Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Makes Inroads in Egypt

[Guest guest]

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!

 

Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (UK) Newsletter - June

2004http://www.sathyasaiehv.org.uk/Newsletters/June04/email.htm

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