International student-led Kindness Festival returns to showcase Territory’s diversity

The Top End’s biggest student-led event, Kindness Festival returns for its third year in 2023, putting the Territory’s diverse and welcoming lifestyle on display.

Held at the Darwin Waterfront on Saturday, 24 June, from 4pm to 9pm, Kindness Festival is a flagship event by local not-for-profit organisation Kindness Shake and brings an impressive line-up of performances, stalls, food, games and community spirit.

This year’s Kindness Festival will feature dance, musical, art and talent performances from international students and multicultural community groups representing countries as diverse as Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, the Philippines and Colombia.

The free event is for all ages, with family-friendly interactive games and activities for young children on offer. Food lovers will be able to enjoy a range of dishes from international cuisines that reflect the Territory’s diverse cultures.

A special feature this year will be a multicultural parade with the theme “where cultures meet”. Featuring multicultural groups, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the parade will be a colourful celebration for all to enjoy.

The festival has attracted more than 8,000 attendees over the last two years.

Kindness Festival is supported by Territory Labor Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company and Study NT as well as Charles Darwin University.

Kindness Shake Co-Founder and Chair, Ben Poveda-Alfonso said the festival highlights the important contributions of international students to the NT’s social fabric.

“International students are an integral part of the Territory community and make our home a more diverse and vibrant place to live,” he said.

“The Kindness Festival puts international students in the spotlight and offers a platform for everyone to come together and celebrate the students’ stories, talent and experiences.”

Kindness Shake, the organisation behind the festival, was born during COVID-19, when many international students were struggling financially and socially. The group started by providing free meals to students in need every week, giving out more than 6,000 meals throughout 2020 and 2021.

Kindness Shake organises regular free programs to support international students’ wellbeing, strengthen their connections with the local community, and boost their employability skills.

For more information, visit kindness-shake.com.au or follow Kindness Shake on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.