Videos About Kindness, Compassion, and Service
published 2/7/16; updated 7/25/22
by Catharine Hannay, founder of MindfulTeachers.org
This is the first of what turned out to be a popular series of Video Playlists for Teachers and Teacher Trainers. In this playlist, the focus is on small acts of kindness and large acts of philanthropy, as well as empathy and aid for people from different backgrounds.
Teachers, please note: With such a multicultural audience teaching young children through adults, I can’t guarantee that all of the videos will be appropriate for your particular context. I’ve put brief descriptions to help you choose, but please preview anything you plan to share with your students.
5 minutes
A young woman is in distress because she has only one arm… until a young man with one leg offers her his crutch.
4 minutes
A third grade class is inspired to film their own version of a “Kindness Boomerang” in an ordinary school day.
PET: Personal Energy Transportation
5 minutes
Retirees build hand-cranked carts to provide dignity and mobility to adults and children who've lost the use of their legs through accidents, land mines, or polio. (You may also be interested in a 3-minute video of an elementary school that raised money to build and ship ten of the hand-cranked vehicles.)
Responding to Tragedy with Generosity
7 minutes
Countess Albina du Boisrouvray responded to her beloved son’s death by donating most of her fortune to helping other children. (You can find more information at fxb.org.)
5 minutes
Fifty homeless adults and children get a gourmet meal, and a chance to be treated with dignity.
400 students Wave Goodbye to Beloved Granny
1 minute
"For over a decade, Tinney Davidson waved out the window of her home to students on their way to school. Now she's moving away, so the students gave her a proper send-off."
Children Volunteer to Help Tsunami Victims
2 minutes
Japanese boys scavenge for food for their families and neighbors after their village is destroyed by a tsunami.
2 minutes
A 30-year-old British woman takes a dog from an animal refuge to meet elderly women with dementia, and together they bring back memories.
3 minutes
A Muslim girl and a Jewish girl perform a poem about what they have in common.
4 minutes
A Muslim businessman makes a generous donation to a Christian charity and develops an inter-religious friendship.
Coats and Jobs for the Homeless
6 minutes
Veronika Scott spoke with homeless people in Detroit about how to meet their needs, then turned a class project into a nonprofit. (More information at www.empowermentplan.org)
2 minutes
A four-year-old Kenyan boy gets a chance to do everything on his bucket list, since statistically there’s a good chance he won’t make it until age 5. (More information at waterislife.com)
Related Posts
There are many more video playlists and resources on community and compassion here at MindfulTeachers.org, including the following posts: