In an effort to explain our Kindness Paintings to another Kindness Enthusiast, I was making a list of all the ones that we have completed to date. I thought it would be fun to put them all in one post, and update it regularly – because they make me so happy.
Each of our Kindness Paintings (except the first one, because we didn’t have our style set yet) have the words “We Are All Flowers From The Same Garden”. These paintings tell the world that we belong to each other and that we stand together in love and kindness.
To date, we have made 12 Kindness Paintings:
1. For Our New Syrian Friends
The first painting was given to a family who had recently arrived in Ottawa from Syria. We wanted them to have a beautiful symbol of welcome in their new apartment. We wanted them to know that we are happy that they are part of our community. You can read more about Kindness Painting no. 1 here.
2. For our Fantastic Friend Samer
Our friend Samer also arrived in Ottawa from Syria with his family just over a year ago. Samer is now working as a Syrian Settlement Counsellor at the Somali Centre for Family Services. We wanted him to have our second Kindness Painting. He chose to hang this painting in his office. You can read more about the creation of Kindness Painting no. 2 here.
3. For Better Beginnings, Better Futures
We created our third Kindness Painting at the Better Beginnings, Better Futures (BBBF) Community Celebration. We had 11 beautiful children paint flowers onto this gorgeous painting (two girls shared the last flower). We then gave this painting to BBBF to hang in the front room of their Community House. You can read more about Kindness Painting no. 3 here.
What my awesome designer Sarah pointed out when she saw this painting is how similar it is to the cover of our book. I didn’t do that intentionally, but it really does look the same! I love it.
4. For Rabbi Maranta
Kindness Painting no. 4 was given to Rabbi Maranta. While it is important to be kind to everyone everyday, we wanted to shower our neighbour Rabbi Maranta with an extra dose of kindness because of the hateful messages that were spray painted on her door back in November. We wanted to make something to show her that we will not stand for that kind of hate. We wanted to let her know that we are happy she is part of our community. And we wanted to tell the world that we stand together in love and kindness. You can read more about Kindness Painting no. 4 here.
5. For Accora Village
We completed Kindness Painting no. 5 at the Launch of Kindness Week 2017, which took place on Friday, February 17 at Accora Village. This was a very exciting Launch, as this year marked the 10th Anniversary of Kindness Week. We gifted this Kindness Painting to Accora Village to thank them for their support of Kindness Week. You can read more about Kindness Painting no. 5 here.
6. For Rev. Dr. Anthony Bailey of the Parkdale United Church.
This painting was made by the students of the Canterbury Community Association’s after school program. As part of their Pink Shirt Day Celebration that World-Changing Kids was involved in, two of the grade 3 students who worked on this painting came up to present it to Rev. Bailey. You can read more information about Kindness Painting no. 6 here.
7. For Rabbi Bulka Founder of Kindness Week and Kind Canada
This painting was also made by the students of the Canterbury Community Association’s after school program. As part of their Pink Shirt Day Celebration that World-Changing Kids was involved in, two students who worked on this painting came up to present it to Rabbi Bulka. You can read more information about Kindness Painting no. 7 here.
8. For Imam Samy Metwally of the Ottawa Muslim Association
This painting was also made by the students of the Canterbury Community Association’s after school program. As part of their Pink Shirt Day Celebration that World-Changing Kids was involved in, two students who worked on this painting came up to present it to Imam Metwally. You can read more information about Kindness Painting no. 8 here.
9. Allan and Wendy Hubley in memory of their son Jamie.
This painting was also made by the students of the Canterbury Community Association’s after school program. As part of their Pink Shirt Day Celebration that World-Changing Kids was involved in, two students who worked on this painting came up to present it to Allan and Wendy. You can read more information about Kindness Painting no. 9 here.
10. Our Family Day Party Kindness Painting
This painting was completed at the Family Day Party At Our Local Outdoor Rink. We are currently making plans for a great event in September to gift this painting to a Mosque in Ottawa. Stay tuned for more details on this. You can read more information on the creation of Kindness Painting no. 10 here.
11. For the Carlington Community Association
This is from the Carlington Community Association Family Fun Day on May 22. We attended this fantastic event and created a Kindness Painting with the participants. We also helped the kids make Kindness Cards to give to the volunteers at the event. You can read more about Kindness Painting no. 11 here.
12. Our Canada Day Kindness Painting
This painting was created at the the Canterbury Community Association‘s Canada Day 150 Celebration. World-Changing Kids had a table where we helped the children make Kindness Cards to give to volunteers, we had our Kindness Petition available for signing (and got three pages signed!), had our book “Plant a Garden of Kindness, A Child’s Guide to Filling a Year with Weekly Acts of Kindness” available for sale, and created a Kindness Painting.
We are hoping to gift this painting to the Heron Food Bank … I just need to contact them to see if they would like it!
You can read more about Kindness Painting no. 12 here.
Each of these paintings turn out so uniquely beautiful. I love working on them with the kids. Let us know if you would like us to create a Kindness Painting at your event!