Sathya
Sai Education in Human Values (UK)
NEWSLETTER - December 2004
A monthly e-zine of the British Institute
of Sathya Sai Education www.ssehv.org.uk
Happy
Christmas
Dear Readers
Welcome to the December 2004 issue.
This month:
- Did
you know...?
Some interesting facts and figures regarding SSEHV around the world.
- Some
of the best of 2004...
In case you missed these, we publish again a just a few of the most inspiring news stories of the year: - A
'Thank you' to our readers and contributors!
A few words about this newsletter, and a thank you to all our contributors and readers.
If you have any feedback about this newsletter, or if you'd like to share your experiences of SSEHV, please write to us.
Finally, the editorial team would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year.
Kind
Regards,
The Newsletter Team
Unsubscribe
information
Sathya Sai EHV is very much an international Programme as it is based on core human values which are beyond the boundaries of race or any particular religious faith. It is indeed cross cultural and multi faith which is reflected in the following facts and figures:
- SSEHV,
as an educational Programme is taught in some form in over 170 countries.
Its level of teaching in each country varies, and ranges from being
very formal, such as Institutes providing accredited qualifications
(e.g. UK); state or private schools which base some or all of their
curriculum around it; extra classes run in schools as an extra-curricular
activity; or parents informally using recommended teaching workbooks/aids
at home with their children.
- Formal
schools based on the teachings of SSEHV can be found in the following
countries:
- Kenya
- South Africa
- Zambia
- Fiji
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Nepal
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Greece
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- Canada Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- Ecuador
- Mexico
- Paraguay
- Venezuela
- Institutes
of Sathya Sai Education can be found in the countries given below. Institutes
of Sathya Sai Education are centers for training teachers and educators
in values education. Along with theoretical knowledge, students get
practical teaching experience, as each training Institute is usually
affliated with a Sathya Sai School. The first Institute was established
in Thailand in 1998 under the directorship of Dr. Art-ong Jumsai Na
Ayudhya and at present serves as the main office. Institutes of Sathya
Sai Education are found in:
- South Africa
- Zambia
- India
- Japan
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Australia
- New Zealand
- ESSE (European Sathya Sai Insititute)
- United Kingdom
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Mexico
- Puerto Rico
- Venezuela
(First published in January 2004)
Jonathan Wilcock completed his SSEHV Foundation Course in 2002 and has been working towards the SSEHV Advanced OCN Level 3 Certificate, which requires classroom practice. Here Jonathan describes the experience in his own words.
"I currently teach SSEHV at a primary school in Battersea, South London, with two different classes of eight and nine year olds.
I go in every other Wednesday, taking one class from 10.20 - 11.30 followed by the other class from 11.30 - 12.30.
One class is very unruly and sometimes hard to control. For example one week during silent sitting the children wouldn't stop talking and were generally being disruptive, so I said "OK, if you're not going to sit silently, fair enough, I'm going to do the silent sitting myself anyway." After a while, the children slowly but surely calmed down until we had total silence again.
With patience and perseverance, the children seem to be concentrating better and a small percentage of them are trying really hard with silent sitting. The singing, story and group activities seem to hold the whole class' attention well. The main problem is getting them calm at the start of the lesson. However, they still generally give very positive feedback and seem to enjoy the lessons.
The other class, although considerably larger, is more disciplined. We have a lot of fun exploring the different values together. All of the teaching components go down well. Most children enjoy the silent sitting. There is always a good atmosphere, to the point I often leave feeling completely exhilarated.
I worked with a different class before the 2003 summer holiday for thee or four lessons. I have worked with these current two classes approximately six or seven times each. There is so much to learn, especially regarding maintaining discipline. I am quite pleased with the way things are progressing. Some days are better than others, but generally speaking the children seem to have a positive experience in SSEHV lessons.
I hope to continue with the teaching, and as I get closer to the teachers at the school, I would very much hope to get them more involved, ideally suggesting that they do the training themselves.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with SSEHV for the encouragement and help that I have been given. The training and teaching have had a profound effect on my personal development."
(First published in February 2004)
Two
days that changed my life
By Sanjay Vaja, Manchester
I completed Modules 1-6 of the SSEHV Foundation Course almost a year ago as part of a project to try and kick-start an SSEHV youth centre in the Manchester area. Unfortunately, that didn't happen and it left me thinking how I was going to use the gift of SSEHV.
I wanted to get involved with the SSEHV camps in Oldham, but because of work etc. I never got round to it. Then came the Christmas camp in Oldham and I found I had volunteered to help for two days.
I was both excited and nervous as I've not been around primary school children for a long time - well, since I was that age myself! Babies are fine, but I really had no idea what to expect with bigger children. How would they relate to me? How would I be around them? What would I say to them? I don't know what they like or what the 'in things' are to talk about.... all these thoughts, all these concerns were going round in my head. And there I was, sat in the car park on my first day. I decided to just 'be' the values and to 'be' love.
Wow. My heart was totally melted by the love of these children. Irrespective of their backgrounds, at the Christmas school they were all the same - children allowed to just be children, free and happy. They seemed to leave their troubles at the door and just feel great about themselves. I knew the theory and structure of SSEHV, but to see it in action was amazing. The children would just come up and talk to me, hug me, explain things to me and show me their work. It was amazing how many just loved the fact that someone was totally interested in what they were doing and gave them attention! And to see them sitting quietly for lunch and for the silent sitting... I never expected that!
Looking back, I had a very deep and profound experience. Perhaps it was reconnecting with my inner child... perhaps it was seeing what is possible in the world from running the SSEHV programme... perhaps it was just being around children again. I don't quite know, but I do know the impact that SSEHV makes is real and that I have been given this experience for an important reason. Nothing happens by chance. I look forward to doing more work with BISSE and supporting more of these camps across our already very SSEHV-active region in the future.
(First published in May 2004)
SSEHV Children Step into Volunteer Roles
Dipak Kumar Fakey has been running a Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Club for local children in Leicester for four years. The Club, which takes place every Saturday, is called the Good Values Club, or GVC for short. More than 120 children between the ages of five and 14 attend, and while it continues to expand as new people join, it has a number of long-standing members who have grown up with the club.
The oldest children are now into their third year of secondary school, but far from outgrowing the Good Values Club, they have been given responsibility to help look after the younger children and participate in running the activities. Here's what some of these young "trainee volunteers" have said about their experiences:
Somaya writes, "Good Values Club has made me feel much more calmer and I have less tension for everything…Thanks to Mr Kumar we are now like helpers. I feel so grown up and like an adult. Even though it's only Saturdays, everyday I feel like it is a Good Values day. I feel so confident and I handle stuff very well. Every Saturday is so special for me. I feel so proud when Mr Kumar mentions my name to everyone."
Monika says, "When I come to GVC I get to meet lots of my friends. I'm a trainee volunteer in GVC. I've been coming to GVC for two years. I have learnt lots of good values and I'm still learning more! We are examples for the little children, whatever we do they copy us, so we are kind, helpful and confident."
Sonal and Henna comment, "The Good Values Club is a fantastic place to be and it is good fun too. We have been split up in different groups: group 1; group 2; group 3 and group 4, and the children who are in secondary school and have been attending for a long time are given a chance to be trained as volunteers, which is great!"
As well as gaining hands-on experience from working with the adult volunteers, the trainee volunteers have attended an introductory SSEHV training course provided by BISSE. Dipak is convinced that the trainee volunteer scheme is a success. "The number of secondary school children has increased, and they have expressed an interest in getting involved in a wider range of activities," he said. "They derive a great deal of self confidence out of the fact that we trust them to take responsibility and look after others."
(First published in June 2004)
By Carole Alderman and Michele White
A few months ago the British Institute of Sathya Sai Education (BISSE) received a request for five days of Sathya Sai EHV training in Egypt. Three ladies there have been working for a charity called Children of the Future Foundation whose work includes renovating run down Government schools. One of them, Mrs. Randa El Masry, had bought the two UK SSEHV books on sale in India. This had given her the idea that it would benefit the children even more if something could be done for their minds and spirit as well as their physical surroundings whilst in school.
Thus it was that on 22nd May 04 we set off for Cairo with our training materials, one set of books, an email with a name and address on it and a promise of being met at the airport and trust that, when doing SSEHV work, all would be well - as it was.
We arrived at about 10.30 in the evening and the next morning at 9.00 a.m. we began by asking the group of 17 participants what was the need for SSEHV in Egypt. We asked this because we wanted to adapt to their specific needs.
The course was held in a villa on a hill overlooking the pyramids of Giza. Almost from the beginning the group embraced the programme wholeheartedly and began forming plans as to how it could be used in Egypt and how it would help them individually in their daily lives. Most of the ladies had families and had no need to work, but they wanted to help their country in charitable service. They are ideal candidates to carry SSEHV forward.
On our last training day they insisted we start an hour later so that we could visit a nearby school in which a third of the group had been working for about three years. The school premises had been in an impoverished state of repair - unpainted with broken fittings such as doors, washbasins and desks. Thanks to the Children for the Future Foundation and their hard work and donations, it now looks neat, clean and pretty with swings and slides in the playground and bougainvillea planted along the back wall and a small garden near the entrance. Six or seven of the ladies teach three classes a week there. The children were delighted to see us all and certainly touched our hearts.
Later that day during the Reflective exercise on Non-violence, one of the youngest participants visualised a pyramid. At its base the four corners represented Truth, Love, Peace and Right Conduct. At its peak a stream of light represented Non-violence. It is this symbol which they have chosen to represent SSEHV in Egypt. What a fitting symbol and good omen for the future.
The group were very appreciative of the training and said they felt much more confident to teach SSEHV and had a lot more ideas now how to proceed.
The following day, between visiting the pyramids in Giza and the Cairo Museum with its Pharaonic treasures, we had a meeting with the Headmaster of the British School in Cairo. He himself was very values orientated and was already incorporating values into the school curriculum with such things as Circle Time. He liked the SSEHV programme and hoped later that week to pass it by the Management team and Board of Governors.
Before leaving the Chairperson of the Charity, Mrs. Shahira Genena, who attended the last two days of the training, asked us to give them a short paper on SSEHV and its application in the UK to present at a meeting with members of the Government. This we did.
We have been asked to return to give another training, probably in January 05, and we agreed to do this and help in whatever way we can. We felt we had made some very lovable friends during our stay. The Egyptians are very warm and amongst the most hospitable people we have ever encountered.
Early on Saturday morning we flew to Luxor for a few days sightseeing of the Pharaonic temples built up to 4,500 years ago. The advance at that time in art, technology and religious thought was too inspiring to be missed.
Four days after the course ended we telephoned our host, Mrs. Randa El Masry, who told us that the group had had a meeting and agreed the tasks of translating and adapting the stories, translating the songs and finding suitable local ones, translating the posters, etc. This work of creating an SSEHV book in Arabic will be completed by September - ready for the new school term.
Given the enthusiasm and drive shown by the ladies we met, Egypt will no doubt become a shining example of Sathya Sai EHV!
(First published in August 2004)
Education and Human Values in New Zealand
by
Richard J Wallis
Institute of Sathya Sai Education, New Zealand
The Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Programme first started in New Zealand some 20 years ago when Jeanie Peel, inspired by Sathya Sai's education programme, started an Education in Human Values (EHV) class from her home for the children of the local area.
Since then it has spread to a number of schools and five community groups. One of the schools is Rongomai Primary School in Otara, which is a disadvantaged suburb of Auckland (our largest city). A group of volunteers began going to the school once a week to give a values class. Connie, one of this remarkable team, went on a walking frame and the children adored her, reflecting the love that she poured out to them.
It was from this group that the Sathya Sai Preschool grew. The primary school realised the value of Preschool Education and asked us and two other groups if we would start a regular early childhood centre at the school. We started a 'Play Centre' and later applied for registration for it to become a 'Licensed Pre-school'. In New Zealand, the main difference is that the latter are much more accountable to the Ministry of Education, with more stringent requirements on staffing and regular inspections by the Ministry of Education Review Office (ERO). We are fortunate that we receive a government subsidy, which helps us meet the cost of staffing. Our first ERO Review last year was outstanding and the inspectors commented, "You mention values such as Love in your Charter. When we see the interaction between the teachers and the children and the children with each other, we understand what you mean."
The Preschool has two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with some children staying the whole day. At present it caters for 25 children per session. A recent grant from the Ministry has enabled us to double the size of the existing building, which is owned by our Institute of Sathya Sai Education, although sited in the Rongomai Primary School grounds. The extension will eventually enable us to cater for 40 children per session and to have more on a full day basis.
It is a delight to see how quickly these children, almost all of whom are from Maori or Pacifica origin, blossom in the loving, values-based teaching environment. Poor behaviour patterns in new children coming to the centre quickly melt away and their true self shines through, sparkling in the eyes and expressing itself in radiant smiles.
Last year I asked the then Rongomai Primary School Principal, 'Beverly, is the Sai Preschool having a beneficial effect on the school?' Beverly replied, 'Richard, not only on the school but on the whole community.'
One of the main driving forces behind this exceptional project is our Teaching Principal, Jeannie Peel, the lady who started that first EHV programme in her home some 20 years ago.
It is now well accepted in New Zealand that early childhood education sets the foundations for the child's life long learning patterns. In my mind, it is also the best age to introduce Human Values. The child's true nature has not yet been thickly covered and once this is awakened, the child will blossom, achieving his or her potential in his or her own unique and wonderful way.
As this Newsletter approaches it's 5th year of publication and with around 1000 worldwide subscribers, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to it's continued success. This has only been possible with the support and hard work of a team of volunteer contributors over the years. Thank you to everyone involved, past and present!
Last, but not least, the editorial team would like to say a big thank you to all our readers including everyone who has sent in emails with items of news or support. Your feedback is very welcome and encourages all who participate in production of the newsletter each month.
Unsubscribe
This
newsletter is sent once a month to subscribers. If you prefer not to receive
further newsletters then please send a blank email with the word 'unsubscribe'
in the subject box to: leave-ssehv-newsletter@list.sathyasaiehv.org.uk
To subscribe,
click
here.
Registered address: The Glen, Cuckoo Hill, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 2BE United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8429 2677 Email: feedback@ssehv.org.uk