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Top 10 heartwarming stories of 2022

Words by Abi Scaife

Many people associate the end of the year with joy and kindness - and here at Smiley Movement, that’s what we’re all about! So whether you need a pick-me-up this winter, or you’re already overflowing with festive cheer, here are our top ten most heartwarming tales to bring you a little extra joy.

WORRY WORMS.

These adorable little crochet worms were created by Madelaine Mattis with the intention of helping people to relieve some of the stresses of everyday life. Click the link to read more about how Madelaine brings joy to strangers in her community!

COLLEGE CATS.

Meet the college in America who are helping stray cats off the streets and into their fur-ever home. Follow the link to see how they’re taking such good care of their city’s kitties!

CHILDREN DRAW INSPIRING WOMEN.

Ahead of International Women’s Day 2022, these children sat down to draw the women that truly inspire them - and the results are remarkable! Follow the link to see who these kids consider to be incredibly inspiring women! 

JARS OF JOY.

This dynamic mother-daughter duo launched ‘Jars of Joy’, decorated glass jars that they encouraged people to fill with happy memories. Throughout lockdown, the pair used these jars to spread positivity across the globe - read on to find out how!

RESCUE PUPS.

These six dogs went from being rescued to rescuing themselves when they were trained to become service dogs. Click the link to read more about their journey, and see some adorable pictures!

MENTAL HEALTH BADGE.

Darren, who has suffered from mental health issues himself, decided to create a free ‘mental health’ work patch. He got in contact with Samaritans and designed a patch to advertise their services to people who may need it - go to the link to see more!

THE ‘VITAL’ BABY GIRAFFE.

Wilfred the giraffe was born this year, marking a huge win for the conservation of his species. Follow the link above to see why he’s so important - and why he’s so stinkin’ cute!

LION PRIDE.

A pride of lions were rescued from Ukraine and relocated in what was the biggest rescue of the species from a war zone ever recorded. Keep reading to see what happened to the lions, and how they’re doing in their new home!

MOON BEARS.

A group of Moon Bears were rescued from bile farms in South Korea and relocated to America where, for some of them, they were able to touch grass for the first time in their lives. Click the link to see the pictures, and hear the heartwarming tales of those who were there to see their first steps into freedom!

THE SHOWER BUS.

These ‘Shower Buses’ are driving around Brooklyn offering free showering facilities to people experiencing homelessness. The buses offer a huge variety of other facilities including clean socks and underwear and more - click on the link above to see what it’s all about!

This article aligns with the UN SDG Partnerships for the Goals.

This article aligns with the following UN SDGs

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