What began as a small act of giving in May 2024 has now blossomed into a meaningful, multi-campus initiative that continues to grow in purpose and impact. The Table of Kindness was first introduced at Curtin Dubai, with the initial theme focused on donating sanitised accessories and personal items to a table for swap arounds, to promote sustainability. It was a humble effort, yet it quickly gained attention and heartfelt support from both students and staff. The idea was simple: give what you can, take what you need — and it was this simplicity, paired with genuine compassion, that made the first edition such a hit.
Following its success, we decided to have this initiative in September 2024 as well. Several other editions were hosted with different themes, making the Table of Kindness a recurring sustainability campaign. Each edition encouraged students to give back in their own way, building a strong sense of community on campus.
This year, however, marked a milestone moment in the journey of the Table of Kindness. For the first time, the initiative expanded beyond Dubai, with Curtin Colombo adopting the Curtin Dubai-led campaign and hosting their very first Table of Kindness. What made this edition even more special was — it was our Ramadan Edition, themed around compassion, generosity, and community spirit. Ramadan is a sacred month that encourages reflection and selfless giving, and through this initiative, both campuses came together to embody those values in a truly impactful way.
The joint event was hosted on the same day across both campuses, using a shared poster design to maintain consistency and unity. In Dubai, the activity focused on collecting juice boxes, which were then distributed to labour camps over a span of two days at the Helping Hands Initiative. Meanwhile, Curtin Colombo partnered with the Robin Hood Army, a volunteer-based organisation that ensured the collected goods reached communities in need. Colombo’s debut event was a resounding success, with 34 students contributing donations and enthusiastic participation from the wider campus community.
At Curtin Dubai, around 1,200 juice boxes were collected, far exceeding our initial target of 400. These were then distributed at a labour camp over two days, ensuring that the supplies reached as many needy people as possible.
The Table of Kindness has evolved from a simple initiative to a symbol of community, sustainability, and cross-border solidarity. More than just a table, it is now a growing platform for empathy, action, and meaningful change — and we’re only just getting started.
Written by Vishakha Sharma, Class of 2026 & Rifa Anwar, Class of 2026
