Social Emotional Ethical Learning Initiative for Marginalised Children

Fostering development of Social Emotional Ethical learning (SEEL) capacities and Life Skills in children from disadvantaged communities, shelter homes and low-income schools through ‘Art and Movements’ for their well-being

It is important to grow happy kids then one will become a happy adult. Art with Heart will support a child to express and bond better with oneself and others. It emphasizes on a daily practice of empathy, gratitude, creativity, kindness and compassion. Empathy is not only a value but also an essential skill that everyone can learn to develop. When we practice these values and skills through our thoughts, words and actions then we expand our state of emotional wellbeing and thinking habits in a wholesome ways.

In the words of His Holiness the Dalai Lama “The existing education system, no educate, no guarantee to bring a happy world, because human compassion is the key factor for happiness and therefore education should include education of the heart.” For years he has called for a holistic approach to education, not just of the external but the inner science that cultivates a benevolent and ethical mindset grounded in the basic human values.  

The United Nations’ 2016 edition of the World Happiness Report contains an entire chapter on secular ethics, and notes “We should assess human progress by the extent to which people are enjoying their lives—by the prevalence of happiness and, conversely, the absence of misery… [W]e should in all our dealings truly wish for the happiness of all of those we can affect, and we should cultivate in ourselves an attitude of unconditional benevolence.” 

Art with Heart

While the Delhi Education Department launched their Happiness curriculum, two passionate young women, Poulomi Paul and Preeta Chaudhuri Ghosal , both Dance Movement Therapy Practitioners from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, started Art with Heart. Art with Heart is a program of ‘Better Stories’ where they integrate art and movementsfor inculcating Social Emotional Ethical Learning (SEEL) capacities and life skills in children and adoloscents. This program is designed to foster and develop children at shelter homes and from disadvantaged communities through a variety of value-based art and movement curriculum as a creative medium.

Art and movements together create an effective and a beautiful medium for self expression. It will enhance their decision making capacity and support positive behaviour. This initiative aim to create safe spaces where children will inculcate values and life-skills for their social and emotional wellbeing.

A program of ‘Better Stories’ where art and movement is integrated for developing capacities and life skills in children and adolescents.  It is an initiative designed with a lot of love and care by Poulomi Pal and  to foster and develop children at shelter homes and disadvantaged communities through a variety of value-based art and movement curriculum. They beleive that art and movements together create an effective and a beautiful medium for self expression. It  enhances the decision making capacity and supports positive behaviour.

Expected outcome of ‘Art with Heart’ are –

• Creation of a safe space for children to express freely through creative mediums
• Resilient and adaptive individuals to rapidly changing environments with enhanced world preparedness
• Children & Youth are “socially aware” and “emotionally-connected” in order to learn
• More inclusive pedagogies internalized among children& young adults for societies to flourish through harmony

Glimpses of ‘Art with Heart’