mission being to bring out a kinder world.

Principal of Kerala Samajam Model School Nandini Shukla said Wednesday’s session was a great success. “In fact, we were so enthused that we decided to make this a regular feature on the school’s calendar. Storytelling by students can work wonders. We want students to share their little acts of kindness. Simple things like leaving a seat in the bus for someone who really needs it, sharing food with someone, feeding stray animals,” Shukla said.

She added that this kindness platform was in a way an extension of an existing activity called Attitude of Gratitude where students learn to thank people. “Education is not just about academics, it is about loving oneself and others, not judging others and being observant, ready to help,” said Shukla.

Students said they saw a whole new angle to kindness.

Saima Akhtar, a Class XI student, candidly said: “Too many youngsters think ‘what’s the use of being kind, what do I get out of it’. What they forget is how good you feel about yourself if you have been kind. I love the idea of students sharing stories of kindness. We will all learn a lot, and appreciate each other.”