Tag: Good deeds

We are the World Blogfest

#WATWB – We are the World Blogfest #RandomActsofKindness – Inspiring Young Readers

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Welcome to September edition of #WATWB – We are the World Blogfest, where writers join in on the last Friday of each month to share something good going on in the world. In this edition I’m sharing a wonderful initiative – publishing books for children to read for free to fulfil its mission, believing that every child by aged five should own at least 100 books.

 

Bookdash is a literacy organization that publishes books in eleven South African languages, an initiative that began in 2014, and has so far published over 146 books and over one million copies.

 

“Almost 60 percent of South African homes do not own a single book according to a 2016 South African Book Development Council report. According to the report, having as few as 20 books in the home has a significant impact on a child’s going on to higher levels of education. The impact of having 100 is even more pronounced.”

 

“The reason that so few South African homes have books is because they simply cannot afford them, Book Dash’s  director Dorette Louw told the Christian Science Monitor. Many families cannot purchase glossy children’s picture books in bookstores. Printing short-run books for a South African market is very costly.”

 

 

You can read the whole article at Goodnet. And enjoy this video that shares more about the dire need for these books to improve literacy for the children in South Africa.

 

 

 

Original source: https://www.goodnet.org/articles/book-dash-inspires-young-readers-to-soar

 

If you’d like to join in with an inspiring post for #WATWB, you can add your link to the group Facebook Page. Hosts for this month’s WATWB are: co-hosts are Eric Lahti (https://ericlahti.wordpress.com/) and Susan Scott (https://www.gardenofedenblog.com/

 

©DGKaye2021

 

 

We are the World Blogfest

#WATWB – Meet the Young Woman Helping Others Smile, One Bouquet at a Time! – Goodnet

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Welcome to the the #WATWB – We are the World Blogfest, where a group of writers share something good going on in the world to deflect from negativity on the last Friday of each month.

 

Today I’m sharing an article I came across where one woman doctor brings the smiles one bouquet at a time.  Eleanor Love (appropriate name), worked part time as a florist while going through medical school and has a gifted knack for making bouqets. She has taken it upon herself to bring cheer to patients by collecting leftover flowers from weddings and making bouqets and giving them to patients to brighten their day.

 

 

Meet the Young Woman Helping Others Smile, One Bouquet at a Time!

 

 

“Eleanor Love knows that flowers have the power to bring joy to people.”

 

This young doctor’s mission is simple but genius: she turns something old into something new. Here’s how. She collects leftover fresh flowers from weddings and rearranges them into beautiful bouquets for re-gifting to hospital patients.

 

“But in this simple gesture of giving gorgeous flowers to lonely hospital patients, she is also gifting a healthy dose of instant happiness, bringing joy to her smiling recipients.”

 

“The floral passion of the appropriately named Ms. Love all started two years ago when she was a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, reports the Washington Post. Inspired by hearing about the regifting of flowers happening on the West Coast, and equipped with the hacks to create a beautiful flower arrangement from her part time job at a floral shop before medical school, she decided to add some joy into patients’ lives. She continued the effort by setting up an organzation called The Simple Sunflower, which keeps up with the flower deliveries. . .

Visit the full article at Goodnet

 

Check out the video which explains the Simple Sunflower project

 

Source: Meet the Young Woman Helping Others Smile, One Bouquet at a Time! – Goodnet

 

If you’d like to join in posting something positive going on in the world, please add your link to our #WATWB Facebook group.

 

Hosts for this month are: Mary J. Giese (https://maryjmelange.wordpress.com/ and Belinda Witzenhausen (https://www.BelindaWitzenhausen.com/) 

 

©DGKaye2021

 

We are the World Blogfest

#WATWB – An Autistic Man Posts Online for Work and Gets 7 Million Views! – Goodnet

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Welcome to this months #WATWB – We are the World Blogfest where a group of writers take the time to post about one good thing going on in this world, to deflect from some of the negativity, on the last Friday of each month.

I heard about this amazing guy, Ryan Lowry, on the news and then came across the article I’m sharing here today, where an autistic man struggled to get a job because of his autism, so he decided to hand write a letter and post it on Linkedin. He got over seven million views as his words touched many hearts, and optimally, got himself a job.

 

 

“A young autistic man recently posted a letter on LinkedIn asking for a job. This honest and personal letter sparked such compassion, it was viewed over 7 million times. He opened the hearts of all who read it and within four days, he landed a scholarship in his dream field.

The 20-year-old from Virginia had a vision. Ryan Lowry was looking for a job in IT or animation and wanted to get the word out, so with the help of his dad he opened a LinkedIn account, according to TODAY. He wrote a handwritten, personal, and deeply honest letter that stood out from the other posts.

In the letter, Lowry explained upfront that he has autism. He added that he is a quick learner, gifted at math, and has a great sense of humor. “I realize that someone like you will have to take a chance on me,” he wrote to a prospective employer. “I don’t learn like typical people. I would need a mentor to teach me, but I learn quickly, once you explain it, I get it.”

This letter spread across the LinkedIn community like fire, warming hearts along the way. It gained seven million shares and 180,000 likes. There was so much activity centered around this one letter, LinkedIn closed the account thinking it was suspicious, according to TODAY.

The account was soon reopened and a flourish of comments picked up again. Catherine Fisher from LinkedIn told TODAY, “Ryan is leading by example, he’s showcasing his unique skills, being authentic and asking his community for help. We can’t wait to see when he updates his profile with a new job.”

Please continue reading this beautiful article at Goodnet.org

Source: An Autistic Man Posts Online for Work and Gets 7 Million Views! – Goodnet

 

If you’d like to share something good going on you’ve come across, please share a link at our WATWB Facebook page to post. Hosts this month are: Sylvia McGrath and Belinda Witzenhausen.

 

©DGKaye2021

 

 

We are the World Blogfest

#WATWB – We are the World #Blogfest – 52 Good Deeds to Help Heal the World in 2021 – Goodnet

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It’s that time of the month again where a group of us writers post something about good things going on in the world to deflect from the negative for the #WATWB – We are the World Blogfest. Today I chose to share a great article I came across about #Kindness, the only task is to do one good thing a week that could make a difference in somebody’s life – 52 Good Deeds to Help Heal the World in 2021.

 

 

Be kind

 

You can help heal the world by doing good acts, large and small. Since kindness is contagious, your good deeds can spur others to do the same. and since research shows that volunteering and helping others can lead to better health and more happiness, you will be helping yourself too.

 

Don’t know where to start? Here’s a list of good deeds that you can do even in a socially distanced world:

 

1.  Skype or call a friend to see how they are doing

2.  Donate your stimulus check

3. Give an old winter coat to Goodwill

4.  Walk your neighbor’s dog

5.  Shovel snow (or mow the grass) for an elderly neighbor

6.  Donate canned goods to a food pantry

7.  Say thank you to an essential worker

8.  Ask for donations in your name instead of birthday gifts

9.  Bring groceries to an elderly person

10. Use a search engine that supports a cause

11. Donate blood

12. Teach someone a skill they can use

13. Wear a mask and keep socially distant

14. Leave positive comments on social media

15. Apologize

Please continue reading more wonderful suggestions at the original post on Goodnet.

 

If you’d like to take part in posting the last Friday of every month and sharing your link in our WATWB Facebook Group, anyone is welcome. Hosts this month are:

Sylvia McGrath, Roshan Radhakrishnan Shilpa Garg, Eric Lahti, and Belinda Witzenhausen.
Source: 52 Good Deeds to Help Heal the World in 2021 – Goodnet

 

©DGKaye2021

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We are the World Blogfest

#WATWB – This 8-year-old Girl’s Mission is to Give Away 2 Million Books

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Welcome to February’s #WATWB, We are the World Blogest, where a group of writers join together to post a good deed going on in the world to deflect from negative news.

 

For this month, I’ve chosen to share this wonderful story about eight year old, Selah Thompson’s mission to give away two million books. She was inspired to do this since she was five years old and already noticed that some kids her age didn’t know their ABCs. In 2018, Selah’s parents helped her create a non-profit reading program, Empower Readers Literacy Project.

Selah’s goal is to be able to give away “20 hundred thousand books”. So far she’s surpassed 8,000 books, well on her way!

 

This 8-year-old Girl’s Mission is to Give Away 2 Million Books

Selah Thompson shares her love of reading and even creates her own series.

 

Books have the power to transport you to another place and make you feel like you are part of the story. A love of reading should be developed at a young age so children can see books as something magical. That’s the gift that 8-year-old  Sela Thompson from Atlanta, Georgia, received from her parents and wants to pass on to other children.

When Selah was five-years-old  she came home from her first day of kindergarten and told her parents that many of her classmates didn’t know how to read, according to CNN.  Her father, Khalil Thompson, told CNN, “She said that a lot of her new friends at school didn’t know their ABCs.” This really bothered Selah and she wanted to do something about it.

She then asked her parents to give away “20 hundred thousand books,” Selah’s mom Nicole Thompson told the Atlanta Journal Constitution; “this equals two million books!”

Please continue reading about this amazing little girl HERE.

 

 

Source: This 8-year-old Girl’s Mission is to Give Away 2 Million Books – Goodnet

 

If you’d like to join the WATWB last Friday of each month posting on random acts of kindness, please feel free to add the link to our Facebook group page or directly by adding your URL link to LINKY.

 

Hosts for this month are:
Lahti, Roshan Radhakrishnan, Shilpa Garg, Susan Scott and Sylvia McGrath.
©DGKaye2021

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We are the World Blogfest

#WATWB – #Toronto Teacher Brings Fitness and smiles

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Welcome to the last Friday of the month which means it’s #WATWB – We are the World Blogfest time where writers join in and share some of the good things going on around the world and communities to deflect from the negativity in the world. I am heartened to read about so many teachers helping their student through various methods of teaching and inspirations. Today I’m sharing a story about a gym teacher determined to keep his young class active.

 

This Toronto gym teacher is helping kids get off the computer and get some exercise as he rides his bicycle around student’s homes, encouraging and reminding with his loudspeaker to get on your porches or backyards and exercise. Complete in bird costume to add to the entertainment, Patrick is getting in his exercise and still inspiring his students.

 

” … Murtaugh has adopted the slightly silly persona to deliver a more serious lesson: “Kids are used to running around at recess, lunchtime, being able to go on long bike rides. And right now they’re not. So we really have to push them to keep doing that.”

Murtaugh says he got the idea from seeing other teachers on social media posting drive-by visits from their cars.

So he decided to use his bike, and added the costume.

His first visit was Monday, on what was supposed to be the first day back to school, and it was a hit for both parents and students. Today he planned a different route to visit and dance with other students, including the Berry family. All four children were outside waiting for what looked like a caped canary as he biked up the hill to their house.

“I thought it was pretty awesome” … Continue reading

 

Source: Toronto teacher brings fitness and smiles to students’ front doors | CTV News

Scott Lightfoot

Scott LightfootVideojournalist, CTV News Toronto

@SLightfootCTV Contact

 

This month’s cohosts are: Eric Lahti, Susan Scott, Dan Antion, Damyanti Biswas, Inderpreet Kaur Uppal.

 

@DGKaye

 

We are the World Blogfest

#WATWB – 52 Big and Small Good Deeds to Help Change the World

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Another month has come to the end and that means the last Friday of the month is time to post about some of the good things going on in the world for the #WATWB – We are the World Blogfest. I thought it was the perfect time of year with Thanksgiving and Christmas on its way to share some wonderful deeds that we can all partake in, if only just one of these 52 gestures to contribute to making somebody’s day. This post was written in early 2019, but it’s evergreen. It’s never too late to start and there is no expiry date!

 

52 Big and Small Good Deeds to Help Change the World in 2019

One good deed can lead to another so pass it on.

You can make a real difference, one good deed at a time. When you perform acts of kindness, it doesn’t just help others, it’s good for you too. Doing good deeds, no matter how small, makes you feel better too.

 

1. Thank the salesperson who helped you
2. Buy an extra can of food to donate to a food drive or food bank
3. Help someone find a lost pet
4. Let someone go in front of you in line
5. Bring flowers to patients in the hospital or to the nurses’ station
6. Weed a community garden
7. Apologize when you are wrong
8. Buy a buy-one-get-one pair of shoes or socks
9. Prepare food for firemen or policemen who have to work on a holiday.
10. Put out a bird feeder for the winter birds
11. Put an encouraging note in your child’s or partners’ lunch bag.
12. Be the designated driver and make sure your friends celebrate safely
13. Smile at a random stranger – smiles are contagious
14. Ask someone to give a donation in your name instead of a gift
15. Pick up trash in a park or at the beach
16. Donate your hair to Locks of Love
17. Donate to your local school to help a child pay for their school trip
18. Help an elderly or young person cross the street
19. Put your change in a donation box when you shop
20. Donate blood or join the bone marrow registry
21. Pay it forward by paying for a cup of coffee for the person behind you in line.
22. Buy a meal for a homeless person
23. Bring a cake to work
24. Take public transportation or carpool instead of driving to work
25. Tell the manager about an employee who gave great customer service
26. Donate school supplies for children in homeless shelters
27. Volunteer for an hour at a senior center or nursing home
28. Hold the door open for the person behind you especially if they are carrying bags.
29. Sign up for a CPR course, you never know when you might need it
30. Bring a meal over to someone who just left the hospital
31. Donate clothing to goodwill or a clothing drive.
32. Give up your seat on the subway or bus to someone who needs it
33. Compliment a stranger’s new haircut or outfit
34. Sign up to be an organ donor
35. Go to an animal shelter and play with the puppies
36. Donate period products to a shelter for abused women
37. Plant a tree
38. Offer to babysit for a new parent
39. Donate old eyeglasses to an organization that will reuse them
40. Recycle plastic bottles, paper and whatever else is collectible
41. Help a friend move even if there are stairs
42. Shovel out your neighbor’s walkway or mow their lawn
43. Save the mini shampoo bottles and soaps from a hotel stay and donate them to a homeless shelter
44. Walk or run for a cause
45. Bring a welcoming gift to a new neighbor
46. Read a book to children – yours, a relative’s, or volunteer at your local preschool
47. Turn the lights off anytime you leave the room to save energy
48. Help someone change a flat tire
49. Share your umbrella with a stranger
50. Return shopping carts at the grocery store and leave the quarter in it for the next person
51. Give books to a street library
52. Leave a server a generous tip before a holiday

 

Thank you to Bonnie Riva Ras for this inspirational list at Goodnet.org

BONNIE RIVA RAS, EDITOR & WRITER
Bonnie Riva Ras has dedicated her life to promoting social justice. She loves to write about empowering women, helping children, educational innovations, and advocating for the environment & sustainability.

Source: 52 Big and Small Good Deeds to Help Change the World in 2019 – Goodnet

 

This month’s WATWB is hosted by:

Damyanti Biswas – http://www.damyantiwrites.com/ –

Lizbeth Hartz – https://www.authorlizbethhartz.com/blog/ –

Shilpa Garg – http://shilpaagarg.com/ –

Peter Nena – https://drkillpatient01.wordpress.com/ –

Simon Falk – https://simonfalk28.wordpress.com/ –