It’s no surprise that The Pebbles Project’s short film ‘Kindness’ became an award-winner. A beautiful telling of how one pebble of kindness can cause a ripple effect of good, the short film takes us into the worlds of different people that the project has supported. Grab the tissues:
Stellenbosch, South Africa (06 December 2024) — Grab the tissues, because The Pebbles Project’s award-winning short film ‘Kindness’ is bringing out all the feels in the best and most beautiful way.
The impact film won ‘Best Documentary’ from the Kleinkaap Short Film Festival earlier this year before hopping onto the international film festival circuit. It was shared with the public yesterday in celebration of the non-profit’s 20th birthday, not just as a way for people to see what Pebbles’ is all about but to really consider what the concept of a small act of kindness means in the grander scheme of real people’s lives.
Like a pebble thrown across a pond, a small act of kindness causes a ripple effect. Instead of water ripples, the ripples are thoughts, actions and perspectives of the world. One act of kindness from someone today could mean two acts from the person they were kind to, tomorrow. One helping hand can assist a mother or father in providing for their families, families who might go on to do great things. One person believing in another’s dream could be the start of a business that changes a community’s trajectory. If we look at things in this light, no act of kindness can ever really be considered small, can it?
The Kindness film is a tear-jerker for all the right reasons. It scraps overwhelming statistics (good or bad) in exchange for a few stories of impact. This way, the stories become personal. Digestible. Easy to hold in our hands and really sit with. We get to see the impact that we’re always being told is possible.
Pebbles could’ve boasted big numbers. They have supported over 3,000 children and families in their time. Instead, they picked a few as a representative of the many.
Through the film, we get to meet a myriad of people who have all been impacted by Pebbles for the better. There’s founder Sophia Wagner, who, 20 years ago, had a dream to positively support farm children in rural South African communities and, along with her sister, decided to go for it. This dream would change the life of Erenestine, a mother who Pebbles helped achieve a bursary and find a job to provide for her family. We also get to see Ernestine’s children who, thanks to Pebbles’ support of their mom, have a happy life.
There’s also Perchwin, another Project beneficiary who found peace and purpose through art after Pebbles’ put him in touch with a social worker. And Robin the budding seamstress who is developing her skills largely thanks to Pebbles.
All of these lives, all of this impact from one dream centred around kindness—one pebble.
Watch: The Pebbles Project’s Award-Winning Short Film ‘Kindness
Sources: The Pebbles Project
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