Bhagavan Baba's Philosophy and Methodology of Education with a Focus on Water Education for African Cities

essential to sustain human life. It is therefore no wonder that in ancient
times, people in all societies revered water as a wonderful gift of God. Almost
all major religions have an important place for water in their rituals; these
involve cleansing, blessing, ablutions of various kinds and offerings
accompanied by the pouring of water."Water as a Basic Element According to the
story of creation in the Bible (Genesis 1: V1-2), we are told: "In the
beginning God created heaven and earth ..... the earth was without form .......
And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters". This shows the part
played by water in the beginning and sustenance of life as perceived by Bible
believers.Truly, water is sacred and must be treated as such by all its users.
Yet, there are billions of people on this planet to whom good drinking water is
not available or accessible. Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Project IndiaResponding
to the dire
needs of the people of the scarcity affected regions of Andhra Pradesh, Bhagavan
declared in March 1995 that He was going to provide drinking water to the
villagers who had been the victims of acute drinking water shortages for more
than a century. Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Project was thus started which has
provided water to millions of villagers of Anantapur, Medak, Mahboobnagar, East
Godavari and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh during the last 10 years.
It has also met the acute drinking water shortage of the city of Chennai in
Tamil Nadu. All this was possible through the unlimited love and grace of
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba to all mankind. As He Himself says: "I am always
ready to help you and serve you. You may belong to any village or any district
.......... I do not have any feelings of difference - religious, regional or
national. I do not go by the position of the people or the place to which they
belong. All are the same to Me and I serve all equally".
Bhagavan's example of His concern for the supply of water is being replicated by
many countries of the world. Water in African Cities ProjectThere exist many
dissimilarities in African countries in terms of size, water resources, water
management styles, economic differentials, social and environmental norms
related to water, etc. Yet their national goals and objectives are basically
similar. They all have, as their main goal, the provision of adequate cost-
effective and good water supply for all (the economic and social dimensions of
water). In cognizance of the fact that these goals cannot be achieved in
isolation, these countries have, as complementary goals, the maintenance of a
good environment, avoidance of water wastage and pollution, prevention of
vandalism and illegal connections; discouraging late or non- payment of water
bills, non-tampering of water meters, prevention of water riots and water wars,
eradication of corruption and enhancement of
adequate sanitation and better hygiene practices through technical and
regulatory measures. In pursuit of their goals and objectives, the African
cities have been using different strategies as leverages towards the
realisation of their national goals. Overall, these strategies have not
produced the desired results of reaching national goals and objectives. This is
because of the absence of second tower that lays emphasis on the transformation
of attitudes and behavioural patterns of water users and providers. UN-HABITAT
have for a long time been searching for a tool or mechanism that will enrich
and strengthen Water Education strategies in Africa.Human Values Approach to
Water Education in Africa The introduction of the water education initiative
was preceded by an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) convened by UN-HABITAT in
collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Swedish
International Water Institute (SIWI) in Johannesburg, South Africa
from 30th April to 2nd May 2001. The meeting brought together international and
regional experts on education, curriculum development, urban development, water
resources management and NGOs active in water education. The objectives of the
meeting were to share information on the ongoing water problem in Africa,
develop a broad consensus among all stakeholders with regards to the most
effective strategy for introducing Water Education in-African cities, agree on
sharing of responsibility for project implementation by different partners and
develop an action plan for the project implementation.An important outcome of
the Expert Group Meeting was the consensus acceptance of the paper presented by
the Director of the African Institute of Sathya Sai Education (TAISSE) with the
title "Water Education: A Human Values Approach" which was, in fact, a
reproduction of Sri Sathya Sai Baba's philosophy and methodology of Human
Values Education in its pristine form. The recommendation
arising therefrom was the pursuance of a Human Values Approach to introducing
Water Education for African children and communities. Understanding Water
EducationWhat is Water Education? From the point of view of the Human Values
approach, Water Education is not just about water literacy (knowledge of the
science of water, types, sources, uses, treatment, management and its
associated problems, etc). These are, of course, important tangibles. However,
Water Education is also about intangible things that are equally important.
These include people's perceptions of water, the level of their consciousness
towards water usage, awareness of their civic responsibilities towards water,
cultural beliefs and practices in relation to water. In short, it is about
Human Values - about the country's sense of duty, the obligations members have
to each other, to the use of water itself and to future
generations.A country's sense of duty ought to be strengthened through Human
Values Education towards the management of water and other resources which took
billions of years to develop and yet, which would be diminished or exhausted
within a relatively short period of time. There is, thus, a compelling need for
the introduction of Human Values in Water Education as a complimentary to the
existing technical and regulatory measures in water demand management. In this
manner, Water Education will stand firmly on the twin towers of water literacy
and Human Values - their understanding, commitment and practice. The Expert
Group noted that Water Education should aim at promoting a better understanding
of water as a key social, economic and environmental resource and should
facilitate the emergence of a new water management ethic on the continent. It
is observed that the introduction and implementation of Value- based Water
Education (VBWE) through formal,
non-formal and informal channels of learning, especially through the use of the
curriculum is a promising strategy to bring about a positive and lasting change
in attitude and behaviour towards water at all levels of society.Value-based
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (VBWSHE)Having been inspired by the
successful implementation of Bhagavan's Values Education programme at the
African Institute of Sathya Sai Education (TAISSE), Ndola, Zambia, many
countries in Africa today are involved in Value-based Water, Sanitation and
Hygiene Education (VBWSHE) programme.In 2002, TAISSE was contracted for two
years by UN-HABITAT to implement the first phase of Value- based Water
Education (VBWE) in six African counties. By the grace of Bhagavan, this was
successfully completed in 2004. Impressed with the effectiveness of the values
programme in the six African countries, the UN-HABITAT again asked TAISSE in
2005 to implement the second phase
of the Value-based Water Education programme to include Sanitation and Hygiene
Education, known as Value-based Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education
(VBWSHE) in twelve African countries. This Cooperation Agreement will end in
2007. This is indeed a major contribution of Bhagavan's education programme,
which is essentially philanthropic in its nature, to the upliftment of the
African continent. Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Project ZambiaBhagavan's water
projects in India have inspired Sai Education Trust (SET) of Zambia to follow
Sathya Sai Baba's example in the provision of drinking water to the poor. In a
small way, the Trust, in May 2005, embarked on the task of providing free clean
drinking water to disadvantaged townships surrounding Sri Sathya Sai School,
Ndola, Zambia. Ten bore-holes ranging between 60 and 97 metres deep with
submersible and hand pumps were drilled in five townships where people had been
greatly disadvantaged for centuries past in
terms of good drinking water. The sprouting out of water and the simultaneous
response of many children as expressed in their shouting and clapping was a
moving experience. There is no doubt that Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba will
forever remain a powerful role model in the provision of water to the
less-privileged people of the world. Sourced: Sanathana Sarathi pgs 344 to 347
- November 2005 Courtesy:
http://worldnet24.tripod.com/article...ucation.htmSai Ram Website:
http://www.ssso.net

[bhattathiri]

There is no theory to be internalized and applied in this psychology. Ancient practices spontaneously induce what each person needs as the individual and the universal coincide. The work proceeds through intellectual knowledge of the playing field ( jnana yoga), emotional devotion to the ideal (bhakti yoga) and right action that includes both feeling and knowledge (karma yoga). With ongoing purification we approach wisdom. The Bhagavad-Gita is a message addressed to each and every human individual to help him or her to solve the vexing problem of overcoming the present and progressing towards a bright future. Within its eighteen chapters is revealed a human drama. This is the experience of everyone in this world, the drama of the ascent of man from a state of utter dejection, sorrow and total breakdown and hopelessness to a state of perfect understanding, clarity, renewed strength and triumph. May the wisdom of loving consciousness ever guide us on our journey. What makes the Holy Gita a practical psychology of transformation is that it offers us the tools to connect with our deepest intangible essence, and we must learn to participate in the battle of life with right knowledge.