'Walls Of Kindness' Encourage Iranians To Give

[rahi2357]

Walls typically create divisions. But not always.

In Iran, Some are using them to bring people together and encourage them to give. They've installed coat hooks and signs in at least three cities ,Shiraz , Tehran and Mashhad asking people to leave unwanted clothing for those in need. Now ,Iranians are calling them "walls of kindness."

Khalili st , Shiraz

"نیاز داری بردار ،نیاز نداری بذار "

"If you need clothing, take according to your needs, and if you have clothing ( at home that you don't need) , please hang it here," reads one of the signs.

The man behind the initiative told the daily Hamshahri recently that he was inspired by similar acts of kindness in Iran and around the world.

"Be good, as God has been good to us," reads the sign on his wall.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, set up his charity wall on his own property in October, he told Hamshahri: "I saw a picture from Gilan [Province] where a place was designated for people to leave their extra clothes for whoever needed them. I also heard that in Tehran they've installed a fridge where people leave food [for the needy]."

He added that many people have welcomed the initiative.

Ghadamgah st , Shiraz


"I saw one person hanging two sets of almost new suits [on the wall]; he had brought them from the dry cleaner," he said.


The man said he's asked people on social media to keep giving: "I've told them to bring clothes in small quantities so that those who come here know that clothes are always available."

He hopes the day will come when no one will need to come to his wall for clothes, he added.

Social-networking sites and messaging applications, including the popular Telegram app, have reportedly played a key role in getting the word out about the "walls of kindness."

Similar initiatives has been set up in other parts of the country, including in the southern city of Sirjan, where, also in October, a group of young people installed coat hooks and signs in two locations, asking people to give to the poor.

 

[Maarkhoor]

Very nice way to help the needy specially in winters.

 

[Aramagedon]

'Vaghf' is nice Islamic manner.

 

[rahi2357]

Iranians are organizing spontaneous outdoor charity drives.

The "walls of kindness" appearing in major Iranian cities have also generated a debate online about efforts to help the poor.

The idea seems to have started in the north-eastern city of Mashhad, where someone installed a few hooks and hangers on a wall, next to the words: "If you don't need it, leave it. If you need it, take it." Donations of coats, trousers and other warm clothing started to appear.

The person who initially set up what came to be known as the "wall of kindness" wishes to remain anonymous, according to a local newspaper. But the idea quickly spread to other cities, fueled by thousands of Iranians on social media.

Photos of walls across the country have been posted by several users, who are asking their fellow citizens not to "let any [homeless people] shiver in the cold this winter."

"This is a great initiative. Hope it spreads across Iran," said one Facebook user. "Walls remind us of distance but in some streets in Shiraz they brought people closer to each other," said another, citing the southern city where the second such wall sprung up.

Image copyrightTwitter/ @islanded_
Image captionThe 'wall of kindness' in Shiraz
Various official organizations are in charge of providing welfare to the homeless, who are described in Iran as "cardboard sleepers."

Image copyrightTwitter/@_far_in
Image captionThis 'wall of kindness' sprung up in Esfahan City



"We need to do it ourselves. Life is too short. Be kind as much as you can," one Instagram user said. One comment on Facebook read: "We, the people, are the media. By sharing [photos] of these kindness walls, we showed that we make the news."

The "wall of kindness" idea is similar to another citizen-driven initiative, called "Payan-e Kartonkhabi", ("ending homelessness"), where fridges have popped up on city streets so that people can leave food for the homeless.

Image copyrightTwitter/Tehran Municipality
Image captionA 'Payan-e Kartonkhabi' fridge on a Tehran street

 

[Daneshmand]

A very beautiful idea.

Specially in this day and age when things are looking so dark in that part of the world around Iran in the middle east.

 

[PAKISTANFOREVER]

This is excellent. As a Pakistani I have a lot of love for Iranian people and Iranian culture. This is something us Pakistanis can learn from. Nothing but pure love for Iranian brothers and sisters from Pakistan. Iran Zindabad.