When he discovered his grandmother would be heading to Cambodia, eight-year-old Cody Parker began discussing with his family the ways that he could make a change in a village nearly 5000km away.
Thinking about what could fit in her mother-in-law’s suitcase, Cody’s mum Tanya said the family knew whatever gift they were going to give had to be “envelope-sized”.
“It can’t be too big because her luggage isn’t free, so maybe we do a letter,” Ms Parker said.
“That was the start.”
Once the idea was surmised, for Cody, it was about recruitment from there.
“I said, ‘would you like to ask your friends to join in, too?’,” Ms Parker said.
“First, he said, ‘Mum, I don’t see anyone going to join me. Probably only one kid’.
“I told him it doesn’t matter in the end if no-one is going to join you, but you can still send a message to the other kids. There are some kids that actually have a really hard time in the world, not like us.”
However, Cody’s doubts were quickly erased.
When he brought the idea to class 2/3S at Puckapunyal Primary School with a colourful poster, the words ‘kids helping kids’ written across the top, it wasn’t long before everyone was on board.
“The kids actually really touched me,” Ms Parker said.
“It’s going to be the whole class, and this is so touching to me.
“The kids actually really surprised me. They’re all talking about it now and getting excited.”
The project, now formally named Kids Helping Kids, has been supported by the local primary school, with Cody’s teacher Sarah Stephens more than happy to get her class involved.
Each student in 2/3S will now write a personal letter to a child in Cambodia, improving their written skills while also spreading kindness.
While we often see material items and money donated, this project is all about showing the kids that you don’t have to have a lot to make a difference.
“Everyone is doing a small bit. I say to Cody, ‘sometimes a very little man like you can’t donate money, but you can still do something small and sweet’,” Ms Parker said.
“There are so many things you can do to help.
“It all began with (Cody’s) simple belief: ‘because kindness is something we can all share, no matter how small we are’.”
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