Saying hello to a friendlier society

I am referring to the article"Saying hello to a friendlier society" of the "Home"section of The Straits Times. The article is about three students promoting kindness by getting poeple to say 'hello'.

"Hello"says a lot- and no, these three are not selling anything. Students Andrew Zhan, Adam Teow and Eu Simin are getting Singaporeans to say the word as a start to showing kindness i their Hello Campaign. They launched their nationwide exercise last month on a mearge $1000 budget, and it has been no easy task. They estimate that each of them must have said more than 1000 "hellos"to strangers in the last two weeks.

Reactions have been varied. There were some who were super friendly, the ones who stop in their tracks and ask what they were doing- or selling. It was not easy but after a few hours, something changes. 'Hello' becomes something infectious- like laughter. Working with the Singapore Kindness Movement , the three aim to sign up 500 volunteers to their cause. This troop will then set out to Orchard Road on April 11 to promote friendliness by - you have guessed it - saying hello.

In less than two weeks, the group's Facebook profile has attracted nearly 700 members, following its two lead-up events this year - the first at SMU and other at Clarke Quay last week. But the three have also encountered cynics who have either dismissed thair campaign as a waste of time , ignored them or, worse, hightailed it in the opposte direction.

That is a pity, said Miss Eu, 20, a student at the Singapore Polytechnic, because when a connection is made, it may lead to something meaningful.

Mr Teow, 22, a SMU business student, said he had often been a loner in school. But he has opened up and expanded his social circle since taking part in the group's activities.

Mr Zhan, who describes himself as not being a naturally friendly person, agreed. He said that going up to a stranger to say hello is "an act of courage".

Outside Tangs department store, the trio - armed with "Hello, My Name Is" name tags and cardboard cut-outs of "Hello!"speech buddies - dished out random greetings to shoppers walking by. They were met mostly with looks of bewilderment. Mr Teow, who was dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, lamented that he had worn the wrong clothes, saying in jest that he looked like he was selling insurance.

However, the group's efforts were soon rewarded. They had collected, in 90 minutes, the names of 50 strangers who said they would take part in their cause.

In conclusion, I feel that saying hello to strangers would encourage and affirm someone and brighten up his or day. It would also make our society a more lively and friendly one.