Our Story: Where It All Began
Be Kind Movement was established in 2015 by film producer Premila Puri to celebrate and amplify the power of kindness through education. Premila’s personal experience of being bullied in school was a driving force in wanting to create a kinder school culture where Being Kind is the norm for children.
When her husband and co-founder narrated an incident about his experience with a spider in a car, Premila put on her film-producing hat to produce a short film called ITSY. The award-winning film was a catalyst for the charity’s flagship Kindness in School Programme™ which uses the medium of short films to entertain, educate and empower children and young people with the 10 values of kindness that help to build emotional intelligence (EQ) skills in them.
We believe educating the hearts and minds of young citizens through the development of EQ skills is critical in preparing them to deal with the mental health, emotional and social challenges* that many are currently facing as children today, and are likely to face as adults tomorrow. This means embedding very early on a culture of kindness in young minds of how kindness (or lack of it) can impact the world around them including their peers, friends, families, and community. Click here to see what children and teachers say about our Kindness Workshops.
Mental health statistics:
The pandemic, social inequality, austerity and online harm are all fuelling a crisis in which NHS mental health treatment referrals for under-18s have increased to more than 1.1m in 2021-22
The figures include children who are suicidal, self-harming, suffering serious depression or anxiety, and those with eating disorders.
Roughly 1 in 3 children in every classroom in England have a diagnosable mental health condition.
In 2017 suicide was the most common cause of death for children aged 5 to 19.
Source: The Guardian January 2023
Kindness isn’t “soft” — it’s powerful. It’s practical. It’s transformative.
Our Work in Action
Our Kindness in School Programme™ uses film, interactive workshops, and discussion to teach children the 10 values of kindness, including empathy, respect, honesty, gratitude, and emotional awareness. The programme builds confidence, connection, and a culture of care in classrooms.
Through this programme, we’ve reached thousands of children, working with schools, educators, and parents to embed emotional intelligence where it matters most — early and consistently.
The Journey So Far
Like any meaningful movement, the road hasn’t always been smooth. From sourcing funding and partnerships to pivoting through a global pandemic to witnessing the growing mental health crisis among young people — our work has constantly evolved to meet the moment.
But through it all, one thing has remained unchanged: our belief in the power of kindness.
What began as a film has grown into a national conversation — one classroom, one teacher, one child at a time.