Vinay Sharma is the founder of the Right to Dance campaign in Delhi, India. Through this initiative, children from more than 20 slum communities receive free dance education.

Vinay, once an assistant director in the Indian film industry, now focuses on helping children from impoverished backgrounds express their creativity through dance. He has helped train more than 4,000 children so far, and hundreds of them have gone on to pursue professional careers in dance!

By providing a supportive environment and access to the arts, he is helping at-risk youth build sustainable careers and break free from poverty.

“Despite all of these challenges, when we see such stories happening on a daily basis, by just providing a safe space, some support, their lives are getting transformed. So that keeps us going, and that is what we aspire to keep doing,” said Vinay.

Feel the Magic is a nonprofit organization based in Australia that provides free grief support services for children under 18 who have lost a loved one.

The organization offers children a safe space to talk about their experiences through a variety of therapeutic programs and events. They learn practical tools and healthy coping strategies to help regulate their emotions while connecting with other children their age who have experienced a similar loss.

For children like Huon and Henry, who lost their mother, Annie, this support has made a meaningful difference. Being part of a community helps them realize they are not alone in their grief.

"The single biggest help for me in my grief is meeting other people who've experienced significant grief. I think that's the single biggest factor in the fact that we're all still standing and we're in one piece," said their parent, Angela Carpenter.

Fourth-graders Cody Turco and Elliott Peck are members of the Richmond Elementary Kindness Club, where they are making a difference through acts of kindness.

Both have loved ones who battled childhood cancer and are now in remission. Their loved ones' experiences have inspired them to pay it forward.

With the support of their classmates, they are creating kindness kits for children at Hasbro Children's Hospital to remind young patients fighting cancer that they are not alone.

The kits include items such as small wooden toys, crayons, coloring books, bubbles, and Play-Doh, items that can bring moments of joy to children who are going through a difficult time.

“The most important part is their ability to communicate how they feel, express it, and then rally a group of kids to support an idea that is magnanimous,” said Catherine Stahl, a third-grade teacher at Richmond Elementary.

Westwood Elementary School second-grade teacher Kim Rohlf is retiring after 35 years. Before leaving, she gifted each of her students a personalized present.

She gave all of her students handmade quilts. Each one was designed to reflect the student’s personality, including details about their birthdays, holidays, and special interests. She spent months creating these quilts!

In addition to the quilts, she also wrote a heartfelt handwritten note for each student so they would always cherish the time they spent together.

"I love teaching, and I love quilting, so it gives me a chance to share my love with them as they leave and I end my chapter of teaching," said Kim.

A neighborhood free store is a community space where people can give and receive items without the use of money.

It allows people to bring items they no longer need and take items they can use. It could be anything from a box of books and kitchen supplies to clothing and children's toys.

Apart from finding useful items, participants also get the opportunity to meet new people and build meaningful connections within their community.

A free store can be a valuable resource for families experiencing financial pressure, where they can find support in a stigma-free environment.

Community centers, apartment common areas, or even park pavilions can serve as great locations for hosting a free store.

You can also invite volunteers to help sort donations, answer questions, and ensure the space remains organized and accessible to everyone.

By keeping resources circulating within the community, free stores help reduce waste and encourage more environmentally responsible choices.

Host a free store in your neighborhood. Create a space where neighbors can freely exchange and share items with one another.