Inspired by initiatives on Walls of Kindness in different parts of the world and with a mission to motivate people to practice small acts of kindness, Yuvsatta founder and Gandhian worker, Pramod Sharma is working with different institutions in Chandigarh to spread the initiative.
Recently in November, 2024, Sharma collaborated with the Social Welfare Department of the Chandigarh Administration by getting the Walls of Kindness built in the homes of orphans, working women hostels and in old age homes. He started the initiative way back in 2016 in an endeavor to promote a spirit of volunteerism and harmony.
Explaining the concept of Walls of Kindness, Sharma points out that a wall is usually painted with vibrant colours. It is here that ‘Neki ki Deewar’ or Wall of Kindness is written beautifully and boldly. Here anyone can leave anything like clothes, blankets etc. for those who need it to take. Sharma points out that it is a beautiful concept as the individual who is giving the items remains anonymous, and the person who is taking an item from there is also unknown.
According to Sharma, a very large number of extremely poor or homeless are not aware of how to access basic needs like clothes and warm stuff during winters, they don’t know how to approach charities etc. This makes them vulnerable, so it is here that Walls of Kindness becomes a powerful concept which needs to be encouraged in every cities.
In order to encourage children and young people to inculcate and nurture the essence of kindness, Sharma has encouraged several schools in Chandigarh to make a Wall of Kindness. These includes Dev Samaj College of Education, Kitabghar-the children’s Centre of Yuvsatta, Carmel Convent School, St. Stephen’s School, etc. “In the backdrop of increasing trend towards crass materialism, children and young people are forgetting the values of volunteerism and the beauty and importance of acts of kindness. I strongly feel when Walls of Kindness are linked to young people, they will develop a habit of giving,” Sharma stresses.
In the context of schools, Pramod Sharma explains how the Walls of Kindness principle works. He points out, “The task of bringing donations of clothes, utensils, shoes, bags etc. are divided into class and section wise in schools. Wherein say if the school is till class X and there are four sections in each class, so for 40 weeks the supplies for ‘Wall of Kindness’ are ensured. This rotation can go on to keep the spirit of giving alive.”
Sharma has also motivated the local Municipal Corporation to set up Walls of Kindness to encourage the principle of 3 R’s – Refuse, Reuse and Recycle. According to him the concept is a powerful model to promote simplicity and minimalism. “Increasingly in large urban households, occupants make it cluttered by acquiring items which they do not need. It might be years when they might have seen the item they bought or have completely forgotten about it. They can unclutter their houses by donating these items which are of no use to them anymore,” he adds.
In a world where there seems to be kindness deficit in the face of excessive of consumerism and pursuit for material goals, Walls of Kindness reminds us all on our responsibility towards others. Also if we are giving without letting ourselves known or getting to know who is taking our items, it is encouraging human dignity.
Finally, it would be apt to quote Kahlil Gibran who said, “Kindness is like snow- It beautifies everything it covers.”
