Kindness takes many forms, and Rotaract at NSU is bringing it to campus in the form of Kindness Week.
Kindness Week is a week of events hosted by Rotaract at NSU, in collaboration with other campus organizations, to highlight different aspects of kindness from March 22 to March 25.
During the week, students will be able to make paracord bracelets for deployed soldiers with MEDLIFE, plant flowers and clean up the campus with the Nature Club, write kind notes with UNICEF and celebrate happiness at the week’s closing celebration with Best Buddies. Each day of the week will have a different theme, including selflessness, thoughtfulness, happiness, mindfulness and fitness.
Terrell Manyak, professor in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and faculty advisor for Rotaract at NSU, is a member of the Rotary club in Cooper City. Manyak said that Rotary is the world’s largest service organization, and Rotaract, which stands for “Rotaract in Action,” is a university-level Rotary organization for ages 18 to 30.
Veronika Balbuzanova, senior legal studies major and president of Rotaract at NSU, said she hopes the week will promote kindness on individual, communal and global scales.
“Our goal is that students on campus will realize how they can impact other people in a positive way on those three levels and that this event continues on and grows progressively,” she said.
Balbuzanova said when Rotaract at NSU screened the anti-bullying film “Finding Kind” last year, it inspired her to create Kindness Week. She said that she wanted to establish a legacy on campus, since it’s her last year at NSU.
“If you really want a productive use of your time in a fun and engaging manner on campus, definitely attend our activities,” Balbuzanova said. “We always have something for you; it’s not a chore to do community service.”
Khadijah Cheema, junior biology major and treasurer of Rotaract at NSU, said that she wants Kindness Week to be an opportunity for the student body to interact with Rotaract and for students to think about what it means to be kind.
“Kindness Week gives you time to reflect on what you can do to help others,” she said. “It’s an eye-opener.”
Manyak said that he appreciates the collaborative aspects of Kindness Week.
“We have a fairly small club at NSU, but our members belong to other clubs, and they’ve been able to bring all these organizations together to work on Kindness Week,” he said.
For more information about Rotaract at NSU or Kindness Week, contact Balbuzanova at vb422@nova.edu.
Kindness Week Events
March 22: [Thoughtful]ness
Making “Kind It” notes and “Pay It Forward” cards with UNICEF 1-2 p.m. @ UC
March 23: [Selfless]ness
Making paracord bracelets for deployed soldiers with MEDLIFE 12-1 p.m. @ UC
March 24: [Mindful]ness
Planting flowers, campus cleaning and apple bar with the Nature Club 11 a.m.-1 p.m. @ Parker
March 25: [Happy]ness
Positive social experiments, free hugs and ice cream with Best Buddies 3-5 p.m. @ Flight Deck
Photo Credit: Printed with permission from V. Balbuzanova
