Maya Angelou once said:

 “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

When somebody says a teenager has been posting comments on the internet regarding his classmates, the first thing that comes  to our mind is  cyberbullying and all the serious and negative consequences it can cause. However, even in this digital world, there are stories that epitomize how people can still be “cool” on social media.

One of these stories is about Konner Suave, a student from East Valley High School (Washington), who created an anonymous Instagram account @TheBenevolentOne3 and started sharing kind thoughts about his fellow students.

The account, which has been active for 43 weeks, has over 650 posts. Each is about a different student from the high school’s different class levels, and every one features the student’s name, photo and a brief description recognizing what makes that person special.  At the end of his graduation speech Konner finally revealed that he was the identity behind the famous Instagram account, and received a standing ovation, bringing  everyone close to tears. This  was his way to combat bullying and make each and every one of his classmates to feel good about themselves.

Copyright: wavebreakmedia

Immediately after one of the girls he wrote about,  read the post about her, she left the following comment:

It’s amazing, you have just brightened my day. You did something so great for all of us. Love you,

mysterious person!

Others featured in Suave’s posts surely felt pretty much the same.

Here are some examples of his posts, where he described other students:

Cody Walker

You’ve always been one of the most intelligent underclassmen I have come to be around and meet! Your brain works miraculously in strange, yet amazing ways as you solve problems and figure out how to get through situations. You’re such an inspirational young man with many aspirations and goals, don’t let them fade away. PURSUE THEM. Not only for yourself but because your dreams will inspire other dreams and they will teach others to do the same!

Shadow Warrior

Okay, hands down. You have the COOLEST name out our school. It is very powerful and courageous, you hold such a high authority it seems with such a name as Shadow Warrior! I would like to acknowledge your consistency in remaining the young man you are and are becoming. As times change it is hard not to totally switch what we believe in and turn into someone we don’t recognize, but you have remained perfectly balanced in this change throughout high school. It is a blessing you have been a part of our school these years, good luck and the BEST of wishes to you in your future

Copyright: Pressmaster

Konner explained his actions in one of the posts. It’s quite interesting to read:

There is one quote in particular from Maya Angelou that reads: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

I find this quote so inspiring because over the past year I saw a change occur in our high school – a positive one. It seemed as though we were more united than we had ever been in the past.

During the summer, I made the decision to go in and try to make everyone here feel appreciated and recognized for simply being the amazing people they are. It is easy for people to be cruel over social media, so I decided to make an anonymous account on Instagram that would counteract the negativity seen today by posting a picture of each student and a paragraph of what makes them GREAT and how other people should see that too.

What this young man did was truly amazing, inspiring and yet very unusual. In the fast-paced world we live in today, we are seldom interested in doing something good for others. I hope that Suave’s story will be just the beginning of sharing kind words and positive thoughts rather than insulting messages and gossips on the internet.

Cyberbullying is being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful material using a cell phone or the internet. In many countries worldwide it is a crime punishable by law. Therefore, instead of wasting  our time on negative comments, gossips and rude remarks, let us help and inspire people to be the best possible versions of themselves.

Start from yourself and be the change you want to see in others!

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18 year old Konner Suave, has anonymously been updating @TheBenevolentOne3 for 43 weeks,with  photos of students in the classes of 2014-2017 at East Valley High School in Washington with a caption about their good qualities.

The post Don’t Shy away from Pointing out Good Qualities of your Friends appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

In the message for this International Day of Charity, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the following:

Charity plays a significant role in the work of the United Nations and its agencies. On this International Day, I call on people everywhere to act on the charitable impulse that resides in every human being — to start giving and to keep on giving.

NDF supports UN and encourages all of the people and organisations worldwide to commemorate this day by raising awareness about the importance of benevolent giving.

You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. “•John Bunyan

Here are 5 great ideas how you can get involved and help spread the awareness of this day:

• You can organize a fundraising campaign for a special purpose – fundraise for the charity of your choice, run for the cause or start “clean your neighbourhood” campaign. You can do all of that by using companies like JustGiving or VirginMoneyGiving. For ideas on how other people like you have fundraised, visit JustGiving page.

• Hold an event in your community that will promote charity work (remember events and campaigns NDF has organised in the past. Your events don’t need to be big or publicised. The point is to help another, try it. Doing well for others, replenishes your mind and spirit.)

• Reward good deeds – Establish a symbolic award among your family members for everyone who leads by example when it comes to charity, philanthropy, or volunteerism. For example: If you see or hear that your child has helped another, praise him and award him. Tell him how nice that is and ask him to share with you how he felt when he helped his friend in need. Share how proud you are of your child with other family members too. This is the best award your child will get and will remember for a lifetime that good deeds never go unnoticed. And don’t forget to lead by example.  Read how you can motivate your child to do well for others.

• Start the chain reaction of charitable giving. Remember the campaign students from Belgrade have started? You can do this too!

• Share your ideas and promote your own charitable initiatives on our social media platforms. Don’t forget to use #goodnewsNDF in your posts!

What does charity mean to YOU? Share with us your stories and/or pictures&videos and tell us what charitable deeds you are most proud of. We will compile them and make them into memorabilia that we will share with the world.

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Remember: [tweet_quote]charity can take various shapes and forms in different parts of the world.[/tweet_quote] You don’t have to donate money to be charitable. Helping a person in need or aiding an organisation from your town, or even a simple smile and a good word to someone who feels down is also charitable and sends a good energy to the world.

References:

http://www.un.org/en/events/charityday/

http://www.unfoundation.org/blog/international-day-of-charity.html

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Despite all the hardships, sufferings, tragedy and victims we have suffered, Serbia is not alone. Neighbouring countries: Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia were the first who offered and provided assistance in dealing with this natural disaster. When such things happen, our religion, nation and the language we speak become less important. There is no more division among us. We are all one, hoping that this unity and solidarity will last longer, not just now but in the following years as well.

Here are a few examples of fraternal solidarity and assistance that should be mentioned. Big thanks to all the countries in the region for helping us and supporting us. A contingent of the Army of Montenegro has headed this morning to Serbia from its base in Danilovgrad. They were followed by buses full of volunteers, organised by the Brotherhood of Orthodox Youth of Montenegro. Atlas company has sent 100,000 gallons of water, while the President of the Group personally donated EUR 50,000. Water plant Lipovo from Kolasin has organised an additional production in order to send urgent assistance to Serbia. Some municipalities also merged and sent financial aid, manpower, technology, food and blankets. Montenegro has opened a bank account for individual payments intended for those most affected by floods that have hit Serbia.

Croatia was among the first to respond to Serbia’s appeal to help. The Red Cross of the Republic of Croatia has launched the action to raise funds for the flood-endangered population in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. Financial aid is being received by online donations on websites of Croatian Red Cross.   Croatia also provided two military transport helicopters with crews and personnel to help those affected by floods.

The Slovenian government sent an additional special civil protection unit to Serbia, together with 19 experts, military helicopter, eleven vehicles and two special pumps for water draining. The Macedonian government decided to send 75 special unit members as assistance to flood-hit Serbia.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations immediately sent an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft with 70 rescuers. The Russian rescue team also includes 20 divers with most up-to-date equipment. They took part in the rescue of citizens of Jagodina and surrounding villages, as well as in other flood-affected areas in our country. Two more planes of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations will deliver 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Serbia, including boats, equipment for water drainage and electricity supply, food and blankets.

The EU has sent to Serbia high-capacity drainage pumps and a team of experts tasked with providing assistance in the removal of consequences of the floods. Austria, Bulgaria and Germany were among the first to send assistance. The plan is to send helicopters. France has joined as well and sent 34 rescuers, ten motor boats and other equipment used in rescue operations. In addition, through its company in Serbia “Tigar Tyres” France has donated 1.2 million dinars to help the most vulnerable, and sent 5,000 pairs of rubber boots intended for residents of the flooded areas.

Israel has decided to help by sending medicines, blankets, raincoats, rubber boots and food.   Hungary granted five boats and helicopters for the rescue action and the Czech Republic granted assistance comprising a rescue team and a high-capacity drainage pump, as well as a boat and seven vehicles for various purposes. The United States donated $100,000 for the procurement of equipment and non-food items adequate for assistance to the flooded areas in Serbia. The Serbian people will never forget this!

We are and always will be inspired by good deeds and acts of kindness and respond in the same way whenever we are able to – whether it is to help a neighbour, friend, family, or a complete strange. Your little means so much to others and can change their lives.  

The post The Time When the Balkans Got United appeared first on Novak Djokovic Foundation.

We are expanding! Novak Djokovic Foundation blog  is expanding into a Media Platform and we would like to issue an OPEN CALL for authors/contributors to join us.

Ideal candidates:

• talented authors with a genuine interest in education, philanthropy, NGOs, sports, health, nutrition, parenting tips etc.
• have blogged, interned at a website or magazine and/or worked on a college publication.

Authors will work directly with the country/section editor to contribute daily news posts, features, and articles.  Writers will have an opportunity to produce at least three articles weekly and be featured on the media platform as contributors.  This is an ideal opportunity for those who are looking to get a byline and build a clips portfolio to pursue a career in journalism.

The ideal candidates should have strong voice,  proven writing skills, experience pitching stories, a wealth of ideas,  be absolutely fanatical about meeting deadlines  and be passionate about covering one of the following topics:

EDUCATION

Looking for strong writers to cover range of topics on education spanning from early childhood education to college level education to online learning and technology. If you are passionate about education and you can make complex issues appeal to a broad audience, we would like to hear from you.

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES

Tell us about the most inspirational thing you’ve read, heard, or seen this week. It can be an article that inspired you, a video that lit you up, or something meaningful that happened to you or to someone you know. We are looking for stories about people who make a difference in the world by organizing others around them to support meaningful causes. This doesn’t need to be about people helping people, it can also be about people helping animals and similar.

PHILANTHROPY

Are you passionate about individuals who use innovation and philanthropy to create a better world? We are looking for writers who are able to write quickly and produce compelling original content.

NON PROFIT

We are looking for business majors with good writing skills to write sections on management of Non Profit Organizations and the Law school students and graduates with good writing skills to write about legal requirements of running an NGO. Ideal candidates should be able to write snap articles on legal and management aspects of How to set up and run an NGO? The articles must appeal to the broad public and should be written in an interesting and appealing manner. Please bear in mind that we are not offering legal opinions but only describing what leading an NGO pertains.

PARENTING TIPS

Moms and paps bloggers would be needed to jump in with their valuable knowledge and to share them with the NDF followers. This section will feature HOW TO and KNOW HOW of having a child. It should be written in conversational style and from the parent’s perspective.

SPORTS

The ideal candidates are resourceful and energetic self-starters with   at least one year  of experience covering college   sports news, game stories, and or features.

HEALTH and NUTRITION

Responsibilities include researching the latest fitness, health, nutrition and diet news; pitching and writing items for our health, fitness and nutrition news pages; reporting and writing sidebars to articles; writing posts for our blog. Candidates should have an interest in health and fitness and/or a previous internship with editorial experience.

Online application will not be considered  completed unless it has:

• a cover letter, résumé,
• 3 to 5 clips of your work
• list of references with the choice of the section you would like to contribute  to, including a 600 to 1000 word feature discussing the topic  of your choice (from the sections above).

All applications should be sent to  careers@novakdjokovicfoundation.org

DISCLAIMER: All positions are voluntary  at the moment.

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