Archive of Kindness: Stories of everyday heroism during the South African lockdown

In a country gripped by the Covid–19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown, fear, loss and uncertainty were felt in all corners and by all. But, even in our darkest days, stories of immeasurable kindness emerged: of a woman reading to her neighbour's child through the fence; of a gardener who checked up on an old lady living alone on a farm and tended to her flowers; of a nurse who fed Weetabix to a dying man until the day he passed away, and of a man who gave his Wi-Fi password to his whole neighbourhood.

There are countless examples of micro-kindnesses which, though small, had a big impact on their recipients.

Archive of Kindness documents these and many other stories collected by Jess Auerbach and her students at North-West University. The book will act as a reminder of a difficult time in world history and how people living in South Africa lightened the load for others. We hope that this book will be a lasting testament to the goodwill inherent in our young and fragile nation and a reminder to always be kind.