Setting a good example is one of the most important parts of Kim Jarvo’s job.
She’s a behavioural specialist at John Adam Memorial School, in Delson in Montreal’s south shore.
“Giving the students things they don’t have, giving the students lunch if they don’t have it,” she said.
“Simple things, but it means the world to them.”
At the start of the school year, she came up with an idea: challenging students to do one act of kindness, either for a family member or friend, to see how far it could influence other acts of kindness.
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About 300 students documented their acts in a little book, called a passport, and then handed it off to someone else to do the same.
“I also participated, as well as the other staff members,” Jarvo told Global News.
“I think it’s really important to teach kindness in kids. Its a core value. If you’re kind to people, even it’s just a smile, it can make someone’s day.”
There’s just one catch – the students have to send their book to someone in another city or country.
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“What’s really exciting is when the books come back to the school,” she said, adding that they had seven months to complete the challenge.
“Two-hundred-and-ten acts of kindness have happened all across Canada, Europe, all around the world, thanks to you.”
Reading the stories back, says Jarvo, helps the children understand the value of kindness.
“Let’s say I did something for you, you’d be super happy and you’d do something else for someone else,” said Gwendoline Jordan, a student.
“Just because I did something for you doesn’t mean you have to give me something in return.”
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