At Jack Hunt School, kindness is one of our core values, and during the last two terms, our Year 8 students have taken a significant step in fostering this value through the Pledge Towards Kindness initiative. This collaborative project, involving our overseas partner schools, has been a remarkable journey in uniting young minds across the globe to promote empathy, understanding, and kindness.

Spearheaded by Ms Sidra Hussain (Teacher of Computing, Religion & Philosophy Education & International Education Coordinator, Jack Hunt School, England), this initiative was developed to build on the foundation of Ms Kerry Cliffe’s (Assistant Headteacher, Jack Hunt School) Pledge Against Prejudice project from a few years ago. The project has been revamped to focus on the universal and timeless value of kindness while embedding Jack Hunt’s core values of Hard Work, Integrity, and Kindness. This evolution acknowledges the positive legacy of the original project while adapting to the needs and aspirations of our current students.

Through Personal Development Education (PDE) sessions, JHS Year 8 students explored the importance of kindness in their daily lives, relationships, and communities. Guided by their teachers, they discussed how small acts of kindness could create ripple effects, fostering harmony and mutual respect. As a culmination of these sessions, students crafted their individual pledges towards kindness, detailing specific actions they would commit to in their school, homes, and local communities.

Under Ms Sidra Hussain’s leadership, this initiative extended beyond our school walls to engage our international partners. Through extensive coordination and collaboration, students from our partner schools in Pakistan, Cameroon, Uganda, Nigeria, Zambia and India enthusiastically joined the project, contributing their unique perspectives and cultural insights. Key educators, including: Ms Sidra Hussain, Ms Kerry Cliffe, Miss Fasiha Ashiq, Ms Amanda Lawrence, Mrs Steph Mcckracken and Miss Charlotte Etherton (all from Jack Hunt School, Peterborough England); Mr Asim Raja (Al Amir Education System, Pakistan); Mr Ebai Manfred (Academic College of Excellence, Cameroon); Ms Sana Riaz and Ms Qutrat ul Ain Usman (The City School,

Darakhshan Campus-Prep Section, Pakistan); Ms Shahnaaz Ojha (Delhi Public School, India); Mrs Nnebuihe D Olatunji and Mr Nnaemeka C Nwagbo (The Ambassadors Schools, Nigeria); Mrs Lydia Birungi, Mrs Miriam Katwesige, and Mr Ernest Lwanga (Miami Kindergarten & Primary School, Uganda) and Dr Hibeenzu Bornwell (Nzubo University, Zambia) played pivotal roles in guiding their students and enriching the collaboration. Each school adapted the theme of kindness to reflect their local contexts, producing inspiring and heartfelt pledges that highlighted the shared human desire for a more compassionate world.

The pledges have been shared through creative formats, including artwork, videos, and written statements, reflecting the students’ creativity and passion. Selected pieces are now displayed in a virtual gallery set up by Ms Shahnaaz Ojha, accessible to all participating schools, symbolising our collective commitment to kindness.

By spearheading this initiative, Ms Sidra Hussain has not only strengthened Jack Hunt School’s international partnerships but has also ensured that kindness remains at the heart of our global connections. Through this project, students have been empowered to take meaningful action in their communities while fostering lasting relationships with peers across the world.

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and dedication shown by our Year 8 students and their counterparts overseas. The Pledge Towards Kindness has not only reinforced the importance of this value but also showcased the power of collaboration in building a better future.

Together, we move forward, embracing kindness as a driving force for change at Jack Hunt School, in our communities, and across the world through our overseas school links.

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