kindworks is a global kindness movement based around both real-world interaction and an expandable digital community.
People share stories about good deeds that have happened by adding Gears to an online Machine.
Each Gear details a specific story, and the Machine itself is a network of everyone’s interconnected goodness.
This community is a place to find inspiration and see what others are doing. By working together, we can make a real difference in this world.
kindworks allows people to see that an impact is already being made, and enables them to measure their own personal contribution. By making this effort visible, the great task of improving the world becomes a little less daunting.
Step 1: Register
kindworks members have access to all of the features of the site, including adding their own e-Gears and stories to commemorate good deeds.
To get started, visit http://ninjasofniceness3.etc.cmu.edu. Select Create an account link to navigate to the Registration page.
Fill in the forms to select a username and password for your kindworks account, and provide an email address. Select the Register button.
A new page will load and prompt you to check your email for a confirmation message. Follow the link provided in the message to confirm your account, and you will be navigated to the kindworks home page!
Step 2: The Good Deed!
Now’s your chance to bring kindworks into the world. Perform a good deed for someone, or keep an eye out for a good deed someone else happens to perform. You might even be the recipient of a kind act. Whatever the deed, kindworks is your opportunity to tell the world about it!
Step 3: Add an e-Gear and Story to the online Machine
Once you have a good deed in mind, log in to the kindworks site on your personal computer or mobile device. From the main menu bar, mouse over the Machine tab and select the Add Gear button.
You will be navigated to the community forum, where you can write a description of the good deed. Enter a subject heading and select the submit button.
Next, select the visual design for your e-Gear, and then choose an existing e-Gear to connect yours to. Your e-Gear will be added to the Machine, and you will be able to view the story you submitted, as well as your e-Gear’s ID#.
Step 4: Post a Gear Tag
Now that your good deed is documented in the Machine, the final step is to get the word out using Gear Tags. Gear Tags promote good deeds and serve as a symbol of the kindworks movement. They exist as paper, stickers, or buttons, and can be printed on merchandise, such as t-shirts and caps. They also can exist in electronic form, as images in a Facebook post.
Gear Tags direct those who discover them to your story in the Machine. Every Gear Tag features a URL and QR code to link people to the kindworks site. All you need to do is write your username on it and leave it for someone to find.
Step 5: Others Get Involved!
Anyone who finds your Gear Tag and is intrigued can visit the kindworks site and search for your username in the community forum by selecting the search option from the Forum dropdown menu.
By doing this, others can find out about your goodness! In the future, the search function will be expanded to allow for connection to specific posts, and thus, specific deeds.
