Stars #StandTogether for kindness

#StandTogether celebrity ambassadors visited schools in 10 states as part of National Kindness Week – and loved every second of it.

EYES widened and screams erupted as #StandTogether celebrity ambassadors visited schools in 10 states nationwide as part of Malaysia’s inaugural #StandTogether National Kindness Week celebrations.

The ambassadors, including actress Lisa Surihani, comedian Harith Iskander and social media star Arwind Kumar, visited schools with winning entries in the #StandTogether “kindness project” competition.

But the students’ excitement was no match for the celebrities’, who were thrilled with what they had come up with.

“It’s wonderful to see students take a stand to make their schools kinder,” said Selangor Princess Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who has supported the #StandTogether campaign since its inception last year.

“They are the ones who have the power to make and be that change. Being a role model to everyone is something that can start at a young age, and I hope they keep it going all year round!”

She was speaking at SMK USJ 12, which she visited as part of the National Kindness Week celebrations. Throughout the week, the students collected messages in a Kindness Box, which they displayed on a Kindness Board. They also collected nominations for the Hero Project, which honours students and teachers who have inspired others.

The princess wasn’t the only one blown away by the efforts put in to create better, kinder schools.

“I think it’s fantastic that kids are taking the initiative and responsibility to build the kind of world they want to grow up in,” said Harith as he was swarmed by SK TTDI (1) students brandishing autograph books and pens.

The students are planning to host a Kindness Marathon, where participants run through a route decorated with messages of motivation and kindness.

In Johor, SK Kota Dalam proposed various kindness initiatives for their competition, but the one that impressed Lisa the most was the idea of getting students who behave badly to plant vegetables.

“Instead of punishing them, you teach them to do something good, and on top of that, the vegetables are then given to underprivileged students!” said Lisa.

While most of the projects were student-led, some winning projects were spearheaded by teachers dedicated to making their schools safer, kinder places.

SMK Meru’s Special Needs Integration Programme (PPKI) teacher Zuraidah Ibrahim led a team of students to create an “OKU Cafe”, a food stall within SMK Meru’s compound manned by special needs students.

“Before the cafe, some kids would run away when a special needs student came close. I wanted to encourage the other students to mingle with them,” she said to Tamil hip-hop artist and celebrity

ambassador Rabbit Mac, who struggled to keep his emotions in check.

“Everybody likes food – so students would come here and interact with students with cerebral palsy, autism and Down syndrome. It’s the best way to let them know that these children are just like them!

“Eating in the cafe with the special needs students was an amazing experience,” Rabbit Mac said later. “It really gives you a different perspective and teaches you to see things from their side.”

#StandTogether organisers R.AGE and SP Setia had pledged to give 10 winning schools RM1,000 each in grant funding for their projects, as well as the celebrity visits.

Unicef Malaysia later pledged to support the campaign by funding projects for an additional 20 schools.

“National Kindness Week is over now, but for this movement, it’s just the beginning!” said Unicef Malaysia chief of communication and public advocacy Laurent Duvillier.

“This campaign sent an important message to all young Malaysians – don’t stand alone, when we can stand together. This is a message all students worldwide should hear.”

Over 700 schools across the country registered for the inaugural #StandTogether National Kindness Week.

A detailed five-day Kindness Manual was also developed for teachers by the campaign’s organising committee, which includes Unicef Malaysia, Digi, 100% Project, Study Hub Asia, Teach For Malaysia, and R.AGE. The manual can be downloaded for free at www.standtogether.my.

“With bullying on the rise, it was wonderful to see R.AGE, Unicef, the Education Ministry and SP Setia collaborate to make this campaign a success,” said Education Ministry education planning and research division assistant director Fakhriyyah Muhardi, who attended several school visits.

“We will definitely be looking into whether it’s possible to incorporate National Kindness Week into the national school calendar. For real change to occur, this can’t be a one-off thing. We will have to continue until campaigns are no longer necessary and kindness is a part of us.”

The National Kindness Week campaign will culminate in a #StandTogether Carnival on April 15 at Setia City Convention Centre. For more information, log on to fb.com/StandTogetherMY.

— ASRI ABDUL GHANI/The Star Social media star Arwind visited four schools in Penang and Perlis, and was blown away by the dedication of students and teachers alike towards making their schools kinder places for all. ‘All teachers should be friends with their students – it helps...

— AHMAD ZAMIR/The Star Tamil hip hop artist Rabbit Mac could barely contain his emotions as he spoke to special needs students in SMK Meru, Klang. ‘Eating with them really makes you see things from another perspective,’ he said. The school had set up ‘OKU Cafe’ in the hopes...

— LOW LAY PHON/The Star Harith and Dr Jezamine Lim were overwhelmed both by the SK TTDI (1) students’ excitement at seeing them, as well as the kindness projects they had created. ‘It’s fantastic seeing how these primary school students can come up with such amazing ideas,’...

— AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star After rocking the stage in SMK Convent Kajang, Ismail sat down with the winning team for a special meet and greet session. It was a great opportunity for the team to speak to singer Ismail Izzani, who himself has faced cyberbullying, about the best...

— ABDUL RAHMAN EMBONG/The Star SK Kota Dalam impressed Lisa with their rehabilitation programme for students who misbehave. Instead of punishing them, the students would be put to work tending the school’s vegetable plot. The fruits of their labour would be distributed to lower...