A Capetonian began a kindness initiative back in 2020 when we all needed as much kindness as possible. Four years later and Dean is still making kindness cards and spreading little doses of love!
Cape Town, South Africa (04 June, 2024) — In 2020, Dean Duke Biersteker began making kindness cards/ hope posters and signs. It was a small and simple way to remind people facing a pandemic of disconnect and stress that there were still things to smile about. Aptly, Dean’s first sign was a bright yellow board that in blue writing read, ‘Smile’. Placed in his car, it sparked little doses of happiness along the road.
“The sign worked! People would see it and actually smile,” Dean recalled.
Dean became inspired and began making more signs; deciding to leave them in public places. Major traffic circles got a smile sign and soon so did lamp posts, wooden barriers and other spots where people could see them.
From a simple word came many more positive ones strung together on a kindness card, like “today we choose to be happy”.
Now, you’d be forgiven for thinking an idea like this might die down as we entered life after lockdown. In fact, the opposite is true.
Four years later and Dean is still at it! His kindness cards are still making a positive difference wherever they’re found, and he’s even made sure to translate them into different languages like Xhosa, Chichewa and Shona so that people can read phrases like “You’re Amazing” in a way that means so much more when its in your first language.
For Dean, making the kindness cards is a way of communicating love to those that don’t have a support structure. Or who are dealing with difficulties. Or who simply need a kind word or three or four.
“I think about everyone’s struggles and [placing] a positive note has such an IMPACT!” he says.
Some people take the cards to keep, others simply enjoy the moment. But as long as Dean’s in town, it seems there will always be more kindness cards to go around.
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