World Kindness Day (WKD) is annually observed across the globe on November 13 to promote kindness and inspire people to engage in at least one act of kindness that aspires to unify the world as one.
- 13th November 2023 marks the observance of 26th World Kindness Day.
Theme:
The theme for World Kindness Day 2023 is “Be Kind Wherever Possible”.
Background:
i.The idea of World Kindness Day dates back to 1997, when the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) focused on kindness, hosted the first conference in Tokyo, Japan to unite like-minded organizations from across the world.
ii.World Kindness Movement launched World Kindness Day as an annual observance in 1998.
iii.The 1st World Kindness Day was observed on 13th November 1998.
World Kindness Movement (WKM):
i.World Kindness Movement (WKM) was formed at a conference in Tokyo on 20th September 1997.
ii.The WKM’s purpose is to encourage individuals to be more kind by connecting nations to build a kinder world.
- The WKM eventually expanded to 27 countries and in 2019, WKM was registered as an NGO in Switzerland.
Significance:
i.Kindness is an essential part of the human experience, transcending political, racial, religious, gender, and geographic boundaries.
ii.WKD raises awareness of issues through kindness, focusing on the positivity and empathy that unites us all.
iii.It is observed in many countries including the United States of America(US), Canada, Japan, Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Importance of Kindness Day.
iv.It encourages a shift in perspective and behavior that can have far-reaching implications for individuals, communities, and society as a whole.
