App of Kindness - AOK

Share the Science of Kindness and build better communities!

Science shows that a kind person is a happy person.

To be kind also means bringing happiness to others. And best of all, it’s not one-way. By

being kind, and helping others, we become happy even if we were feeling low.

The Science Research shows that exposure to kindness – in all its forms: being kind yourself, someone being kind to you, or even just seeing kindness happen – makes us happier. And being happier helps us live healthier and longer.

Kindness is just as important for our health as exercise, a balanced diet and sleep. Being

around kindness makes our minds and bodies react in remarkable ways. It boosts the

immune system, reduces stress, and even alters DNA to slow aging and help us live

longer. This is called the Science of Kindness (Sci-Ki).

Why we need an AoK?

Kindness can change lives. After I suffered serious injuries in an accident, it was the

kindness of strangers that brought the urgent help I needed. I wanted to reach out and

connect with the strangers who helped me; but how? There was no dedicated platform to

help me say thank you to those “strangers” for their kindness. To let them know I was

doing well thanks to them; and that their presence alone had been invaluable me.

The more I read about kindness, the more convinced I became of the important role it can have in our lives. I learned how beneficial kindness could be, how encouraging acts of kindness could have benefits far beyond the immediately obvious. I am especially inspired by the role it can play in building better, stronger communities.

That’s why we (a team of developers and I) have created the App of Kindness – AoK. Its

aim is to:

- Connect people online who are already connected through acts of kindness

(having performed or received it)

- Capture, and therefore inspire, acts of kindness

- Help you learn about and get involved in and with good causes

The App is completely free, and requires no expertise. It’s all about kindness – nothing

else!

So if you’ve benefitted from kindness and would like to say thanks, this is the place to do it!

This is also the place for you if you’d like to get involved with helping a cause, but unsure

of what’s out there or what kind of support you can give.

AoK helps to highlight lesser-known causes, so that when you feel yourself bursting with

energy, keen to engage in extra acts of kindness, we’ll help you find a place to channel it.

And rest assured, we carefully approve individuals and organisations, which earns them a badge in the App, so you can offer your support with peace of mind.

Did you say badges?

Yes, this is one of the great ideas of the App, you earn points and badges whenever you

tell us about your kind acts, whether done to others, or received yourself.

This means that once you connect with an organisation using the app, in whatever way

you wish, we encourage you to shout about it and reward you for doing so!

What could you contribute?

We want to see joyous posts (with photos or videos) and happy stories about any and all

acts of kindness, big or small, whether AoK helped bring them about or if they burst out of people as uncontrollable spontaneous kindnesses!

The great thing about it is that in sharing about kindness in all its forms, we will create

ripples, and fill the world’s communities with kindnesses that do nothing but make life

better for us all.

How does the App work?

The App is designed to help you learn all its features and tell you about activities you could get involved with. It will let you know if there’s someone you could help, or maybe

encourage you to set up a ripple by tagging a friend when you post about your act of

kindness so they’re nominated to go out there and do their own. From a single act many

more can be inspired… Imagine how far those ripples can flow!

And remember, just seeing kindness in action benefits your health and wellbeing. So come on in and just browse!

Share the Science of Kindness with the world.