The Kindness Ambassador: Dhaarmika Coelho

I was introduced to Dhaarmika Coelho when one of her colleagues pitched the free Kind World Explorers Guidebooks to me in the early days of the pandemic, when families were still adjusting to life in lockdown and tensions were running high.

While we all needed a bit more kindness back then, Coelho recognized and acted on that need almost a decade prior, in 2012, motivated by discussions surrounding bullying. She credits her two girls as her inspiration. “I wanted my children to live in a place where caring was common, where people helped each other because it was the kind thing to do. And I was certain other parents did, too,” she says.

Her background in psychology and education led her to explore ways to foster kindness through practice, guided by a simple yet profound question: How do you create a culture of kindness? Her answer: Camp Kindness Counts, an initiative launched just six months after moving to the Seattle area with her then 2-year-old and 6-month-old daughters by her side.

What started as a weeklong camp quickly became something much bigger. “At the end of that week, the kids looked happier, more confident, and had a sense of purpose and belonging. It was magical,” she says. Inspired by these transformations, she expanded the program, creating year-round opportunities for families and kids to practice kindness and service.

Cohelo believes kindness is essential for humans to flourish. “We are social beings and need to connect with each other. We need to feel valued and feel we can contribute to our community while being curious about the world around us,” she explains.

She has witnessed firsthand how the opportunity to practice generosity, gratitude and curiosity can rewire kids’ brains. “This is the science of neuroplasticity — our brains change based on the experiences we have. Happy people are usually kind people. And when we are happy, we tend to be more patient, more forgiving and more flexible during challenges. That’s not just good for individuals — it benefits entire communities,” she says.

Cohelo hopes that more people will join in the endeavors of Camp Kindness Counts. “Our efforts help people thrive in areas they are passionate about, support their well-being and strengthen communities. Whether you want to be an engineer, doctor, teacher, chef or parent, everyone has a community around them and an opportunity to make a difference,” she says.

So, how can you take action? She encourages those who are interested to “be a Kindness Ambassador!” For those looking to make an even bigger impact, she welcomes volunteers to join the team. If you’re interested, contact info@campkindnesscounts.org.

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