Every time we try to catch up on the news, negative stories constantly seem to dominate the headlines. There’s a reason why we say some things “restore our faith in humanity” – it’s because we rarely get exposed to the wealth of good things happening around us everyday.
That’s why every week, we bring you a roundup of some of the biggest news stories about good things that happened around the world to help brighten your day.
Here are nine positive things that happened last week that you should know about (in no particular order):
1. Dog cries with happiness after being rescued from well
A dog that fell down a well in India cried with happiness after she was rescued by staff from Animal Aid India. Video footage shows the dog, known as Ruby, being carried out of the 15-meter well and being brought to safety.
- Read more on The Telegraph
2. Teen who biked 80 km to college gets new car from kind stranger
Once-homeless Ga. college student, Fred Barley, who bicycled across state to school gets car from Philadelphia man: pic.twitter.com/SnSbxyDP4W
— Joe Kovac Jr. (@joekovacjr) August 12, 2016
Fred Barley, 19, was found by police sleeping in a tent outside of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. He told authorities that he had biked 80 km to get there so he could register for classes. He mentioned that he planned to stay there until school started in late August.
A stranger heard about Barely’s story and decided to do something to help. Andy Ungaro of Philadelphia works at a repair shop and donated a car to the young college student so he would not longer have to depend on his bike for transportation.
- Read more on ABC 7
3. Squirrel with cup stuck on its head saved by six paramedics
This squirrel can breathe a sigh of relief after surviving from a dramatic ordeal. The little guy managed to get a cup stuck on its head and it took a team of six paramedics to save him. It was not an easy rescue, but luckily the squirrel is in good health after the incident. The whole thing was captured on video and it has since gone viral.
- Read more on The Independent
4. Abused abandoned pig finds new home
A pig that was once abused and abandoned has found a new family. Koa was found beaten with a crowbar and left to die by his previous owners in Ohio. Rescuers rushed him to a nearby animal hospital as he was suffering from serious injuries. Thankfully, Koa recovered and he also found a loving home with a new family.
- Read more on People
5. Chef feeds Rio’s homeless with leftover food cooked for Olympics
Renowned chef feeds Rio's homeless with excess #Olympics food https://t.co/mR5svw454L
— AP Lifestyles (@AP_Lifestyles) August 17, 2016
World renowned Italian chef Massimo Bottura is cooking up a storm at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro while also giving back to those in need. Bottura—who runs a Michelin three-star restaurant in Italy— has been using the leftover ingredients from Olympic caterers and kitchens to cook meals for Rio’s homeless. “This is a cultural project, not a charity. We want to rebuild the dignity of the people,” Bottura said.
- Read more on Maclean’s
6. Donations pour in for little boy trying to sell teddy bear for food
Parents arrested after toddler found trying to sell his teddy bear for food https://t.co/elmLl5Nvhz
— The Independent (@Independent) August 17, 2016
Donations are pouring in for a little boy who was found trying to sell his teddy bear for food. Authorities discovered the seven-year-old boy barefoot on a street in Franklin, Ohio. Officer Steve Dunham took the boy to a nearby subway to grab a meal. “(We) said a little prayer and ate dinner together,” Dunham told WLWT-TV.
Afterward, police went to the boy’s home where they found his two brothers living in filth. The children were removed from the house and put into the care of relatives. Since then, several hundred dollars worth of donations from across the U.S. have been collected for the boy and his brothers.
- Read more on The Independent
7. Man travels over 2 hours a day to help friend with schizophrenia train for half marathon
This young man travels for two hours a day to help a man with a mental illness train for a half marathon https://t.co/GEqWIJQcem
— WalesOnline (@WalesOnline) August 15, 2016
Ryan Harris travels over two hours every day to visit his friend Alywn Humphries, who has schizophrenia. Harris, 22, met Humphries, 49, while he was working at a care home and the two quickly became friends. Now, Harris has decided to take on a challenge with Humphries and they are training for the Cardiff Half Marathon together. “Why can’t we give back and show him that through love and exercise, he is just the same as me and you?” Harris told Metro UK.
- Read more on Metro UK
8. Slow Olympic swimmer keeps positive attitude despite facing criticism
Do what you love like Robel Kiros Habte does in this #StepUPStandTall moment.https://t.co/SnxQaYiZyC @canadiantire https://t.co/KzbcSzKKUR
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 11, 2016
Ethiopian swimmer Robel Kiros Habte finished dead last out of 59 competitors in the 100-meter freestyle heats at the Rio Olympic Games. His performance and physique has made him the butt of many jokes on social media. But Habte has not let that deter him from keeping a positive mindset. “I am so happy because it is my first competition in the Olympics,” he told Reuters. “So thanks for God.”
He may not be the fastest swimmer, but he is certainly an example of not giving up on your dreams.
- Read more Reuters
9. Olympic runners help each other finish race after colliding
Long-distance runners Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand and Abbey D’Agostino of the U.S. were racing against each other in the 5,000-meter race on Tuesday at the Olympic Games in Rio. With 1.6 km left to go in the race, the women collided into each another, resulting in a bad leg injury for D’Agostino. Hamblin refused to leave D’Agostino behind and the two slowly finished the race together. “Everyone wants to win and everyone wants a medal. But as disappointing as this experience is for myself and for Abbey, there’s so much more to this than a medal,” Hamblin said. Talk about true Olympic spirit.
- Read more on The Washington Post