Teacher Goes Viral – We Are The World Blogfest #WATWB
Social media is an integral part of our lives.
It is here to stay.
In a lifetime, the average person will spend 5 years and 4 months on social media. So we want the social media experiences to be positive, something we can look forward to.
In an attempt to spread peace and humanity on social media, I’m happy to introduce my first post for the monthly We Are The World Blogfest.
In the spirit of the theme “In Darkness, Be Light,” here is a link to a wonderful story from South Africa: Teacher goes viral for helping a little differently-abled girl in a school race.
Excerpt:
Riaan van Straten, an ex-provincial rugby player who is now in charge of sport at Curro Kathu Independent School in the Northern Cape, said he didn’t know why his actions had touched so many hearts, Netwerk24 reported.
“I expect every guy to be like that,” he said. “That is how I was brought up.”
The lesson – making a difference doesn’t cost money or take a lot of time, it just means doing a few simple things in your everyday life. It’s the simple things that count!
If you like this initiative and would like to take part in this blogfest, sign up in the WE ARE THE WORLD Linky List below and please help spread the word on social media via the hashtag #WATWB.
~~~GUIDELINES~~~
- Keep your post to below 500 words.
- All we ask is you link to a human news story on your blog on the last Friday of each month, one that shows love and humanity.
- Join us on the last Friday of each month in sharing news that warms the cockles of our heart. No story is too big or small, as long as it goes beyond religion and politics, into the core of humanity.
- Place the WE ARE THE WORLD Badge on your sidebar, and help us spread the word on social media. Tweets, Facebook shares, G+ shares using the #WATWB hashtag through the month most welcome. More Blogfest signups mean more friends, love and light for all of us.
- We’ll read and comment on each others’ posts, get to know each other better, and hopefully, make or renew some friendships with everyone who signs on as participants in the coming months.
Everyone should be willing to help others without a second thought, but it’s the special person who actually acts.
As you said, it should be a natural thing but unfortunately, it’s not.
More people like this… we need to find more people like this and showcase them.
I think there are many out there, we just need to track them down.
It went viral because we are starved for hope and something positive.
That’s a lot of hours online.
I think you’ve nailed it…starved for hope. That’s actually a sad state of affairs, but true.
Lovely Michelle thank you .. South Africans are so good about helping out. Around the world too. Thank you for sharing this story.
Lovely Michelle thank you .. South Africans are so good about helping out. Around the world too. Thank you for sharing this story. Good on Riaan van Straten.
Yes, we are good in that department. We just need more of these stories to come to light.
I admire teachers who teach to all abilities. What an uplifting story. I’m so glad to be part of this positive blogfest!
Thanks for joining us, Mary! 🙂 Those are definitely special teachers…
Hi Michelle – yes if we do one extra thing every day to help someone, especially someone in need, the world will be a better place. Good for Riaan … it sounds like he’s making a lot of difference to many in Kathu and its surrounds. Thanks so much for letting us know about Riaan … cheers Hilary
I subscribe 100%+ to that school of thought, Hilary!
All the little kindnesses add up…
So heartwarming. So many teachers are special.
I always feel blessed to be a teacher.
We make such a huge impact on those young minds.
Her smiling face is so precious!
Absolutely! 🙂
Fantastic story and so humble. Thanks so much for sharing! #WATWB
Belinda Witzenhausen~Writer, Creativity Coach & Artist
Thanks, Belinda!
Mr. Van Straten sets an example of a wonderful father and human being. I admire people who do good things naturally, without forethought, without thought of self. I would have loved to hear that little girl giggle and laugh her way through the race. So precious!
Imagine the impression on that young and tender mind?
And it’s such a simple act…the little things count!
Michelle, this is a wonderful story. We are always inspired by stories of love and hope and selflessness. Oh, for more of it~
Hopefully, our WEP Peace and Love challenge should bring out more inspiring stories…:-)
For more of it…YES!
We’ll just keep on doing our little bit in our little corners…spreading the positivity!
The little girl sounded pretty determined to be in that race. It was wonderful that he was there and was the ‘ability’ to her ‘different-ability’. I’m sending a link to my friend, Eddie. ~ #WATWB team member
I love the simple, everyday acts that make a difference in peoples’ lives.
Thanks, Lynn! 🙂
Beautiful post Michelle. It shouldn’t have to be news when someone performs an act of kindness, it should be part of human nature. 🙂
My thoughts exactly. 🙂
While I’m spending some of the 5+ years online, I’ll pop in comment. Thanks so much, Michelle, it’s such a tremendous story. Even his words:
‘“I expect every guy to be like that,” he said. “That is how I was brought up.”’
If only more of us could say that. 🙂
Humility is sorely lacking…or maybe I’m wrong and it’s just that we don’t hear and read enough stories showcasing this wonderful human quality? I hope I’m wrong… 🙂