Background & History

In his 1996 New Year Message, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong highlighted the need for Singapore to become a gracious society by the 21st century. Considerate social behaviour supported by a strong economy and good government will make Singapore the best home for its people. In line with Mr. Goh’s call to build a gracious society, the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) aims to encourage Singaporeans to make a positive commitment to gracious living through simple acts of kindness in their daily activities.

A Gracious Singapore, one kind act at a time.
Culture, heritage, education and civic-mindedness make up a gracious society.
One whereby people appreciate spiritual development and the arts – the finer things in life.
One whereby people know their roots and are tolerant of that of the others.
One whereby people have a strong desire for learning and reading, beyond the pursuit of academic qualifications.
One whereby people lend themselves readily to acts of kindness, volunteer work and philanthropy etc for the betterment of society.
It’s the little pieces that form the big picture.
With every small act of kindness, we create a pleasant society with good social behaviour, and make life better for everyone.
So start, show and share kindness today.
Kindness, Bring it on!

About Singapore Kindness Movement

Kindness is in everyone. The Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) wants to encourage everyone to start, show and share kindness. We aspire to inspire graciousness one kind act at a time. By sparing a thought for the people around us, we hope to create a gracious society, and make life better for you and me.

Mission of SKM

To help build a gracious Singapore, the Singapore Kindness Movement aims to encourage the individual to internalise courtesy, kindness and consideration. Our mission statement is:

To inspire graciousness through spontaneous acts of kindness, making life more pleasant for everyone.

Objectives of SKM
– To encourage all Singaporeans to be kind and considerate.
– To create public awareness of acts of kindness.
– To influence and raise the standards of behaviour and responsibility.

Credits: http://kindness.sg/about/#.UQKcgflp5H8

If you think about it, that’s kind of sad right? That the government has to step in just to teach this basic human philosophy? Being kind doesn’t constitute to much really, the basics of giving up your seats to the elder on a crowded bus or train is one example.

Sometimes it’s kinda redundant as seen from the many pictures sent from STOMP over the years

The above are just SOME examples. Others include the basic holding of doors for the person behind you, pressing the lift door button open when you see someone dashing for it, and just really basic things like that. And yes, if you were wondering, I occasionally do give up my seats too but generally I don’t have to, because I prefer to stand!

Fortunately, there are people out there who still has the sense of chivalry or courtesy in them, and I applaud them for having it because it’s a great trait to have. 

Like, the MAIN reason why I suddenly wrote this post out of the blue is because today on the crowded bus, I was offered a seat by this guy. And well, I was carrying a really fat and huge bag and my dinner back (bf went for dinner with his friends) BUT I was neither old, injured or PREGNANT (THAT I AM PRETTY SURE OF), so when he gave up his seat to me, I was shocked.

Why?

Yeah, seriously. I wasn’t sure if he was being chivalrous or he thought that I was pregnant! I’m serious! So I’m just going to believe in the first – that he has a sense of chivalry.

I will seriously clobber him if he thought that I was pregnant.

Anyway, because of this incident, it made me wonder. Gosh, why am I so surprised over this act of kindness? It’s not a really a big thing. Is it because Singaporeans rarely display acts of chivalry and courtesy?

Also recently, I injured my foot on my graduation day and so, my foot was bandaged for the whole week. I took public transportion – bus and train, and 90% of the time, I stood. And only once did a woman give up her seat to me to rest my injured foot.

The rest? Well, I had many who STARED at my injured foot the entire journey and didn’t move their butts. The others just pretended not to see. And so, now you see why Singaporeans need this Singapore Kindness Movement and that probably also added on to my perception that Singaporeans rarely display chivalry and courtesy.

It makes a world of difference when you practice these little kind acts of courtesy/chivalry.

Okay, I wonder if this rant makes any sense cos I’m kinda typing this with my eyes half closed. Been a tiring week for me and I was curled up on my bed reading Life of Pi – a book that I just bought.