Growing Compassionate Hearts

Teaching Children Values, Compassion and Empathy

WATCH THE RECORDINGS BELOW

Our aim is to equip children and young people with the skills for creating a kinder, wiser, more compassionate society. This is an exciting opportunity to hear from a wide range of experienced educators and practice the methods that have proved effective for them. 

FDCW has been inspired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama's vision of educating the heart not just the intellect. An education that is based on values like forgiveness, kindness, and affection. By watering the seeds of natural empathy, building resilience through better understanding of how things exist, and above all, caring for others, our young people can face the future with courage and confidence. This two day conference offers a wide range of inspiring talks, lively discussions as well as experiential methods, and new perspectives on walking this path alongside children and young people.

Join us on this transformative journey to help grow compassionate hearts.

Watch the trailer…

 
 
 

The Growing Compassionate Hearts Conference goes beyond a mere gathering of ideas. It’s a coming together of like-minded individuals from across the globe who understand the importance of nurturing compassion and values in our children. Over these two transformative days, you will experience an immersive journey dedicated to empowering the young minds that will shape our future.

We've designed this event as an open platform where educators, parents, child development specialists, and anyone invested in shaping compassionate hearts can learn, connect, and inspire each other. Each session is carefully curated to help you navigate the complexities and joys of teaching children about compassion, empathy, and the importance of universal human values. The conference is not just about discussion, but also about providing tangible, practical strategies that you can incorporate into your interactions with children.

Whether you're looking for innovative ways to introduce compassion and empathy into your classroom, seeking insights into how universal education is impacting education systems across the world, or a parent looking for guidance in teaching values to your children, this conference has something for you.

 
 


As a tribute to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision, this online festival embodies the spirit of kindness, understanding, and respect for all. We strive to create an atmosphere that encourages growth, inclusivity, and the sharing of ideas, because we believe that when we come together, the impact we can make is truly extraordinary.

Through this conference, we hope to help our community move forward together, with the shared goal of nurturing the next generation of compassionate, resilient, and wise individuals. As we embark on this journey, remember that every small step we take can ripple out to create a wave of change. We're thrilled you're joining us, and we can't wait to see where this journey takes us.

 

The Growing Compassionate Hearts Conference is truly a community-driven event, and it wouldn't have been possible without you. When we started planning, we asked our community for speaker suggestions, hoping to draw from the shared wisdom and experience of many. The response amazed us. With approximately 30 responses, it was clear that this event meant as much to you as it did to us.

Each of these responses played a crucial role in shaping the conference. We've taken your suggestions, grouped them into themes, and built a schedule around them. Your involvement ensured that this conference reflects our shared vision of teaching children compassion. So, this event is just as much yours as it is ours. Thank you for helping make it a reality.

 

The Growing Compassionate Hearts Conference took place over 2 days, October 10th and 11th 2023. We were joined by a host of different speakers offering talks and guided practices aimed at educating children in compassion.

The Themes for the conference emerged organically from the rich fabric of knowledge, experience, and insight that our speakers brought to the table. They grew from the seeds of your suggestions and inputs and are a testament of collective thinking and  group collaboration. 

Watch the recordings below.

Planting Seeds of Compassion

A deep dive into how Universal Education is impacting educational landscapes around the world by bringing values and compassion into curriculums.


Survival of Humanity Depends on the Hearts of Children

Are educational systems falling short in teaching core values and compassion?


Building Resilience & Positive Mindset

During this session we focus on the importance of families - the good soil from which a child grows and thrives.


Universal Education in Schools

A sensitive exploration of how compassion and understanding can build a stronger foundation for children to learn, grow and flourish in schools.

Before you scroll through our diverse lineup of speakers, allow us to express our immense gratitude. Each of our speakers brings a unique perspective and an abundance of wisdom that has helped shape this conference. From educators and psychologists to researchers and scientists, our speakers are leaders in their fields, brought together by their shared commitment to compassion. Their experiences and insights are the pillars of the Growing Compassionate Hearts Conference

We are immensely grateful to our speakers for generously offering additional resources to further enrich your experience. We hope these resources will be of benefit to you on your journey towards growing compassionate hearts.


The Rhythm of Virtue from Denise Flora

Denise Flora has generously provided an excerpt from "The Rhythm of Virtue" appendix D, titled "Children's Rhymes and Games." This compilation comes as a PDF and is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in incorporating compassion and virtue into children's activities. For those who wish to delve deeper, the content is also available in audio and video formats, which can be accessed on SoundCloud and Vimeo, making it easier to learn and share.


Outdoor Wellbeing from Gillian Watt

Gillian has kindly offered us an insightful guide titled "Outdoor Wellbeing", designed to nurture the five basic needs we all have: Survival, Belonging, Power/Self-Worth, Freedom, and Fun. Using a Forest School-based approach, the guide provides practical activities and tips for meeting these needs, whether it's through building dens for survival, or fostering an inclusive ethos for a sense of belonging. This comprehensive guide aims to provide both adults and children an opportunity to not only reconnect with their essential needs but also to engage in meaningful and enjoyable outdoor activities.


The Mindful Brain is a Super Brain Presentation from Ven. Tseten

Here is another fantastic resource for anyone interested in teaching mindfulness and emotional regulation to children, which comes in the form of a PowerPoint presentation that Ven. Tseten used during her session at the conference. The presentation, designed primarily for children in primary schools, is an educational journey through the principles of mindfulness and neuroscience from a Buddhist perspective. With intriguing sections like "A Mindful Brain is a Super Brain" and "Buddhist Neuroscientists at Work," it breaks down complex ideas into child-friendly language and concepts. It also provides activities to help integrate thinking and feeling, encouraging a balanced and mindful approach to life's challenges.