News

Most new comers to Kiev comment that the locals often look like they carry the worries of the world on their shoulders – frowns and stern faces are the most common expressions. Locals in turn say that foreigners look like idiots walking around smiling all the time. In an attempt to change these stereotypes a group of young Ukrainians gathered on the streets of Kiev this weekend to encourage people to smile.

Brandishing banners with slogans reading “Smile! Life is Great!”, the young men and women (all wearing broad grins themselves) did their best to prove that a smile goes a long way. Carrying their banners and smiling from ear-to-ear, this fun-loving crew stopped shoppers as they passed by asking nothing more from them than a smile, and it worked. By the end of the day nearly everyone on Kreshchatyk was smiling.  And we encourage you to do the same. It may be easier to spread a bad mood than a good one, but it feels so much better to spread the latter!