International Kindness day took place this week, and many people around the world celebrated, including Fanshawe College’s very own CICE program.
“If you show kindness to people, it goes a long way because kindness improves your mood, it’s contagious and it changes someone’s day. A simple smile goes a long way.” says second-year student in Fanshawe’s recreation and leisure with the CICE program, Dylan Moore.
Fanshawe Student Dylan Moore, and the lemonade cart Credit: Mayan Correia
Also known as the community integration through cooperative education, students within the program had decided to make fresh lemonade for Fanshawe students throughout the main campus. Moore spoke about where the idea of Kindness day came from.
“It actually originated from the World Kindness Movement, WKM, an international initiative that began in 1997. The WKM was formed as a conference in Tokyo, Japan where kindness organizations from around the world came together to promote kindness as a universal human value.
“Their core values are to spread kindness as a common thread among all people, to promote goodwill and empathy, to build more, to build a more peaceful and compassionate world and they touch on to bridge gaps between people, regardless of race, religion, politics, gender, or ethnicity.”
Students like Moore who were creating the lemonade, also had inspirational messages on the cups, which helped them spread their message across campus.
“We want to spread as much kindness as we can and have a positive impact on someone’s day because some people could be having a bad day, maybe their cat spilled their coffee over the floor and they are rushing out the door and so I think by doing kindness it shows them that you care.”
The CICE program decided to split up into 4-5 different groups to cover all of main campus, and make sure that no student felt left out of the chance for a free cup of lemonade.
“In previous years, kindness wasn’t really a thing, people were grumpy or mean. For example, world events around the world like tsunamis and earthquakes or even Hurricane Milton in the US.”
Dylan Moore handing out lemonade Credit; Mayan Correia
“A lot of kindness comes from human beings who come as one and then they show kindness by giving them food, water. We want to show everyone that we care about you, we’re here for you, and it’s gonna be okay.”
The students went around campus from the hours of 2-4pm, making sure no smile was left untreated with fresh lemonade. Moore even told XFM a special message that he thinks everyone should carry, moving forward to spread kindness all around.
“Remember when life gives you lemons, and make lemonade.”
International Kindness Day (or World Kindness Day), is a day that serves as a reminder that everyone can work together to make the world a better place by practicing kindness.
