St Andrews Day is Scotland’s National Day, and on November 30th 2020, Heartstone staged an ‘Acts of Kindness’ event to mark this very special day in a new way. Hosted by Sitakumari, the event involved individuals from different cultural communities resident in Scotland, who had not come together before, to present six stories showing how an ‘act of kindness’ can change people’s lives. Mr Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow North, pictured above, opened the event, with a welcome to everyone across Scotland who had joined. He said:
‘St. Andrew’s Day us Scotland’s National Day, to celebrate who we are today and what we want to be as a country, to understand differences and appreciate what we all have in common, to share love, kindness and support. That is what today is about, when adults and children can show ‘acts of kindness’ to show who are – as individuals, as a community and as a country….’
He was followed by Mr Niven Rennie, Director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, through whom Heartstone Story Circles have now been extended across Scotland led from Glasgow North. He highlighted how many areas are now participating in the Heartstone project across Scotland and spoke of one group – victims of crime and in particular, repeat victimisation and the need for everyone to care.
Special guest Ms Zosia Fraser, Polish Consul for the Highlands, followed the introduction with the first powerful story from history of Father Maksymilian Kolbe, a Polish Catholic priest, imprisoned in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz. He gave his life in an ultimate ‘act of kindness’ to save that of another. Zosia has a personal connection with this incident in that she heard it first from her uncle, who found himself in the same barracks as Father Kolbe and was there when this happened.
Photograph: Father Kolbe’s cell, Auschwitz – ©Nick Sidle/Heartstone – all rights reserved.
Outside Father Kolbe’s cell in Auschwitz today, there is a permanent burning candle as a mark of respect. Father Kolbe was canonised as a Saint in 1982.
From real life to fantasy, Sitakumari, in her role as Heartstone’s principal dancer/storyteller, followed with the opening chapter of ‘The Heartstone Odyssey’, the story of Chandra, the heroine, meeting Hugbundle and her ‘act of kindness’ to another at a time when she was herself a victim. This will lead to Chandra’s life changing forever in a way she would never have dreamed possible.
Four stories from refugees now based in Scotland, two in Highland from Syria and two in Glasgow from Somalia, followed – with each highlighting an ‘act of kindness’ from a simple welcome to receiving an unexpected email which had touched deep, things that most of us would take for granted but which, in all these cases represented something more profound – welcome, care, humanity and a feeling, above all, of being safe. Ms Fawzia, pictured left, with her son en route to Scotland from a refugee camp in Kurdistan in Iraq, emphasised how the most important thing to her had been to secure a safe place for her son, where she would not have to worry about tomorrow. This has been the biggest ‘act of kindness’ she has experienced, starting with the offer of a new life here in Scotland which has made all the difference in the world to her.
Mr Saleh Ali, right, from Syria, explained how the war led to the loss of everything for his family, their home, their business leaving them with nothing. Moving to a new country also meant losing contact with all their people. The kindness and support they have received in Scotland to create a new life is the greatest ‘act of kindness’ which somehow they hope to repay one day.
To close the event, Mr Rolf Schmidt, left, Chair of the Highland Interfaith Group, introduced a moving ceremony with words, quotes, prayers from different faiths. Taking part were Tom Mackenzie, Ann Mackenzie, Sheila Lamont, Marlene Finlayson, Wahid Khan, Dr Reddy, Uma Reddy, Elizabeth Smith and Eleanor Fairclough.
Dr Reddappa Reddy and Uma Reddy, right, founding members of the Interfaith Group and representing the Hindu faith, introduced the musical finale – a piece of music created by 17 musicians coming from seven different countries with a message of unity, peace and hope.
The six stories from such different individuals, cultures, nationalities and communities had shown you can never tell where a simple ‘act of kindness’ can lead to and the lifelasting change it can bring. It was a powerful event for St Andrews Day, bringing people together to celebrate a common humanity, full of hope, and particularly appropriate at a time when we are all impacted by the effect of Covid-19.
We would like to express our grateful thanks to BEMIS and Scotland’s Winter Festivals for funding the event, the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, Ms Zosia Fraser – Highland Polish Consul, HIMRA (Highland & Islands Migrants and Refugee Action), the story contributors and the Highland Interfaith Group for coming together with us to help make this event a great success.
If you would like to get a recording of the event, please contact Heartstone: sitakumari@heartstone.co.uk.
