Students bring new ideas to calendar

UNITED Way Glenelg has been working with Dartmoor Primary School to refresh the much-loved 25 Acts of Kindness, a community initiative shared widely across the Glenelg Shire community for the past five years in the lead-up to Christmas.

The Acts of Kindness advent-style calendar is designed for people of all ages to participate in at any time of the year.

It encourages simple, everyday actions that build connection, gratitude and community spirit and after half a decade, the time had come for a new list of ideas, this time created by local students.

Dartmoor Primary School’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader Beth Arthur has been working with students to develop 25 fresh acts of kindness that reflect what caring for others looks like from a child’s perspective.

Local artist Robyn Carter from Yellow Cup Creative has created cute illustrations for each act, with the completed calendar to be shared across the community.

United Way Glenelg will share each daily act of kindness across its social media channels throughout December and encourages the whole community to join in during the festive season.

As part of the project, United Way Glenelg visited Dartmoor Primary School to record each student reading the act of kindness they created, giving the initiative a personal and local touch.

United Way Glenelg executive officer Nicole Carr said this was one of those projects that shows just how insightful and generous young people can be.

“Their ideas will help shape a lovely resource that encourages families and individuals across our community to embrace kindness in small, meaningful ways,” Ms Carr said.

Beth Arthur said the school was excited to participate.

“Our students loved helping with the acts of kindness calendar,” she said.

“This gives them a chance to think creatively about the small actions that can make a big difference. It’s a lovely way for them to contribute to something the whole community can use.”

The calendar is available to download from United Way Glenelg website and will be available on United Way Glenelg Social Media pages.

Photo: The students of Dartmoor Primary School