This is the story of one small act of kindness, made easier by technology and made stronger with friends.
Lin had just paid for her coffee with Weixin Pay when a message appeared: shake to reveal a wish. She gave her phone a shake, and a small note unfolded on the screen. With one tap, she became part of helping someone she’d never met.
That small moment is part of something much bigger. 99 Giving Day is a philanthropy program Tencent first launched in 2015. Now in its 12th year, it has evolved into a long-term movement that makes doing good part of everyday life.
Doing good starts with one tap
The note Lin opened was a Wishing Note, a new feature introduced by Tencent Philanthropy Platform this year. It turns real needs from charitable projects into digital wishes that people can open and discover. Hers came from a child who needed a hearing and speech therapy session.
No payment screen appeared, because a corporate donor had already funded it. Lin’s role was simply to discover, tap to help, and follow where the contribution went. She could also pick an unfinished wish and invite friends to help complete it together. Once enough people joined, the wish was fulfilled, and everyone involved received an update.
Wishing Note builds on Tencent’s approach of breaking larger charitable projects into specific, tangible needs, such as scholarships for 10 students with disabilities, or 100 care packages for mothers in need. People can see what is needed and what it takes to help.
Giving along the way
Lin found another way to do good in a familiar setting. While browsing Weixin Channels, an in-app video and livestreaming service, she came across a livestream by one of her favorite writers. During the show, viewers could send virtual gifts tied to real philanthropic needs. Lin chose a gift that represented arts and culture classes for rural students, giving them a chance to learn about traditional culture and discover new interests.
The livestream ended, but the story continued. A follow-up post on Tencent Sustainable Social Value’s official account confirmed that the proceeds had been donated to support philanthropic initiatives, including intangible cultural heritage classes for rural students, turning a simple online interaction into tangible support.
Kindness you can see
On Tencent Philanthropy Platform, every act of kindness earns a Little Red Flower. This September, the flower is turning up well beyond the platform — on collectible toys, tea drinks, dairy products and restaurant meals.
One weekend, Lin took her daughter, Xinxin, to a restaurant, where they ordered a “love meal.”
Xinxin spotted a Little Red Flower on the mobile ordering page. “What does it mean?” she asked. Lin explained that for every love meal sold, the restaurant would support a charitable project.
The flower had given kindness a shape people could recognize.
A reason to come back, every day
After contributing to projects on the Tencent Philanthropy Platform, Lin was invited to a digital garden, where she could grow and collect Little Red Flowers, then redeem them to support charitable causes. By answering daily quizzes about social causes or completing step-count challenges, she earned more flowers.
She also asked WorkBuddy, Tencent’s AI assistant, to tend her garden and collect the flowers with a simple instruction, while a virtual companion, GoodBuddy, kept her updated on the projects she had supported.
Soon, checking on her garden became part of her day. That relationship continued, turning one good deed into a habit.
When small acts add up
A coffee payment, a concert livestream, a lunch, a digital garden — Lin found different ways to do good in the course of everyday life.
Throughout this year’s 99 Giving Day program, more than 120 Tencent products, spanning payments, social media, livestreaming, games, and AI tools, are also connected, alongside hundreds of companies. Over the past 12 years, more than 24,000 nonprofit organizations and 71,000 charitable projects have taken part.
For nonprofits, this creates more opportunities to reach people who can help. For people like Lin, it makes doing good easier to start, easier to follow, and easier to make part of everyday life.
“Internet philanthropy is ultimately about connecting goodwill with real needs. For people seeking help and the nonprofits working alongside them, being seen is where that connection begins. Our role is to use technology and thoughtful product design to make needs more visible, giving easier, and connections stronger.” Head of Tencent Philanthropy
All images in this article are AI-generated and used for illustrative purposes.
