On April 2, 2023, Nika Island Resort made history by becoming the world’s first “Kind Island” at a ceremony where they signed the Manifesto of the Kind Island. The manifesto consists of ten practices that promote and encourage kindness in all aspects of life.

Nika Island Resort is now part of the International Kindness Movement, a worldwide collective of over 300,000 people, organizations, companies and institutions spreading kindness through community impact projects. The manifesto was signed by the founder and inspirer of the movement Daniel Lumera, the international coordinator and ambassador Felicia Cigorescu, the owner of the Nika Island Resort Giovanna Bellazzi, and the Honorary Consul of Italy to the Maldives Giorgia Marazzi, representing Italy. The signing was done in the presence of guests and employees of the resort, tourists, and islanders.

Giovanna Bellazzi, the owner of Nika Island Resort, expressed her excitement about the signing of the manifesto and what it means for the resort. “Kindness is that gift that allows us to get in touch with all souls and the natural world. Here at Nika, we have been involved in social projects and the protection of the environment and traditions since 1983, and our membership of the International Kindness Movement is intended to express this concrete commitment, which we will continue to pursue and strengthen,” she said.

Nika Island Resort is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and its commitment to kindness is evident in the numerous environmental and social impact projects conducted over the past four decades. The resort has preserved the island’s biodiversity, with over 30 different species of local trees and over 1,852 plants scattered across the island. It is also committed to persevering and reinvigorating its kaleidoscopic house reef by engaging in a coral garden restoration project. In 2017, the Nika museum opened with an impressive collection of artifacts, prints, and specimens to preserve Maldivian cultural heritage.

Felicia Cigorescu, the international coordinator and ambassador of the International Kindness Movement, said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, will ever be wasted. We want to bring a new form of tourism to the world: Kind Tourism, based on shared human values and respect for the environment and the ecosystem, which naturally enjoys harmony and balance. We are witnessing the birth of a new era: the era of awareness.”

Nika Island Resort’s commitment to kindness and its involvement in the International Kindness Movement set an example for other resorts and individuals to follow. As the world becomes more aware of the need for kindness, Nika Island Resort is leading the way in creating a kinder world.