Focusing on a Year of Kindness

In 2026, the world — and our own community in Singapore — is navigating a season of profound complexity. On our shores, high-profile cases of bullying and the sharp edge of viral public criticism have tested our social resilience. Globally, we witness the devastating toll of wars and the rising tide of xenophobia.

In times of friction, kindness is often dismissed as a "soft" response. But at the Centre for Community Wellbeing, we believe kindness is the most courageous and essential strategy we have for sustainable wellbeing.

Why Kindness? Why Now?

The Local Pulse : Choosing Repair over Retribution

In Singapore, the past year has seen a difficult spotlight on school bullying and online vitriol. When these incidents surface, the natural human response is often anger or a demand for punishment. However, a culture built on "calling out" and public criticism often leads to further isolation rather than resolution.

We focus on kindness because it is the foundation of restorative practice.

Kindness allows us to :

Move beyond labels - Seeing a child as more than just a "bully", or a "victim", so they can learn and grow.
Stand up as Upstanders - Having the "Be Brave" courage to intervene in toxic situations, both online and offline.
Strengthen our Safety Net - Ensuring our schools and neighborhoods are places where people feel safe to be vulnerable, knowing they will be met with care rather than judgment.

This video provides a critical context on the ongoing 2026 MOE bullying review in Singapore, emphasizing the shift toward restorative and educative discipline—core principles that align with your campaign's mission.

The Global Landscape: Kindness as a Borderless Language

Beyond our borders, the world is grappling with polarization. From geopolitical conflicts to xenophobic narratives that cast "the outsider" as a threat, the "invisible infrastructure" of human connection is being pulled apart.

At CCW, our core value of Harmony reminds us that we are well only when we care for the collective. Focusing on kindness in this season is a radical refusal to give in to fear. It is a commitment to :

Protect Minorities - Upholding the equality and dignity of every individual, regardless of race, religion, or nationality.
Combat Xenophobia - Choosing to see the "stranger" not as a scapegoat for domestic anxieties, but as a fellow human deserving of tender attention.
Foster Hope - Believing that even amidst global unrest, the small, intentional acts we perform in our daily lives create a "ripple effect" that counters the narrative of division.

Our Collective Responsibility

Wellbeing is not a service we receive; it is a state we generate together. In this season of high tension, your participation in the "Be Brave, Be Kind" Campaign and our "How to be Kind" Series, is more than a personal habit — it is a contribution to our national and global resilience.

By taking a pause to care for yourself and extending that kindness to a neighbour, a stranger, or someone different from you, you are helping to build a soulful community that can bounce back from any adversity.

Let’s care better. For ourselves, and for each other.

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