Mishka’s heart goes out to teenagers who are undergoing treatment in the psychiatric unit of Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, where her mom is a pediatrician.  “I know how easy it can be to focus only on the negative, so I hope that my project can serve as a little reminder to everyone that there is so much to be happy about in the world,” she says.

“MFA Batches of Kindness” is Mishka’s way of spreading joy and hope to fellow teens during a difficult time in their lives.  She plans to write and decorate notes of encouragement and attach them to a small piece of candy, along with a flyer describing the work of my friend ABBY.

“From personal experience, I know that the smallest act of kindness from a stranger has the ability to completely change my mood or how my day is going,” Mishka explains. “These patients are all struggling with their mental health, so I believe if they receive my notes they may get a much needed boost of positivity and brightness, which in turn can positively affect their mental health.”