A Small Act of Kindness

Recently our partner in Myanmar, CCM, did a series of emergency aid distributions through the extremely vulnerable community in Yangon where they run an early childhood education and health program.  Due to COVID -19 many families in this community have been left without the meagre source of income they used to receive from day labouring or selling at market.

Thanks to our generous donors we were able to contribute $5, 094 AUD to the distributions in this community. In total 1,050 households received rice, oil, tinned fish, onions, soap and facemasks. The CCM staff and volunteers had worked hard over several weeks to make over 4,250 facemasks including 1,000 for children.

Mawite, who coordinates the program, sent me numerous photographs of the families as they were receiving their rations and it was really encouraging to see the smiles of appreciation on many faces. But this photo in particular caught my eye and filled me with newfound hope.  While the majority of children are facing the camera, one child can be seen doing a small act of KINDNESS - helping a younger child fit their facemask. It seems like such a small insignificant act but demonstrates how important it is to take the time to help others, especially those smaller or weaker than ourselves.

The photo represents kindness on two levels – the act of one child helping another, and also the time selflessly given by the volunteers to make and distribute the masks.

I hope that you, like me, are touched and challenged by this photograph and become much more aware of the opportunities to do small acts of kindness in our own neighbourhoods. And also, that it gives you some hope as together we appreciate how a tiny spark of light can shine brightly in the darkness.

No act of kindness – however small – is ever wasted. Aesop.

By Joy Dyer

Joy is the National Administrator for SUSTAIN Projects Myanmar, lives on the Central Coast NSW, and works from her home office.