A remote coastal town of southern Taiwan. The sun is setting. My panic is rising. I am thirteen. I have somehow misplaced my sister–in–law. My panic rises further as two young men pull up on their mopeds beside the beach. They shout to me in Chinese. I try to look nonchalant. Feign intense interest in the small red pebble by my foot and long for them to leave. They don’t. They stick by me for over three hours. Drive me around every hotel and hostel in the area. We embark on an elaborate charades - style form of conversation. I feel safe. Hong Lee drives his bike slowly after I gripped his sides in fear the first time he set off. They buy me dumplings and ice tea. We keep looking. After three hours I spot something I recognise. A roadside temple. The building behind it is, I’m sure, our hotel. I gesture wildly. I see my sister–in-law’s anxious face. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know any Chinese. I say “Thank you” and hope they understand just how much I mean it.

Miriam

During a trip to Greece I witnessed a terrible motorcycle crash. Instinctively I ran to assist the injured parties where I could. Once the professionals arrived I took a step back but given the horrendous situation I witnessed coupled with the adrenalin finally slowing down I promptly collapsed. Two holidaymakers, who coincidentally were qualified nurses, kindly looked after me until I came round properly and offered helpful advice to my friends who were clearly concerned. These nurses who I had earlier been helping on the roadside put my health and those injured in the crash first rather than the enjoyment of their holiday. They could easily have let someone else handle both situations, as i'm sure they wanted to have a break from looking after people, but instead they gave the true meaning to an act of kindess. I'll never forget it.

Sarah

I looked down from the top of the run: to my left pine forests were dusted with snow; to my right the mountain fell away steeply to a plateau where spectators gathered. Although they were far enough away to look like ants, I would soon be with them, having bridged the distance on a glorified tea tray. The generosity and guidance of a man I had met in a St Moritz hotel bar just 3 days previously was about to allow me to fulfil an ambition by completing a full cresta run. My heart pounded as I took a deep breath and prepared to ‘launch’, when at the last minute I was distracted by a final act of kindness. My new friend held out his hand and grinned. I smiled back: it was too late for imodium now, but I appreciated the gesture.

Tom

Some acts of kindness maybe small but you will remember them forever. I was in Tucson Arizona, USA, it was over 100 and 4th July. I was exploring the town when I became very dizzy, I started to head back to my hostel when my vision went black and all I could hear was a loud noise. I fell to the ground infront of an empty lot. I don't know how long I had been there when I was helped into a car and given water by a lovely old lady, she told me this could happen to everyone. After helping me to cool down she drove me back to my hostel. You get so use to people just walking on by in life when there is a problem, that when very small acts of kindness are shown they stay with you forever.

Katie

Ushered awake by the violent silence of the sudden-dead engines I lay cramped between two occupied and still sleeping bunks. A final mortified lurch sent my rucksack flailing and store of mangoes raining down and as I looked at them, bruised and pulped I felt I could sympathise. Leaving the smothering train and stung by the freshness of Mombasa’s dawn, I stumbled, through trails of early commuters into the centre of the square. Ahead of me stood a table laden with exquisite fruit and presided over, with the presence of a president, by a tall and imposing woman. Unable to make sense of buses and seemingly random lines of people, I haltingly explained my need to catch the next bus to Kilifi, the small market town where I was to start work. Boundless with enthusiasm and immense in her kindness she led me to the right line and the right bus, bestowing on me passion fruit and good wishes for my journey.

claire