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Random Acts of Kindness Workshop for the Differently Abled

Random Acts Of Kindness Workshop For The Differently Abled

By Eisha, YES 2015-2016, Pakistan, hosted by AFS in Rockville, MD 

In Pakistan special or differently-abled people do not have many facilities. In order to empower differently-abled students, I decided to spend time with them in a unique way that I hoped would benefit them. This is exactly why I started 2017 off with a YES alumni project at the Special Education and Training Centre in Lahore, Pakistan. 

In January, I conducted a workshop on "Random Acts of Kindness" with physically disabled children who are students at the institution. The purpose of the workshop was to spend time with these students and give them an opportunity to learn to identify random acts of kindness and understand the true spirit of kindness. We discussed kindness and who has been kind to them. We also brainstormed ideas for random acts of kindness they could do, and they suggested feeding the hungry. I shared how even smiling, complimenting someone, offering them water to drink or simply thanking them are easy ways to be kind. 

I believe that little changes like this, identifying kindness, being grateful for it and being kind can make a huge impact on our everyday lives and give us the power of empathy, which will strengthen our bonds. Small attempts like this can help us encourage positive behaviors in our community and though it may not be our usual "English Teaching Workshop" or "Cleanliness is Basic Workshop" or something academic, workshops like this are equally important and influential. I am so glad that YES has given me so many opportunities to be kind and to talk to people from different backgrounds and to teach and learn from them. This is why I did my own random act of kindness and told the students about the wonderful YES program, which is open to students with disabilities!


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