Breathing the Earth. Resilient children inhabit themselves and their environment with awareness

WHERE

Rome and province, Grosseto and province

CONTEXT

In a time of great uncertainty and pandemic-related stress, children and young people are among the most vulnerable groups, and the most exposed to psychological and emotional distress. Tension, irritability, sleep disorders, difficulties with attention and concentration, and aggressive behaviours are increasingly observed in childhood.
Experts anticipate that these conditions will persist beyond the end of the emergency, making it all the more important to invest in prevention and wellbeing.
Through this project, ASIA, in partnership with lead organisation Merigar, is committed to promoting the wellbeing and socio-emotional development of primary school children through activities that translate Buddhist principles and values into concrete practice — starting from the understanding that self-awareness is the foundation of a healthy life and of the social and environmental responsibility of future generations.
 

OBJECTIVES

General objective

To promote within primary schools the values of mindfulness, respect for the environment and the interdependence of all living beings — as understood through a Buddhist perspective — thereby strengthening the resilience and environmental awareness of both students and teachers.

Specific objective

To support the socio-emotional development of primary school children through increased awareness of their inner world and the environment around them.
 

ACTIVITIES

• Mindfulness programmes for students and teachers
• Yantra Yoga courses – Kumar Kumari
• School vegetable gardens
• Interactive and STEAM activities (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics)
   

RESULTS

Children showed improved emotional regulation, enhanced attention and greater body awareness, with reduced levels of anxiety and stress. Teachers reported increased self-awareness, along with more effective stress management and relational skills.
Children also expanded their knowledge of plant life cycles and natural processes, developed greater environmental sensitivity and respect for other living beings, and strengthened their collaborative and interpersonal competencies.
Further outcomes include a deeper understanding of the causes and effects of climate change, heightened environmental awareness, and an improved ability to analyse the relationship between human behaviour and its impact on the Earth system.
 

PARTNERS

Dzogchen Merigar Cultural Association
 

PROJECT FUNDED BY

Italian Buddhist Union