Some small Fresno students are hoping to make a big impact by proving it doesn't take much to be kind. They've formed a special group at Starr Elementary School called the "Kind Kids Club." The students are not only learning, but teaching others, through acts of kindness..
Inside three first grade classrooms at Starr Elementary, students are learning much more than reading, writing and arithmetic; they're also learning to be kind.
Byron, Starr Elementary first grader says, "It's really fun to be kind to people."
"It makes other people happy and you happy," says Bella.
There are 90 first graders who make up the school's "Kind Kids Club"; a vision brought to life by teacher Marceen Farsakian three years ago.
Marceen Farsakian, Founder of Kind Kids Club says, "They're not getting anything in return except for the acknowledgement that they're being kind."
To become official members, students first have to complete ten random acts of kindness.
Joseph says, "I played with my dog and cleaned up dog poop."
"I rubbed my mom's feet when they hurt," says Bella.
That very kindness is now flowing through the classroom and out into the community. The club's latest project is making cards with frogs, dogs and flowers and sending hope and well wishes to a student's family friend who has cancer.
"Being a kind kid is very special because you can help anybody who is hurt or sick or something," says first grader Katrina.
Two other first grade teachers are now carrying out Farsakian's concept; a concept that won this year's national annual kindness challenge, put on by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. It's also a concept that's just as rewarding for the students.
First grader Tyler says, "If someone is like pushed or if someone won't share someone, you can stand up for them."
"You can see that joy in their face, in their eyes, in their smiles and it's very beautiful to see that coming from children," says Farsakian.
Through lessons that can be carried on well beyond the classroom, the hope is that these acts of kindness will be contagious.