Wall of kindness

The wall of kindness (Persian: دیوار مهربانی‎ dīvār-e mehrabānī; Urdu: دیوار مہربانی‎ Dewar e meherbani) is a charity work phenomenon and a kind of welfare, usually done by attaching cloth hangers from outside of houses; those encourage people to donate miscellaneous useful things such as winter clothing. It was introduced by an anonymous Iranian,[1] and the practice quickly spread throughout the country. The motto of the movement are two sentences which appear on the walls: "Leave what you don't need" (نیاز نداری بگذار) and "Take what you do" (نیاز داری بردار).[2]

Wall of Kindness, Mysore, India.

Description

Initially started for the homeless people of the Mashhad, Iran, the act serves a purpose to support the people in need. In response to social media, large numbers of people are taking part as a campaign and it has helped many homeless or otherwise destitute people during the cold winter weather.[3][4] A similar initiative, but with open fridges, spread from Tehran to other cities.[2][5] Bookshelves are also being added to the Walls of Kindness in order to donate books specially for poor children[6]

A wall of kindness was seen in Pakistan's Karachi on 15 January 2016 and another one in China's Liuzhou, located in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on 29 January 2016. Also students of Marymount International School of Rome, in April 2016, have reproduced the idea by designating a wall with similar function and name.[7][8] A wall of kindness was set up in Peshawar by Serve Mankind & Wadaan and afterwards it started Spreading all over Pakistan such as, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sialkot, Quetta, Khuzdar and Karachi have witnessed similar walls where people are leaving clothes and other essential items for the poor.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

A new Wall of Kindness was recently witnessed in Amman/Jordan at the Landmark Amman Hotel on 21 November 2017, which marked the first day of rain, inviting generous souls including children to donate clothes anonymously for the most in need ahead of the winter season. After donations are received, the laundry team at the hotel picks up the clothes, cleans them, irons them, wraps them up and hangs them back so they are available for the recipients, just like brand new items.[16]

Similar walls known as "Neki ki Deewar" have sprung up in multiple cities across India such as Allahabad, Bhilwara, Jhalawar, Mysore, Chandigrah, Bhopal, Dehradun, Korba and Kolkata sometimes even having more supply than demand of clothes. The walls are also serving unexpected purpose of keeping walls clean and free from spitting.[17][18][19][20]

Background

The economy of Iran was hit when sanctions were imposed by the Western World. As the situation became worse, with an increasing number of unemployed, many could not afford clothes. Inflation caused particular difficulties for those in need. In the winter of 2015, young Iranians in Wahid came up with the idea. The main theme was to meet the demand for resources from charities. For the first time, a wall symbolizes unity rather than separation and the community has been asked to donate voluntarily. As soon as the attempt came to the attention of various social and mass media platforms, it was supported and praised by citizens as well as netizens.

Young Iranians took the chance to strengthen the bonds of community. The campaign went smoothly despite the risk of misuse and loss of resources. People were responsive and well aware of the fact that most vulnerable should get priority.

Winter clothing disbursed among mass number of people as a welfare had been seen before,[21] but still, the idea was innovative and showed much intelligence.

Impact

The sharing works of charity had a great impacts of religious point of view regarding Islamic country like Iran. Like in other religions, charitable work is considered a virtue in Islam, which has driven people to do more for humanity. Like in Iran, people in Pakistan are showing their humanity via this initiative.

See also

References
  1. kindness, walls of (20 December 2015). "Iranians spontaneously created 'walls of kindness' to help the homeless". BBC Trending (What's popular and why). BBC UK. BBC. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  2. Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (14 January 2016). "Iran's 'walls of kindness' offer help to the homeless" – via The Guardian.
  3. Anwer, Zoya (25 January 2016). "The wall of kindness: An Iranian venture to feed the poor comes to Pakistan". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  4. "PressTV- Wall of Kindness spreads happiness in Pakistan".
  5. Heilpern, Will. "Walls of Happiness: Keeping Iran's homeless warm". CNN.
  6. "Photo / book was added to the wall of kindness". seratnews. News path. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  7. "Wall of Kindness Seen in South China".
  8. Xinhua (1 February 2016). "China Exclusive: "Wall of Kindness" provides warmth in wintry China". China.org.cn. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  9. "Have you visited the Wall of Kindness in Karachi?".
  10. Kamal Siddiqi (7 February 2016). "Walls of kindness". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  11. Amina Khan, Asad Ali Lodhi (7 February 2016). "The wall of kindness: Pavement goes from sex corner to charity spot". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  12. Tara Kangarlou (24 December 2015). "Iranians warm up winter with 'kindness walls'". Al Jazeera America. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  13. INP (8 February 2016). "'Wall of Kindness' appears in Lahore". Daily Times Pakistan. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  14. Javed Aziz Khan (3 February 2016). "'Wall of Kindness' helps poor get warm clothes". THE NEWS INTERNATIONAL. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  15. "Wall of Kindness: Helping the poor while challenging stereotypes". Nawaiwaqt Group of Newspapers. The Nation. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  16. "Citizens donate clothes anonymously through 'Wall of Kindness'". Jordan Times. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  17. "'Neki ki Deewar' turns Santa Claus for the needy across India". Hindustan Times. 25 December 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  18. "'Wall of kindness' bring warmth and happiness to needy people in Bhopal". Hindustan Times. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  19. "Wall of Kindness: Helping without boasting". Millennium Post. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  20. "Wall reaches discarded stuff to needy". The Telegraph. India. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  21. concerned to reach blankets (14 December 2014). "Reach winter clothes to cold-hit areas swiftly: PM". BSS. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
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