Kindness could come in all shapes and forms, through an act, a word of affirmation, or even through art. One of the most famous art pieces in the history of mankind is Banksy’s Girl With Balloon. The piece was one of Banksy’s most celebrated artwork, and since his original piece, the stencil drawing has taken on different forms to represent different meanings, and support different causes. 

The first time the stencil version of Girl With Balloon ever appeared was in 2002 at the Southbank Bridge in London. Public Delivery described the piece as, “a young girl standing with her dress and hair blowing in the wind, releasing, or reaching for, a red heart-shaped balloon. The toy may have slipped from her hands and flying out of reach or descending to her from above. The girl is kept in black, with red as the only color in the artwork. Girl with Balloon is accompanied by the text “There is always hope.”

Girl With Balloon has been reproduced several times supporting different causes. In 2014, Banksy reproduced the piece to commemorate the Syrian War. “The image of the art was modified to promote the hashtag #WithSyria on social media and to rally support and create awareness about the three years of conflict in Syria.” The work was redesigned to show the girl with a headscarf to depict the country’s refugee situation. The campaign was against the “years of brutality and bloodshed that have turned Syria into the epicenter of a massive humanitarian crisis.” The work was projected on Nelson’s Column and Eiffel Tower.” 

Through Banksy’s art and kindness, and by dedicating this piece to the Syrian cause, he was able to reach more people and spread awareness about the brutality of the situation in Syria, and about the displacements of Syrians around the world. 

Soon after the new version of the Girl With Balloon was released, an animated video followed, based on the artwork itself. 

The #WithSyria campaign did not only spread awareness to the world, and planted hope of being seen in the hearts of Syrians displaced around the world, it also showed us how an act of kindness can lead to supporting something bigger than ourselves. 

Being kind doesn’t cost much. Be kind to those around you because there are so many untold stories of struggles that are unheard. 

And on this Random Acts of Kindness Day, be kind to yourself first, and to others second. Kindness is contagious, so why not start with ourselves?