Reflection Sunday 22nd December 2024

Sunday School no: 168

Meet and Greet with Anika Singh, a social artist and the founder of VOYCE, as well as the director of DhunAnand. Anika is passionate about using art and creativity to drive social change. With over 15 years of experience, including six years with the World Health Organization (WHO) at both the Regional Office for South-East Asia and the WHO Country Office for India, as well as over four years in Australia, she has a wealth of expertise. At WHO, Anika developed and implemented engaging health promotion campaigns aimed at encouraging positive behavior change. She has also directed more than 30 advocacy productions, including animation videos, musicals, and documentaries. Before WHO, she worked in Australia mainly in the skills development and disability employment services network, assisting disadvantaged communities through employment, support services, community engagement and customised training programmes.

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  What does VOYCE do?

• Content for public health and social change to create impact.
• Work with the arts to create positive behaviour change campaigns.
• Films, advocacy videos, animation videos, musicals and ad films.
• Production of publications – including conceptualising, researching, writing, editing, designing, and printing.
• Primary and secondary level research.
• Events and festivals give an extra edge by leveraging the performing and visual arts to create impact. The company specialises in developing both online and offline events.
• Facilitating training on values in action, authentic leadership, 1-Ness consciousness, and behaviour change communication for health promotion, gender equality, and social change messaging.
• Organising staff engagement and team-building activities.
• Conceptualising and implementing campaigns to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically for positive behaviour change related to health

SUMMARY ✨

With guest speaker Anika Singh, discuss oneness, love, and art for social change and reflect on gratitude and human connections.

Key Takeaways

• Oneness involves feeling connected to all living beings and the environment, transcending separateness.
• Art can be a powerful medium for social change, public health messaging, and expressing complex ideas.
• Gratitude emerges from recognising positive experiences caused by others; animals may exhibit gratitude-like behaviour.
• My Good School will evolve to focus on the "Joy Of Giving" in 2025, with upcoming events celebrating poetry, art, and music.

Topics

Anika Singh's Background and Work

Started social work at age 14 and represented India at international conferences.

Worked with WHO and UN agencies for 10+ years on public health campaigns

Founded organisation VOYCE (Vision and Opportunities for Youth and Community Empowerment)

Uses art for public health messaging and social change

Oneness and Love - 1Ness (the way VOYCE says it)

Oneness is feeling connected to all beings and nature, with no separation.

Love emerges naturally from oneness and creates a sense of belonging everywhere.

Contrasted with artificial intelligence - oneness intelligence about higher purpose and connection

Art for Social Change

An art competition was used to explain depression through various mediums (dance, sand art, music videos, etc.).

More impactful than traditional messaging for sensitive topics

Upcoming "Returning to Love" event on Jan 12, 2025, to showcase art on oneness, love, UN SDGs

Inviting submissions of visual art with 300-350 word impact stories

Behaviour Change Approaches

Changing the environment is more effective than targeting individuals

Using "nudges" - subtle environmental cues to inspire positive habits

Consistency in messaging is key

Leveraging platforms like social media, games bookmarks to reach youth

Gratitude in Animals

Difficult to definitively prove, but anecdotes suggest the possibility

Examples: Rescued whale's acrobatic display, crows bringing gifts to girl who fed them

Gratitude is defined as positive emotion from an enjoyable experience caused by others

My Good School Updates

Website upgraded for 2025 at schooleducation.com

Four focus areas: the joy of learning, happy teachers, the joy of giving, youth engaging society

Upcoming New Year's Eve reflection session

Three retreats planned for 2025 (April, November, December)

Next Steps

Submit art entries for the "Returning to Love" event by Dec 30, 2024

Prepare reflections on 2024 My Good School experiences for next Sunday's session

Consider participating in upcoming My Good School retreats and community learning initiatives

Teachers invited to volunteer for the monthly professional learning program at Arthur Foot Academy

Reflections

1. What insights did you gain about the power of art and music as tools for social change? 

2. How can you use creativity to contribute to your community or address social

    issues?

 Inner Life of Animals and the Theme  of Gratitude as presented by Peter Wohlleben:

Reflective Questions

1. Understanding Gratitude:

   • How does Peter Wohlleben describe gratitude in animals? Do you think animals experience gratitude in the same way humans do? Why or why not?

2. Examples of Animal Behavior:

   • Can you recall an example from the chapter where an animal showed gratitude? How did this behaviour reflect the concept of gratitude?

3. Human vs. Animal Emotions:

   • Do you think human emotions, such as gratitude, fundamentally differ from animals? What examples support your view?

4. Personal Reflection:

   • Have you ever experienced a moment when an animal seemed grateful to you? How did that make you feel?

Critical Thinking Questions

5. Interpreting Animal Actions:

   • Some scientists argue that behaviours we interpret as gratitude are simply survival instincts. What is your opinion on this perspective?

6. Role of Environment:

   • How might the environment or upbringing of an animal affect its ability to express emotions like gratitude?

7. Ethics and Empathy:

   • If animals can feel gratitude, what implications does this have for how humans treat them?

Creative Thinking Questions

8. Imagining a Conversation:

   • Imagine you could talk to an animal. What questions would you ask to understand how they perceive emotions like gratitude?

9. Animal Perspective:

   • Write a short story or poem from the perspective of an animal experiencing gratitude. What event triggered this feeling? How do they express it?

10. Cross-Species Relationships:

    • Design a fictional scenario where an animal and a human share a moment of gratitude. How does this moment bridge the gap between species? 

These questions will encourage you to connect the scientific observations in the chapter with your own experiences, fostering critical and empathetic understanding.

Next week -
Chapter 13: The Bathroom Outside from My Name is Cinnamon
Chapter   7:  Lies and Deception from The Inner Life of Animals

These are some suggestions you can choose from. I'm looking forward to seeing your wonderful and thoughtful reflections! 

You can email your reflections to mk@learningforward.org.in or post them as comments below!

Reflection Sunday 17th November 2024

Check out our brand new signboard—it's here, and it looks absolutely amazing!

Sunday School No. 163

Guru Nanak Docuseries-

1. What was your takeaway from the session today? 

2. What were the key points in the episode? 

3. Wisdom, Right Knowledge, and Intellect- How can you connect with these?

- From Hidden Life Of Animals -
1. Did the story connect with you today, and why?
2. Find out about-
a. biological automatons
b. Leipzig and what it is famous for?
c. magnetic resonance imaging
3. What is instinct according to you?
4. How can we compare animal emotions with human emotions?
5. How are humans different from animals?

Key Takeaways

• The documentary series on Guru Nanak's travels highlights the interconnectedness of different philosophies and cultures across India.
• Recent school visits, especially to Doon School, provided valuable learning experiences for students and teachers from rural areas.
• There's an emphasis on regular reflections and sharing of learnings among the community members.
• The group uses various WhatsApp groups and online platforms to facilitate communication and learning.

Guru Nanak Documentary Discussion

• Explored Guru Nanak's travels through Assam, Nagaland, Bangladesh, and West Bengal.
• Highlighted similarities between Guru Nanak's philosophy and local traditions in these regions.
• Discussed the concept of oneness and the universality of emotions across species.

Recent The Doon School Visit

• Students from Arthur Foot Academy visited Doon School, marking their first trip to an urban area.
• The visit highlighted the disparity in exposure between rural and urban students.
• Emphasized the importance of such experiences in broadening students' perspectives.

Reflection Practices

• Encouraged regular reflections from all participants, including teachers and students.
• Discussed various platforms for sharing reflections, including WhatsApp groups and online diaries.
• Stressed the importance of consistent engagement and sharing of thoughts.

Community Structure and Communication

• Explained the purpose and use of different WhatsApp groups:
• My Good School: For general discussions and reflections
• Teachers Academy: For teacher-specific content
• Impact Team: For assessment and evaluation
• Joy of Giving: Focused on Arthur Foot Academy project

Book Discussion

• Reviewed chapters from a book discussing animal emotions and instincts.
• Drew parallels between animal and human behaviors, emphasizing the universality of emotions.

Next Steps

• Participants to send reflections on recent experiences, including the Doon School visit.
• Continue regular engagement in various WhatsApp groups and online platforms.
• Implement learnings from recent experiences in respective educational settings.
• Improve the technical setup for future online meetings based on today's experience with new equipment.

Action Items

• Create reflection piece with probing questions from The Doon School visit. Add to Joy of Learning Diaries. 
• Write/send reflection on The Doon School visit to Manisha. Post in My Good School WhatsApp grp. 
• Write/send reflection on Doon School visit to Manisha. Post in My Good School WhatsApp grp. 
• Post announcements for upcoming sessions in My Good School WhatsApp grp. 

Students and teacher may create a school newsletter incorporating Joy of Learning content.

These are some suggestions. We're looking forward to your excellent and thoughtful reflections, which you can email to mk@learningforward.org.in

In case you missed the session today, reply the video:

Reflections - My Good School Retreat 15th November 2024

My Good School Retreat 2024 - November 15

To conduct a My Good School retreat session focused on discussing animal behavior and emotions through the book "The Inner Life of Animals" by Peter Wohlleben.

Key Takeaways

• The group explored the concept of animal emotions, particularly maternal love, through the first chapter of the book
• Participants learned about squirrel behavior, including their nesting habits, food caching, and interactions with other animals
• The discussion highlighted how human perceptions of animals are often influenced by emotions rather than objective observation
• The session emphasized that maternal love is not exclusive to humans and exists across species, though with variations in its expression and development

Topics

Book Introduction and Context

• The group is reading "The Inner Life of Animals" by Peter Wohlleben
• The book explores animal emotions and behaviors, challenging assumptions about human uniqueness
• The author uses scientific research and personal observations to illustrate animal experiences

Squirrel Behavior and Survival

• Squirrels demonstrate maternal care by carrying babies on their necks
• They build nests (dreys) in trees, using soft materials for comfort
• Squirrels cache food for winter, but often forget locations, leading to natural tree planting
• Their survival strategies include spiral descent to avoid predators like hawks

Animal Emotions and Human Perceptions

• The group discussed how humans categorize animals based on appearance and perceived usefulness
• Squirrels were used as an example of how perceptions can shift (e.g., from cute to predatory)
• The discussion emphasized that animals act primarily for survival, not to be "good" or "bad"

Maternal Love Across Species

• The chapter explored whether maternal love is innate or learned
• Hormones like oxytocin play a role in bonding for both humans and animals
• Human capacity for learned love (e.g., adoption) was contrasted with more instinctive animal behaviors
• Examples of interspecies bonding were mentioned (e.g., cats caring for human infants)

Next Steps

• Participants encouraged to watch related movies/documentaries (e.g., Born Free, Lion King)
• Research Jane Goodall's work with chimpanzees for further insights on animal behavior.
• Reconvene at 5:30 PM for the Teacher's Academy session to continue book discussion.
• Local retreat participants to engage in a treasure hunt during the break.

Think it over

1. Did the story connect with you today, and why?  

2. Find out about- 

a. dreys

b. nests of animals

3. How do animals prepare their nest? Which material is required by the animals to make their nest?

4. Winter, however, is more devastating than any predator. Who does the writer refer to ?

5. What will happen if there will be no food chain?

6. What is selfless mother's love according to you?

Reflection Sunday 10th November 2024

Reflection of the week 

-From My Name Is Cinnamon- 

1. What was your takeaway from the session today?  

2. What were the key points in the chapter? 

3. Journey of self-discovery

4. Being honest with ourselves

5. Importance of reflection and clear thought 

6. When you write a poem how do you feel? 

7. How do you think Cinnamon would feel if he met his birth parents

8. Between the head and the heart

- From The Hidden Life Of Trees –  

1. Why is the chapter named "Not just a commodity?"

2. What is your takeaway from today’s session? 

3. What did you learn from this book?

4. Do trees have a life of their own? How can humans learn to respect that? 

5. Life from the eyes of trees

6. Taking care of trees and nature with dignity

7. We aren't a part of nature, we are nature

8. Lessons from this book

"I think writing a poem is oddly fulfilling and a unique art itself. Its unique how we're able to express our thoughts about something in a set of lines. I think it brings us to think deeper about what we're writing because we aren't just writing a paragraph but writing about our feelings and ideas about something in a few lines, choosing the right words at every step. And when you're done writing that poem, there's a sense of fulfillment when you read it again because it just opens a new perspective about it. 

I don't write blogs that often now but when I'm bored at home, I take out a paper and pen and write poems because it truly is something that's so unique." - Rishona Chopra

These are some suggestions you can choose from. Looking forward to seeing your wonderful and thoughtful reflections!      

      

You can email your reflections at -      

mk@learningforward.org.in

My Good School 10th Nov 2024

Reading My Name Is Cinnamon - complete the chapter 8; and complete reading the book "The Hidden Life of Trees" by Peter Wohlleben, as well as plan for an upcoming retreat and initiate an "Impact Study" project.

Key Takeaways

• Trees are highly interconnected through underground fungal networks, forming a "Wood-Wide Web" that allows them to communicate and support each other. 

• Helping children like Cinnamon from the book deal with difficult emotions requires providing a supportive environment, encouraging reflection, and engaging them in enjoyable activities. 

• The upcoming retreat will involve spending time in a forest, connecting with underprivileged children, and continuing the group reading experience. 

• The "Impact Study" project aims to assess how the Teacher's Academy program is developing students' 21st century skills like critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. 

• Practices like writing poems, maintaining reading logs, and reflecting on readings can enhance personal growth and reading comprehension. 

Topics

Reading and Discussing "The Hidden Life of Trees"

• The group continued reading and discussing chapters from the book, exploring how trees communicate and support each other through underground fungal networks. 

• The discussion focused on understanding Cinnamon's emotional journey and ways to help him deal with his feelings in a healthy manner. 

Upcoming Retreat

• The group discussed the plans for an upcoming retreat, where participants will spend time in a forest, connect with underprivileged children, and continue their group reading experience. 

• The retreat will also involve a visit to the "My Good School" studio and a city tour. 

"Impact Study" Project

• The group initiated an "Impact Study" project to assess the impact of the Teacher's Academy program on the development of students' 21st century skills. 

• The project will involve gathering feedback from teachers and students, and analyzing data to understand the program's effectiveness.

 

Next Steps

• Gurdeep will connect with Kunal to obtain the data from the previous impact study and use it as a starting point for the new project. 

• The group will work together to develop a set of questions to gather feedback from teachers and students on a monthly basis. 

• The findings from the impact study will be shared and discussed in future meetings, and the next meeting will be on the 24th of November 2024.