"Labels are for clothes, not for children"

DANCE & MINDFULNESS TO CHANGE CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR


Today we had Gadija Sait bringing positive vibes to our studio. Gadija is involved with the Mediation and Dance Assembly Programme, run by WISE (Wellbeing in Schools & Education). They provide dancing and meditation workshops to schools to change behaviour of children. 


In their statement WISE says the children they are working with live in vulnerable communities, often experiencing high rates of gansterism, domestic violence, drug abuse and poverty. They then act out in the classroom and on the playground because they don't have the tools to deal with their emotional overwhelm. This also hinders their learning ability, as a stressed child is not able to concentrate. Their programme provides tools to teach vulnerable children essential life skills, such as emotional intelligence, non-violent communication, forgiveness, gratitude and mindfulness. 


On Sakhisizwe today, Gadija said that bullying already decreased in Sentinel Primary School, one of the schools their running the project. "A 3 minute meditation can already increase their concentration", she said. Gadija gave the parental advice to give minimum 20 minute private time with each of their children and not be distracted by their phones.

"Every teenager needs a hero", she said. Some parents are judging their own children. But children suffer when they feel they are not liked.  "Labels are for clothes or brands, not for children or teenagers" she underlined. WISE chose for dancing workshops because everyone can do it. The same with mindfulness. Everyone is born with the ability to meditate and to be mindful, but the speed of life takes it away from you according to Gadija. She hopes that mindfulness or dancing will be mandatory in South-African education in the future. "The revolution is already taking shape", she concluded.

For more information visit http://wise.training/ or contact Gadija on 073 796 2659. They are always looking for volunteers!

Text and pictures by Dries Hiroux







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