New training, new and seasoned facilitators, new content, same eternal and inherent values!
~ An update on the latest developments from the Training and Assessment Team
As reported in previous issues of the newsletter and other communications, aligned to the re-structuring of BISSE was the development of the new Part 1 SSEHV training course corresponding to the guidelines issued by the Sathya Sai World Education Committee (“WEC”). We thought friends and members may find it useful to understand a little bit of the background.
A review of BISSE was undertaken during 2007 and 2008, and this is reported in the latest issue of the SSEHV Journal . This review coincided very well with the publication of the Global Overview of Sathya Sai Education and the first ever draft guidelines issued by the WEC to create a common platform for SSEHV training around the world. Dr Michael Goldstein2 recently informed us that these guidelines have now received approval in principle and will continue to be developed.
In the UK, we have been busy working with the new guidelines and their implications for the training currently provided by BISSE to teachers, parents and other adults who are interested in using the SSEHV programme with children. The outcome of much hard work by a number of teachers and teacher trainers, in particular Lark Beecham and Carole Alderman, meant that we have now developed and delivered the first of our training course designed to meet and build on the WEC guidelines.
This new course, which forms Part 1 of the UK Diploma of Sathya Sai Education in Human Values was conducted over eight days from 3rd to 10th August 2008 and we were privileged to have an international audience with two delegates from Canada, one from Italy and one from Ireland joining 14 other participants in what was described by participants as a truly wonderful learning experience.
Lark and Carole led the training, with supporting sessions run by Jiten Patel, John Spencer, Jyoti Bharwani, Mani Moodley, Rob Alderman, Sarah Banfield, and Subita Mahtani. Our special congratulations go to Mani who graduated only in March and then went on to rise to the challenge of delivering his first training session for the programme. Not only did Mani deliver an excellent session on Non-Violence, he entertained course participants by strumming the tunes of SSEHV songs on his guitar.
The trainers all agreed that it was most uplifting to be able to work with the course participants, sharing fun, laughter, learning and moments of deep reflection. In fact, on the last day, despite having been there for eight days, participants and trainers both found it difficult to leave! We all went away inspired and transformed in one way or another.
One of the participants put it like this:
“It is difficult to sum up in words, how truly inspiring this course has been! What stands out over many other courses I have taken over the years, is the love and integrity of all the facilitators – as shining examples of the five values, I do feel this is very rare.
“I really enjoyed the positive and supporting environment which was just bursting with love. I enjoyed the games, the singing, the stories and the informative lectures. Each day was filled with fun, laughter and learning.
“It was like a glimpse of a reality that is truly possible when human beings can just be – a truly precious gift to all of us present.
“Inspiring, motivating and heart warming! I have benefited personally in many ways: in believing in a new reality for all of us; in meeting many inspiring people who are now friends; in understanding what I can do to help myself and by my actions encourage others to join in.
“I feel I have been given lots of really practical ideas and approaches to living a life inspired by the five values. I have been given hope that we really can finally move back to teaching children so much more than just academics and they will have the opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling world.
“I have had many insights into who I am and things I can be aware of and how to be more aware. The gratitude and love in my heart to you all is huge.” - Colette Savage, Northern Ireland
Even participants who were more seasoned in working with Human Values found the whole experience to be...., we’ll let one of them tell you himself:
“Although I had a sound understanding of many of the core principles of BISSE and SSE, it was excellent to put everything into perspective, to dwell on, and understand each of the five human values in depth. The group singing, silent sitting, story telling and group activities were all a lot of fun.
“What I enjoyed most about the course, however, was the synergy that manifested within the group - the safe environment that we created and maintained. The energy that we created as a group...now needs to be sent out to the world and to all children we come into contact with.
“The highlights for me really were the group activities. I enjoyed bonding with other members of the group and learning all the lessons, which sometimes appear hidden.” - Rishi Patel, Harrow
The trainers also found it of great benefit in being participants when they were not delivering a session; it allowed us to refresh ourselves and to self-reflect on how we, ourselves, are being exemplars. The trainers frequently shared their personal experiences with the participants about how they were suddenly made aware of what it means to be the values.
For example, during one session about non-violence, one of the trainers shared an example of how he had had a row with his wife just that morning and left without saying good bye to her. He found himself forced to stop his car on the side of the road and to call his wife to make peace about his violent thoughts and words that morning!
If you would like to attend the new Part 1 training (even if you have already done the old foundation training) we have a residential Part 1 course scheduled to run in Scotland, commencing 26th October and we are planning to run a course in the North of England over a series of weekends, also likely to commence during October, or early November 2008. Please contact Jiten Patel should you wish to attend either of the courses, or if you require more information.
If you are, or have been a trainer of the previous SSEHV foundation training, we would love to hear from you so that we all may be able to benefit from your skills, expertise and experience as we are currently working on the design for Part 2 of the UK SSEHV Diploma Programme. Please do email Jiten Patel putting “SSEHV Trainer Input” in the subject title, and please provide your contact details, including:
• day time and evening contact numbers
• the best time to call you.
I will then make arrangements to call you to have an informal chat.
We hope to see many more of our members and friends at future training and other BISSE events. By the way, “Living the Values!” is the theme for our SSEHV National Day on October 4th, 2008; looking forward to seeing you there!
Jiten Patel
BISSE Head of Training and Assessment
Top
