As we bid farewell to another year, it’s time to reflect on the milestones achieved by the Happy to Chat badge movement. It’s been a journey of genuine connections and heart-warming moments that deserve a quiet celebration. Here are some key highlights:
- Heartfelt Workshops: We began the year with simple yet impactful Happy New Year Chat workshops. They weren’t grand affairs, just gatherings where folks shared stories and connected. We had around 45 pioneering volunteers signed up to try out the badges and later gave us their feedback. We heard many heart-warming stories about their Happy to Chat encounters. One key take-away is that participating in Happy to Chat did make the wearers feel happier, less lonely and less anxious, despite the small sample.
- Monthly Events: At local events in Hillingdon, you might’ve spotted us—just a friendly presence, spreading warmth. We promoted the Happy to Chat badges at Pavilions Shopping Centre in Uxbridge, as well as other places, in collaboration with our community partners, supporting their roadshows. The badge became a simple signal for a chat, creating moments that brought smiles to many faces.
- Stories from Everyday Folks: During our events, many people in the community popped over and shared their stories with us. Imagine chance conversations on buses, cozy chats in cafes, and unexpected friendships in grocery lines—all sparked by the little badge.
- Venturing Online: We took our humble message to the digital world. Social media became our platform to share stories and connect with a global community, all united by the joy of conversation. We were delighted when people from many different parts of the world reach out to us to request a free pack of badges and shared their stories with us. We were even more pleased to see similar efforts being initiated at many other countries, from Happy stalls in New York, conversations in Finland and Denmark, say hi campaign in Sweden to the potential collaborations in Taiwan.
- Learning through Research: Beyond conversations, we also quietly delved into research. Behind the scenes, we explored the impact of these badges, hoping to understand how something so small could make a big difference. Our research findings show that wearing the Happy to Chat badges do make the wearers come across as friendlier, more trustworthy and more likely to receive social recognition, hence encouraging the opportunity to have a chat.
- Kindness Award Win: A heartwarming achievement was winning the Kindness Award. This recognition affirmed our commitment to spreading kindness through simple gestures. It also encourages the university to make continuous effort in making both new comers and international students feel welcomed on campus.
Looking back, the Happy to Chat badge movement isn’t just about badges.
It’s about bringing people closer, one conversation at a time.
We are grateful to have received support, advocation and encouragement from our community partners, various universities and supporting organisations.
As we embrace the new year, we’re committed to carrying forward these efforts. We’ll continue nurturing connections, sharing stories, and working towards making our world a kinder, friendlier place for everyone. Here’s to another year of spreading warmth through conversations, creating countless shared moments, and fostering more smiles ahead!
Note: This post receives editing support by ChatGPT.
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