World Kindness Day is a global day that promotes the importance of being kind and compassionate to each other, to yourself, and to the world. It is celebrated every year on 13 November. The primary aim of the observance is to help everyone to understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together. This understanding has the power to bridge the gap between nations. It was introduced in 1997 by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of nations’ kindness NGOs. It is observed in numerous countries including Canada, Australia, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, India, and Italy across the globe.
History of World Kindness Day
The history of World Kindness Day dates back to 1997 when World Kindness Movement hosted the first conference in Tokyo, Japan to bring together like-minded organizations from across the world.
The kindness movement started gaining acceptance across the globe with each passing year. In 2005, the UK kindness movement began while in 2009 Singapore too joined the initiative. From the UK (2010), Australia (2012), France (2015), USA (2018), by 2019 the World Kindness Movement had reached 27 countries. After its long journey of decades, the World Kindness Movement was finally recognized as an official NGO in Switzerland.
The purpose of World Kindness Day as outlined by the World Kindness Movement is “to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us.” Since its creation more than two decades ago, the day has achieved truly global notice; events associated with the day have attracted participants from every inhabited continent. These have included activities such as concerts, dance mobs, and the distribution of “kindness cards.”