PHOTOS: Local resident shows uMhlanga ‘Rocks’ with kindness project

DANVILLE Avenue resident, Sonia de Fleuriot, has begun a project to show uMhlanga ‘Rocks’, literally.

She has tied the initiative in with the global Kindness Rock Project, where people, paint pebbles or stones with pictures or messages of encouragement and leave them for others to find.

She has also started a Facebook page, ‘Umhlanga Rocks On’ and has already had more than 700 members join the movement. She added her goal was to spread kindness, happiness and positivity.

De Fleuriot said she drew inspiration from a Facebook group, called ‘Ballito Rocks’, run by Janine Ferreira.

“Janine received her inspiration by an American lady named Megan Murphy who started the Kindness Rocks Project. Murphy had gone for a walk, hoping for a message or a sign from her departed parents. When no message arrived, she decided to pay it forward to the next person needing encouragement. She picked up a rock, got out her marker pen, and left the first message which read ‘you’ve got this’.

“Her rock was found and hidden again and it was not long before the Kindness Project was born. The concept is simple, yet it is changing lives daily. It’s such an easy concept, you paint a rock with a positive message (no advertising or politics), and the hashtag, in our case #Umhlangarockson and place it along the uMhlanga Promenade. When you find a painted rock, photograph it, post it to social media and replace it. The idea remains to spread kindness, happiness and positivity,” she said. The project has been a rollicking success with many young children joining the challenge.

“Not only are the adults enjoying these uplifting messages and paintings, but the children are getting involved too, and loving it. It’s a win-win situation for all involved. In these trying times we are in, why not go and spread kindness around for others. One message seen at the right time can change someone’s whole outlook on life. I urge people to join in this initiative and share the kindness and fun. My desire is that the promenade will be filled with lots of rocks for everyone to enjoy,” she said.

She also urged those who spot the brightly coloured rocks not to pick them up and remove them.

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