News – Page 7 – Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventist

NORTHERN Caribbean University (NCU) Media Group will kick off the eighth season of its Acts of Kindness School Tour today as the nation starts its annual observance of Child Month.

This year's tour, NCU explained in a news release, is designed to push back against the increase in violent behaviour among students. It will feature an anti-bullying campaign, promote education and wellness, and influence more positive psycho-social conduct amongst students and teachers.

"We live in a society where there's so much hurt and pain. This has led to an 'each man for himself' attitude from the playing field to the corporate boardroom," the release quotes Arnold Kelly, general manager of NCU Media Group.

"We believe this trend can be broken by reminding ourselves of the virtues of kindness, compassion, and love. The Acts of Kindness School Tour gives us a chance to plant those seeds of hope in the fertile minds of the youth."

Acts of Kindness, NCU said, seeks to encourage students and teachers to 'pay it forward', which calls for the recipient of kindness not to pass it back directly to the giver, but to someone else who will then pass it on to another. A reward is given to students and teachers for displaying a consistent pattern of being kind, and a baton and certificates are left behind with the school for students to pass it on, which acts as a reminder that kindness costs nothing, but means everything.

"Passing the act of kindness to the person who did not give it to you has the potential of strengthening bonds and creating friendship where it didn't exist before," explained Nigel Coke, chairman of NCU Media Advisory Board.

"As Paul admonished the Ephesians in chapter 4:32 to be kind, compassionate and forgiving to each other, I believe that this is the biblical antidote for hate and bitterness, which our society so desperately needs. I pray that this initiative will not only be done in schools, but also replicated in the wider society," Coke said.

Schools that will benefit from the Acts of Kindness Tour, which runs to May 29, are Kingston Technical High, William Knibb High, Homestead Primary, Kingsway High, Jose Marti Technical High, Port Antonio Primary, Holmwood Technical High, and Savanna-la-Mar High.

"I am confident the entire nation will benefit from the fruit of our efforts. Can we do this together? Yes, we can," said Kelly.