A little kindness can go a long way.

And in some of these cases, it can even be life-saving.

In 2005, California Highway Patrol officer Kevin Briggs managed to talk a man, Kevin Berthia, from leaping off the Golden Gate bridge. Eight years later they were reunited in an emotional ceremony to honour his handling of the situation, and Mr Berthia had since married and had children.

Other situations captured in these photos present smaller gestures which are no less tear-jerking.

In one, a man in India's Cuttack City is seen rescuing a litter of kittens from a devastating flood by carrying them in a basket atop his head while the mother cat swam behind him.

Compassion translates across all countries and cultures, as such, MailOnline Travel has rounded up some of the world's most touching acts of kindness. Good luck getting through them without getting a lump in your throat.

Scroll down for video

This photo reportedly captures a man giving his shoes to a homeless girl in Rio de Janeiro

A fireman who has rescued a tiny kitten from a house fire gives it oxygen to help it breathe

The uploader of the image says it shows a touching interaction between a Guatemalan girl and a tourist she just met

After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, this friendly neighbour on the US East Coast offered power to those who needed it

A firefighter gives water to a koala as he holds its paw during the Black Saturday bush fires in Victoria, Australia, in 2009

A police officer stops traffic to allow a duck and her brood of ducklings cross the road safely

California Highway Patrol officer Kevin Briggs, left, managed to carefully talk Kevin Berthia, right, out of jumping off a bridge in 2005. Mr Berthia is now happily married with two children

These Chicago Christians showed up at a gay pride parade to apologise for homophobia in their Church

A woman clad in a wetsuit managed to rescue a golden retriever who was struggling during a flood using a dustbin

This bookshop, left, offers free books for people who have no money, while this Subway, right, gives out weekly meals to the homeless

Two Norwegian men worked tirelessly to rescue a drowning sheep which had fallen into the ocean

A villager carrying stranded kittens to safety during floods in Cuttack City, India, as the mother cat swims behind them

These children worked together to save a puppy from the water without falling in themselves

This woman comes regularly to the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society and reads books to the dogs to comfort them

According to this uploader: 'During a protest in Brazil a general said, "do not fight, please, not on my birthday", then a group of protesters made a surprise for him'

If only all neighbours were like this one, who noticed an open car window and covered it with plastic to protect it from the rain

Similarly, this thoughtful person finished a stranger's laundry for them rather than just dumping it to the side as most people would have done

NYPD police officer Larry DePrimo won a host of fans when this photo of him kneeling down to give a pair of boots to a homeless man in Times Square went viral in 2012

This tear-jerking sign reads: 'Please help yourself to a tennis ball for your dog to enjoy. You may wish to pop it back in the box afterwards for another pooch to enjoy. Remember to live each moment just like your dog - with unconditional love, loyalty and happiness'

When someone fell through the gap between the train and the platform, everyone there pushed against it to help rescue the victim

During a protest this dog got tear-gassed, so a crowd of people stopped to help him out

In 2012 Jose Rubio-Pavon, a 12-year-old boy with an inoperable brain tumour, was sworn in as Brighton's youngest police officer to fulfil his lifelong dream

Plaza Cleaners in Portland, Oregon helped more than 2,000 unemployed people who couldn’t afford dry cleaning to look presentable for their job interviews

On a rainy day, this motorcyclist pulled over and dismounted to help an elderly woman cross the street

This good Samaritan gave up his umbrella to shield a woman in a wheelchair from the rain