Students Lead the Way at South Australia’s First Children’s Kindness Convention

Primary school students have come together to explore how kindness can help solve global social and environmental challenges at South Australia’s inaugural Children’s Kindness Convention, held on Wednesday, 14 August, at St Peter’s Woodlands in Glenelg.

The one-day event saw students from St Peter’s Woodlands, Annesley Junior School, and St Andrew’s School collaborate to brainstorm solutions to issues such as ocean pollution, online behaviour, and fast fashion, all through the lens of kindness.

St Peter’s Woodlands Principal, Helen Finlay, emphasised the importance of the event in encouraging students to think deeply about the role of kindness in problem-solving.

“The Children’s Kindness Convention empowers students to use their voices for good, highlighting the positive impact they can have by being kind to themselves, to others, and to the wider community,” Mrs Finlay said.

Inspired by the first Children’s Kindness Convention held at Pymble Ladies College in Sydney in 2022, the St Peter’s Woodlands event was driven by students who had attended the Sydney convention earlier this year. Motivated by the experience, they were eager to bring the concept back to their own school and lead an event in South Australia.

“Students took the lead in choosing the issues they wanted to address and presented their solutions at the end of the day,” Mrs Finlay explained.

The event welcomed special guest Kate Brown, Head of Junior School at Pymble Ladies College and founder of the Children’s Kindness Convention. Ms Brown shared her excitement about the growing momentum of the kindness movement.

“The impact of approaching life’s challenges with a kindness mindset is profound for children. It provides them with hope and confidence to thrive as learners and leaders,” Ms Brown said.

She commended St Peter’s Woodlands for their initiative, adding, “There’s a bright future for kindness, and today’s event shows just how far-reaching this movement can be.”

The Children’s Kindness Convention is a step forward in shaping the next generation of problem-solvers, guided by the power of kindness.