It's the little things that people do that can make the most difference in a person's life. And in today's fast paced world where people are hard pressed for time to truly connect with others, The Goodwill Tribe is on a quest to remind people about the joy of sharing and loving with their unique activities.
Started about four years ago by Chandni Sawlani and Sonia Parekh in Dubai, the organisation has since spread its roots and now has 12 chapters in India and around the world, with Goa too having it's very own team.
" Sonia and I, both worked in Dubai and were disturbed by the disconnect prevalent in the big city. We feel that today everything is about living life in the fast lane leaving no time to connect with people. This is the case not only in Dubai but around the world," says Sawlani. Having worked with NGOs in India, for the two of them giving was a way of life and they wanted to find an outlet for this need for spreading joy to others. "We started small. We booked a space at a local flea market in Dubai and got our friends and family to send us items that were in good condition that could be given as gifts. People visiting our stall were surprised when they learnt that we weren't selling these but just giving them away," recalls Sawlani. The experience proved to be truly enriching for the duo as they connected with a lot of people who shared their stories with them while they also received a lot of hugs. Realising that they needed to do this more, they decided to have monthly events that encouraged people to come together and do little acts of kindness for others.
One of the events, which was held recently in Goa at Cafe Basil, Tonca is known as Letter Earthlings which was started by a friend in Sri Lanka and adopted by them.
"We basically get together to write letters of love and appreciation to strangers who are going through a hard time. We receive letter requests from people all over the world online. While they usually provide us with details about why they want us to write a letter to that person, if these requests are vague, we usually write back asking for more clarification. All the letters are written anonymously," says Sawlani.
With little time for heart to heart conversations, the team has also created another event known as One Kind where they creates a space for strangers to come together and have conversations that inspire a deeper connect. "A theme is usually decided for the evening for instance it could be about what happened last year that you are truly grateful for," explains Sawlani. Getting a space to hold this event is not usually an issue. " It depends from city to city, some are a little hesitant, others more open but we usually find a place which resonates with the idea," says Sawlani, while adding that they try their best to ensure a safe setting for this event
And if you're the type who sometimes randomly likes to go out and do good, the Kindness Confetti is just the event for you. "We go out on the main roads and do little things for people to make them smile. For instance we give them books, hug them, give them high fives etc," says Sawlani. In fact the Goa Chapter went out on such a drive, a couple of months ago in the Panaji market, leaving many pleasantly surprised.
Over time, the team has also collected a lot of inspiring stories. "In Nagpur last weekend, our letter writing event was focused around writing to those who were inflicted with cancer and cancer survivors and was hosted by two brothers whose mother too was a cancer survivor. One of the participants at the event was a seven year old girl who wrote a four page long letter to a five year old boy who was suffering from cancer, even though she had never met him "says Sawlani with a smile.
The Goodwill Tribe is now looking to register themselves as a not for profit company and also seek to branch out into other events that encourage social experiences like these. "Just do one kind thing for a stranger and see how it will make you feel," says Sawlani.
