faith Looking for something to restore your faith in humanity? This might just do the trick.

[Sylence]

Looking for something to restore your faith in humanity? This might just do the trick.

As Iran endures a cold winter, locals have devised an innovative scheme to help the homeless keep warm.

Spontaneous "walls of kindness," on which people can donate unwanted clothing, have popped up around the country.

The message is simple: "If you don't need it, leave it. If you need it, take it" -- next to several empty hooks and hangers.

According to government officials, there are 15,000 homeless people in Iran. Of these, one third are women. However, unofficial estimates put this figure much higher. Last year, Tehran municipality'sWelfare Organization estimated that there are more than that number on the capital's streets alone.

The Iranian economy has been recovering since 2014, after suffering two years of recession. However, the unemployment rate remains high at 11.4%, according to the World Bank.

Much of the scheme's success stems from its visibility on social media platforms, where citizens have shared images using #WallOfKindness.

kindness wall ? If you don't need it put it here if you need it take it. My city of Esfahan - #IRAN .pic.twitter.com/477mCwYvbh

— parse marandi (@Parse_ir)

 December 14, 2015

Coats, trousers, hats and jumpers soon appeared, as passers-by sporadically left items behind. Those without warm clothes -- including the homeless population -- are encouraged to collect and keep donated items left behind.

The first "wall of kindness" is believed to have been erected in the city of Mashhad, northeast Iran,according to the BBC. Since then, replicas have sprung up in other cities, including Shiraz, Sirjan and Ilam.

 

 

"Have you heard of the wall of kindness?" asked a popular Iranian comedian on Facebook.

"If your city doesn't have one, getting one going is very easy. All you need is a suitable wall, some paint and clothes hooks. And then just spread the word."

Fridges of kindness

 

A similar initiative, but with open fridges, is also popular in Iran. Ali Heidari -- a manager at an advertising company -- told the Guardian newspaper that he started the scheme. The first fridge was installed in the Shoush neighborhood of Tehran.

 

"At the beginning some were pessimistic," Heidari told the Tehran Bureau -- an independent publication hosted by the Guardian.

"Shoush is known for theft, so some were saying that in less than 24 hours every part of the fridge would be stolen. Some were also saying, one person might come and take all the food and leave nothing for others. None of this has happened up until now."

The "Payan-e Kartonkhabi" fridges have since spread from Tehran to the northern Iranian cities of Karaj, Rasht and Lahijan.

Sources:

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/22/middleeast/walls-of-kindness-iran/

http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-globally/irans-wall-of-kindness-for-the-homeless-restores-faith-in-humanity/

http://aplus.com/a/walls-kindness-iran

[vibranium]

Thank God for what is happening in Iran.

[jamesDDI]

I love the strength, the force, the power of Iran of not to be subdue to anyone, to any "external" conditions/nations and to fight for this.

Luckily Iran is not Iraq, it's Bigger. It will not be easy for "them".

All my support for Iran country and its superb and proud people.

Best wishes...

[Sylence]

46 minutes ago, jamesDDI said:

I love the strength, the force, the power of Iran of not to be subdue to anyone, to any "external" conditions/nations and to fight for this.

Luckily Iran is not Iraq, it's Bigger. It will not be easy for "them".

All my support for Iran country and its superb and proud people.

Best wishes...

 

Thank you my dear Italian friend, I appreciate your support and your views which are not distracted by dirty politics or targeted fictional news.

Best regards..

[CODYQX4]

Strange to think of Iran in a cold winter, meanwhile it's 65 degrees here, after two absolutely terrible winters preceding (colder than Alaska and Siberia some days).

 

There's some weird shit going on with the seasons these days...

[VileTouch]

7 minutes ago, CODYQX4 said:

There's some weird shit going on with the seasons these days...

Even stranger things happen in the senate...

[Sylence]

4 hours ago, CODYQX4 said:

Strange to think of Iran in a cold winter, meanwhile it's 65 degrees here, after two absolutely terrible winters preceding (colder than Alaska and Siberia some days).

 

There's some weird shit going on with the seasons these days...

 

Yes this year is very strange in terms of weather. maybe the outcome of climate change?

more than half of Iran's provinces are experiencing negative temperatures with the lowest one somewhere in the north west hitting - 20. and in the same time some other place in the south has a temperature of +30. so it only takes a 4-5 hours flight to go from cold cold winter to hot hot summer 

[humble3d]

Excellent reminder to the rest of the world to take care of fellow humans...

 

[hbk4ever]

Great piece of news.  Thank you for sharing.

[vibranium]

Isn't this an El Nino year? Weather disturbances are expected.

[Sylence]

5 minutes ago, Crazycanuk said:

Very strange weather  here also usually it somewhere around -20 to -30 this time a year, Today +16 with rain

 

Not that much, Canada is closer to the north pole than Iran

 

Quote

and the grass is green

 

Good for the sheeps 

1 minute ago, vibranium said:

Isn't this an El Nino year? Weather disturbances are expected.

 

Yes el nino all over the news

[vibranium]

Actually, if you don't mind, could you translate all the Farsi (?) words on the wall for me?

I'm curious. Thanks.

[Sylence]

Just now, vibranium said:

Actually, if you don't mind, could you translate all the Farsi (?) words on the wall for me?

I'm curious. Thanks.

 

Sure,

 

If you don't need it, leave it. if you need it, take it. 

[vibranium]

I am astounded and humbled. Thank you.

 

[Sylence]

1 minute ago, vibranium said:

I am astounded and humbled. Thank you.

 

 

You're , there are a lot more things here to keep you astounded and humbled forever 

[vibranium]

Just now, saeed_dc said:

 

You're , there are a lot more things here to keep you astounded and humbled forever 

 

What can I say, except that you are right?

 

As one of my professors said, "Wonders never cease, if you don't cease to wonder."

 

 

 

[Sylence]

3 minutes ago, vibranium said:

 

What can I say, except that you are right?

 

As one of my professors said, "Wonders never cease, if you don't cease to wonder."

 

 

 

 

Oh so true!

 

"Seek knowledge from the Cradle to the Grave”

[dMog]

nice to see that when the people see a need to get something done they quite often just go out and get it done without any government institution mandate or program...  i live in a city of only 230 thousand ...but every winter there is a need for 10 thousand coats and gloves and toques and winter boots for people who can not afford to buy new ...there is always an abundance of donations  for this every year

[Halteclere]

Heartwarming. Let's hope it lasts.

[Sylence]

1 hour ago, Halteclere said:

Heartwarming. Let's hope it lasts.

 

Maybe it'll last till the end of the Winter.

 

btw..remember I gave you your first +1 rep. lol jk 

[Halteclere]

15 hours ago, saeed_dc said:

 

Maybe it'll last till the end of the Winter.

 

btw..remember I gave you your first +1 rep. lol jk 

Haha, thanks for that. Let me return the favor.