Spread a little kindness this year by helping those less fortunate with some help from a unique kindness exchange platform.

Stop and Help is a new initiative, which connects people in the UAE who are in need, with those who are able to support them. Set up by founder Heather Harries, the independent movement aims to drive kindness deep into communities creating a better understanding and a kinder society.

“With the whole world struggling to embrace the changes imposed on us over the first half of 2020, we need to consider how kindness can play a more significant role by creating inspiration and positivity for people everywhere,” says Harries. “We are all watching, listening and learning in so many ways at this time. But I also believe in action over words.

I have spent many years educating children in the power of just a small kind act. Kindness is not something that just happens by luck. When kindness is practiced, people’s lives are changed and communities grow together to achieve better things.”

It was this understanding that inspired Harries to launch Stop and Help. The key concepts are ‘being inclusive’, ‘showing courage’, ‘caring without limitation’, respecting everyone’, and ‘giving a voice to the voiceless’.

The idea is to help people across the UAE who are supporting young children who are facing a short term crisis as a result of unforeseen circumstances. People or families can submit their stories to an online portal and the platform will attempt to match the need with help offered by someone else. Likewise, individuals, families or companies can upload what they have to offer in the hope a match will be made. It is an exchange process to support a current need, be it a box of groceries, some baby items, or support writing a CV. So far, since April 2020, more than 2,000 families have been helped by the movement.

“I believe that while we may all aspire to many things, our inspiration should be founded in the belief that if you can be anything in this world, be kind and success will follow,” she said.

www.stopandhelp.ae