THE VALUES ISLAND

THE VALUES ISLAND

In a Spanish bilingual kindergarten of Mallorca, a series of human values lessons inspired by SSEHV have taken place since 2014; an initiative promoted and carried out by the Human Values & Character Building Director of the school.

The small learners marvel as they discover the importance of human values, presented to them in association with the precious gems you find hidden in a treasure chest. They soon appreciate that the real “treasure chest” is ones very own heart, as Peace, Love, Truth and Right Action reside therein. An imaginary space that the entire school community now refers to as “the Values Island”, has made this values process especially exciting for them. It is on “Values Island” that children learn that “Treasure chests shine when we open them”, and that “Values shine when we bring them out and practice them”.

Parents have eagerly embraced the SSEHV “heart to heart” approach,  by encouraging their children to work at their personal Values Island back home, where they support them with the good counsel of  “W.A.T.C.H”, a reminder of how important it is to watch ones “Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character and Heart”, especially when one  aims at the cultivation of human values.  

Furthermore, feedback from teachers, parents, and from the students themselves, based on their artwork, written and oral comments and the overall participation in class, have commented the profound effects of the program in improving character traits and disposition, as well as the positive transformation in behavior and general school atmosphere.

Human values come to life and become real and tangible for the children who amuse themselves by exploring the meaning of their precious findings through creative activities. The posters that illustrate the question: “What does peace look like?”, facilitate the learning process with a visual description of how one feels when peace surrounds one with harmony and tranquility. Finally, the “Peace Wall” illustrates how everyone needs to pitch in, if one wants it to be strong and long-lived. Brick by brick, the “pieces” need to find their place: sincerity, harmony, kindness, care, trust, respect, love… This program is an example of how sowing the seeds of Human Values raises awareness and prepares today’s children and tomorrow’s citizens to build better homes, a safer environment and healthy and happy futures for all.