National SSEHV Day Inspires Delegates - 13th September 2003

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Source:

http://www.sathyasaiehv.org.uk/Newsletters/Sept03/email.htm

 

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National SSEHV Day Inspires Delegates

 

The third annual National Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Day

took place in Stanmore, North West London on Saturday 13th

September. Over 140 people came from all over the UK and even

further afield to meet with and listen to talks from other SSEHV

practitioners and visiting dignitaries. As well as watching numerous

informative and uplifting presentations, delegates were entertained

by music from Zita Starkie and Richard Braithwaite performing songs

from the newly produced CDs to accompany Teaching Workbooks 3 & 4.

The compère for the day was Rolando Ciaravaglio, BISSE's National

Training Co-ordinator.

 

Special guests included Cllr Jane Avis, Mayor of Croydon, Cllr Mano

Dharmarajah, Mayor of Harrow and Dr Teerakiat Jareonseetasin, known

as Dr Judo, who is Deputy Director of the Institute of Sathya Sai

Education, Thailand and a member of the Royal College of

Psychiatrists, UK.

 

Both Mayors, who had not previously met each other, joined together

to open the proceedings by jointly lighting a candle, before each

expressing their delight at being able to attend the National Day

and find out more about SSEHV. The Mayor of Croydon spoke about her

own views and experiences of the Croydon summer camp which she had

attended in July.

 

Carole Alderman, Principal of the British Institute of Sathya Sai

Education gave the opening address, providing an update on

activities that have taken place since BISSE's inauguration at the

beginning of 2003, and a roadmap for the year ahead. Cyrano Ugarow,

a graduate of both the Thai and British Institutes of Sathya Sai

Education, gave a heart-warming and inspiring account of his own

experiences of teaching SSEHV to abused children from the slums of

Bangkok, and from all walks of life in Thailand and the UK. This was

followed by a lively and amusing talk from Deepak Fakey - known to

children around the country as "Mr Smiley" - the inventor of the

SSEHV values board games, who spoke about the Saturday morning

values club he set up in Leicester which is now attended by over 170

children.

 

Later in the day, Lark Beecham, Area Co-ordinator and Trainer for

the South East, who has been teaching SSEHV in her local primary

school for the past three years, spoke of her personal vision of

SSEHV and the impact it has had on her own life. This was followed

by an update on Public Relations activities for SSEHV in the UK from

Jo Pratt.

 

After a vegetarian hot lunch, prepared and served by attentive young

volunteers, the principal organisers of each of the eight summer

camps that have taken place so far this year, reported on the camps

they had organised, illustrating their talks with pictures. Sheila

Swift, who has founded a charity called Peaceful Solutions with the

sole purpose of taking SSEHV out into her local community in Oldham,

then shared her knowledge and experience of navigating the funding

application process. It was stressed that only ethical funding which

in no way jeopardises the principles of SSEHV is acceptable.

 

The day was rounded off by a lively question and answer session,

followed by a closing address from Carole Alderman in which she

thanked everyone who works tirelessly throughout the year in their

local communities to bring SSEHV to children. The event was closed

with music from Zita and Richard.

 

Thank you to everyone who worked hard to organise and bring to

fruition the National Day both in the planning stages and on the day

itself, and thank you to all the speakers, volunteers and delegates,

many of whom travelled great distances to attend. Many of the talks

given will be published in this newsletter over the coming months.