Little Acts of Kindness: Everyday junior heroes remind us why it's important to care for each other
Highlight In The Of Stories Kindness: Acts Little That Of The An Amazing Collection World Good
This year, we asked you — our readers — to help us shine a spotlight on the small but powerful acts of kindness carried out by children and young people.
From lending a helping hand to showing empathy and compassion, these everyday heroes have reminded us of the importance of caring for one another.
Thanks to parents, teachers, guardians, and community members who nominated these inspiring young people, we’ve gathered an amazing collection of stories that highlight the good in the world.
Each nominee has received a certificate of thanks as a token of recognition and has been entered into a draw for a €250 gift voucher. We’re also delighted to make a donation to SVP in honour of these inspiring acts.
You can read some of the nominations here, and don’t forget to pick up the Irish Examiner's magazine today for a special article featuring other incredible stories.
Cillian has always been a kind child, opening doors for me, helping where he can at home. He received a special mention at school again for his kindness and empathy towards his friends and teachers. Hannah helps me with tasks around the house and cheers me up with hugs and kisses. Hannah helps her teacher daily with jobs and messages around the class.
On July 29, 2022, Ava found her Nana unresponsive. She acted quickly and raised the alarm. Her Grandad administered CPR and saved her life. Ava was instrumental in this act of kindness.
Anna Carla is Cobh's eco-warrior. She helps regularly at the clothes and toy swaps organised in Cobh. She always has a smile on her face, helps people choose items, displays them beautifully and never complains about being on her feet all day. She is the best.
Willow’s grandad was quite unwell. We were out shopping and she asked if she could buy a Christmas decoration for her room, so we bought the one she chose. But on the way home, she insisted we called to check on grandad and she gave him the decoration to make him feel better.
My daughter at the young age of six goes out of her way to be kind on an hourly/daily basis. She has so much empathy and goodness, she has taught me so much about being a mum. She is an amazing big sister. We are so lucky she is ours.
Naysa is always willing to help anyone who is in need. At school, she always chose to sit beside and make friends with children others did not want to engage with. We are so proud of you, Naysa.
Oisín is fantastic to his nonverbal autistic seven-year-old brother Fionn, along with his sister Éabha. He always has a protective eye on him. Fionn is unable to speak for himself, but Oisín speaks for him.
Caoimhe has been a brilliant girl for the past two years while I retrain as a teacher. She has been patient, understanding and so supportive, even though study has demanded a lot of my time — often my time with her. We are so proud of her.
Myah’s newborn brother was crying. Mum was exhausted and sat on the kitchen floor with baby in her arms and started to cry too. Myah came up, rubbed her back, and said: "You're doing a great job. I am going to get you some water. You're the best mum ever.”
Chloe's little brother, six, woke at 5.20am to go for a drive. He is non-speaking and found it hard to understand why we could not take him for a drive. He woke Chloe who, instead of getting cross, immediately got him his favourite pillow and toy to help support him.
Cillian is the little brother to Shay. However, he has always acted as the big brother because Shay has autism and struggles at times. Cillian is Shay’s number one supporter and is the main reason why Shay has progressed and done so well this year.
Noah loves the park and loves bringing his teddies with him everywhere. On a recent visit, Noah spotted a little girl crying. He ran straight over and gave her one of his teddies to play with. Such a lovely act of kindness.
In afterschool, Philip helps the teachers to clean up the mess, find the jigsaw pieces and tidy up the place.
After a talk in school about the situation in South Sudan, Vivienne and her friend baked cookies and buns and organised a bake sale, at which they raised over €100 for the children there.
He shows such tenderness towards his parents and sister and is so kind to our old dogs. He writes comics and has such a sense of fairness in all he does.
Every morning on the way to school Violet greets homeless people. When she has spare change, she will always give it to someone in need. At bedtime, she says prayers for her friends, family, teachers and the homeless, of course.
Bobby has given all his Pokémon cards to a boy who has none for Christmas. Portia found a lady's bag and gave it to the lost and found office in the shopping centre.
Theo is a very empathic young boy. Each day in his school, St. Michael's, he helps the children who have special needs, so much so that the specials needs staff look for him to help.
Sydney displays kindness daily by ensuring everyone is included, treated fairly and has someone to talk to. If you are not happy or able to smile, she gives you the best hugs. She brings extra food into school to share, and makes sure no one is hungry and everyone is happy.
During the cold weather, Laoise designed a paper ad to put up on the local shop notice board to warn people about the dangers of using anti-freeze on cars because it is poisonous to cats.
Reneen always gives one of her toys to homeless [people] or refugees whenever she gets a new toy for herself.
Our grandson Patrick has been providing us with a tasty, cooked breakfast on Thursday mornings as part of a transition year social engagement initiative. He goes to the shop, gets the sausages and other ingredients, the paper and anything else that we need. Then, he cooks it, entertaining us throughout.
Harvey was growing his hair from the age of two to six. When he decided he wanted his hair to be short I asked him if he would like to donate it.
He said he would, and he was willing to let it grow to 12 inches in length so we could donate it to the Little Princess Trust.
When it was long enough, we brought him to a local barber, Brian Wade, who did his haircut for free because of the worthy cause. We posted his hair that day and within a few weeks, he had received his certificate.
I’ve started to foster kittens who have been abandoned by their mother. I currently have three kittens that need regular bottle feedings.
Jade comes and helps me feed them, clean [them] and change their bedding every day. She is so gentle with them and a great help in getting them ready to be rehomed.
Bronagh, although only four years of age, took such care and showed so much love to her great-grandmother "Ma" when she became ill and less mobile. She brightened up days and the bond between them was so strong. "Ma" died in September and Bronagh helped us all cope.