One in four young people holds back from showing kindness in public because of fear over being embarrassed, an annual survey on graciousness shows.
Looking stupid or being mocked on social media was cited as deterrents to lending a hand in public of respondents aged 15 to 24, according to the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM).
SKM’s general secretary William Wan said young people may find comfort in numbers, and prefer to volunteer in a group than act on their own.
Generally, the survey, which polled more than 2,000 residents in two waves, found that people think Singaporeans are making progress in being gracious.
Between the first wave and the second wave more people felt that Singaporeans were less entitled, more accepting of foreign residents, as well as capable of acts of graciousness.
The survey also found that parents feel they should play the primary role in educating their children about graciousness.
However, more parents in the second wave felt what they taught was not reinforced by their child’s environment. Such external influences may come from friends or the Internet.
To combat this, SKM said it has provided various resources such as animated videos for parents to share and discuss with their children.
To encourage young people to set aside their shyness in helping others, SKM will be collaborating again with all 143 Starbucks outlets as part of its Be Greater campaign.
Dr Wan said: “SKM will continue to remind Singaporeans that kindness starts from within, and everyone is capable of greatness.”
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Source: The Straits Times, 25 June 2019