The School for Wellbeing initiates action-research, dialogue and public debate. The aim is to understand and further explore historic and contemporary paradigm shifts and social movements in order to transform our materialistic, economically driven public policies towards societies shaped by wellbeing-centered world views, democracy and alternative development practices.
The School for Wellbeing’s Summer Course is to contemplate contemporary cultural dilemmas, poverty, injustice and environmental degradation from a holistic point of view. To explore happiness that it is not in the first place, as we are made to believe, a need that should be satisfied by external factors. But rather, to understand happiness as “life’s most important skill”, a capability to overcome suffering and structural violence.
The course consists of a four-week participatory learning experience, including a study visit throughout Bhutan, the country of GNH - Gross National Happiness (www.gnh-movement.org), and excursions to new paradigm projects of social development in Thailand.
Resource individuals for the course include Nic Marks (NEF) and Sulak Sivaraksa (prominent Siamese Buddhist & social activist; author of The Wisdom of Sustainability: Buddhist Economics for the 21st Century), among others.
This course is intended for 35 participants who are independent academics, researchers, social entrepreneurs, potential leaders, students, persons on sabbatical, responsible managers, policy development officers, activists and agents for change.
Please find more information at the School for WellBeing Web Site
The South Africans who could make best use of this course, who would make the greatest social difference with it, and for whom it would make the greatest personal difference, will most likely not be able to afford to go; thus, if you have any ideas about setting up bursaries, or would be willing to contribute to one for one or more, please contact [email protected] to discuss. Thank you.
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