THE Hills Youth Ambassador Cassidy-Rae Wilson wants everyone to crack a smile this Friday — World Kindness Day.
Already known for her sunny disposition, the singer-songwriter and pianist from Glenhaven is World Kindness Australia’s National Youth Ambassador and has written the anthem for the World Kindness Movement, which is now in 25 countries.
Her single Just Smile hit the airwaves today.
‘‘I got selected as the World Kindness Australia National Youth Ambassador and two weeks later I was invited to go to France — Avignon and Paris — where I performed Just Smile in front of over 700 people,’’ Cassidy-Rae excitedly told Fairfax Media.
‘‘I hope this song can help at least one person know that they are not alone, feel happier, make our space a better place’’
- Cassidy-Rae Wilson
Social entrepreneur and chair of the peak national body World Kindness Australia, Michael Lloyd-White, invited her to write the song, she said.
‘‘That’s what kindness means to me — just smiling,’’ Cassidy-Rae explained.
She said she’d lost count of the number of times people had told her how ‘‘someone random, just noticing them, had made a world of difference to them’’.
‘‘It’s a free and easy way to be kind — and to make the world a better place in a small way,’’ she noted.
‘‘I hope this song can help at least one person know that they are not alone, feel happier, make our space a better place.’’
Just Smile is available now for pre-order on iTunes. Proceeds from sales will go towards the production and global distribution of World Kindness cards.
‘‘It is going to be played on at least 12 radio stations and one syndicated all over the world, starting from today [Remembrance Day],’’ Cassidy-Rae said.
Cassidy-Rae’s debut single Be Strong — which has a strong anti-bullying message — is the anthem for national organisation Chloe’s Voice, whose petition calls for reform to federal anti-cyber-bullying legislation.
The organisation was set up in memory of 15-year-old Chloe Elizabeth Fergusson who, on September 12, 2013 — only two days after being viciously attacked in public and then humiliated by the threat of posting a video of the attack on Facebook — took her own life.
‘‘I’m working with them as their official ambassador,’’ Cassidy-Rae, who is currently studying music and arts practise management at Macquarie University, said.
She recorded Be Strong on David Simon’s label Oxygen Music Group, with producer/engineer Nat Love who has also worked with Adele, Delta Goodrem and Coldplay.
‘‘The song has been played in New York, Charleston — it’s awesome,’’ said Cassidy-Rae, who has also sung for talk show queen Ellen DeGeneres and US president Barack Obama as part of the Qantas Choir.
Last year she started a choir of her own in The Hills — Sydney Hills Youth Choir — with help from fellow choristers.
The choir, for students aged 8 to 18, made its debut at The Hills mayor’s 2014 Christmas party.
She also introduced a roster of young people from The Hills shire to sing the national anthem at The Hills Council meetings.
THE WORLD KINDNESS MOVEMENT
The World Kindness is an international movement with no political or religious affiliations.
Now in 25 countries, including Australia, its formation crystallised at a conference in Tokyo in 1997 when Japan brought together like-minded kindness organisations from around the world.
Its mission is to inspire individuals towards greater kindness and to connect nations to create a kinder world.
Click here to give a Kindness Card to someone.
