UN YOUTH SEYCHELLES
248 2619092
P.O.Box 8015
THE SILVER LINING PROJECT
The Silver Lining Project under the flagship of “promoting the holistic development of our youth” aims to educate youth on 8 identified dimensions of life to ensure a holistic approach in their decision making process as well as discovering their full potential. Youth are often negatively stigmatised and with the existence of various social ills they are often labelled and society fails to appreciate what they are good at, what they care about and what their qualities are. There is a need to reinforce students’ life with different skills, values and mindset that will help them achieve their ion and belief that they can pursue and achieve their dreams by taking a more informed and strategic approach.
Holistic development and wellbeing encompasses eight mutually interdependent dimensions: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, occupational, financial, and environmental. Attention must be given to all the dimensions, as neglect of any one over time will adversely affect the others, and ultimately one’s quality of life. The dimensions, however, do not have to be equally balanced. Each person should aim, instead, to strive for a “personal harmony” that feels most authentic to him/her based on the person’s priorities, approaches, and aspirations.
This project will guide youth to reflect and formulate an action plan to develop a lifestyle and a personalised approach to living life in a way that allows them to create the best version of themselves.
Holistic development and wellbeing encompasses eight mutually interdependent dimensions: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, occupational, financial, and environmental. Attention must be given to all the dimensions, as neglect of any one over time will adversely affect the others, and ultimately one’s quality of life. The dimensions, however, do not have to be equally balanced. Each person should aim, instead, to strive for a “personal harmony” that feels most authentic to him/her based on the person’s priorities, approaches, and aspirations.
This project will guide youth to reflect and formulate an action plan to develop a lifestyle and a personalised approach to living life in a way that allows them to create the best version of themselves.
Project Objectives
- Stimulate students to reflect on the importance and impact the different life dimensions have on their lives.
- To introduce students to the 8 Dimension of life and the importance of a holistic approach in decision making and balanced life.
- To stir discussions through reflective questions for students to evaluate their previous choices and think about how they will approach future ones.
- Engaging students to discover their full potential and appreciate lessons from overcoming challenges.
At the end of successful implementation of the project, participants would be able to:
- Show understanding of how Emotional Intelligence is critical for coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships.
- Plan for financial security for the present and the future.
- Recognise their intellectual and creative abilities, and find ways to expand on skills & knowledge through a culture of life-long learning.
- Develop a sense of personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s choice of occupation.
- Recognise the need for physical activity, healthy foods, and self-care.
- Strengthen ways of how to relate to and connect with others for healthy social well-being.
- Appreciate their sense of purpose and meaning in life.
- Appreciate their abilities to recognize their responsibility for a positive impact on the quality of our environment.
- Preparing for and participating in work that provides personal satisfaction and life enrichment that is consistent with your values, goals, and lifestyle.
- Contributing your unique gifts, skills, and talents to work that is personally meaningful and rewarding.
'Sharpen your Silverlining' Workshops
As a form of sensitisation on the 8 dimensions of life, a series of 1 day Sensitisation Workshops were organised on August 28, 2019, October 3, 2019 and November 7, 2019. Students from English River Secondary, Anse Royale Secondary, Pointe Larue Secondary, Seychelles school of business studies, Mont Fleuri Secondary and Independent School participated in the workshops which received several positive feedback and enabled the students to think about their life action plan to work on the best version of themselves.
The workshop consisted of a full day presentation with focus on decision making process and subsequently the various dimensions. The students participated eagerly and asked several questions to better understand the subject matter. Question revolved around ways to be inspired, how to simplify things yet think outside the box, how to build solution-oriented thinking. The first half of the day comprised of some brainstorming activities while the second half was more reflective towards the dimension. Before the end of the session the participants were divided into groups to consult on various actions they could do to contribute towards these dimensions and each group presented it to their peers. This allowed students to share their thoughts and experience, as well as learn from each other.
The workshop consisted of a full day presentation with focus on decision making process and subsequently the various dimensions. The students participated eagerly and asked several questions to better understand the subject matter. Question revolved around ways to be inspired, how to simplify things yet think outside the box, how to build solution-oriented thinking. The first half of the day comprised of some brainstorming activities while the second half was more reflective towards the dimension. Before the end of the session the participants were divided into groups to consult on various actions they could do to contribute towards these dimensions and each group presented it to their peers. This allowed students to share their thoughts and experience, as well as learn from each other.
Silverlining Formation Workshop
Outcome and Feedback from participants
Overall, participants expressed that the workshop was inspiring, helpful and surpassed their expectations. They felt comfortable during the workshop, enjoyed the presentation and felt enlightened on the dimensions of life. The above shows that students had a general idea of what to expect in terms of self-improvement. However, there was still an element of surprise with respect to what to expect from the workshop, as evidenced by what they learnt from the session, as follows:
- Balance in all aspects of life
- Decision making is important and complex
- Be more open minded to new possibilities
- Become empowered to make life decisions
- Improved understanding of life
- Understanding the power of the mind and improve ways of thinking
- Think outside the box
- To not pressure myself too much
- How to go handle difficult situations
- Trust my instincts
- Approach to achieving goals and expectations
- Have more hope in what I want to do and the steps to go about
- Become a better version of myself
- The mind is greater than we think and things have different meaning from various perspective
- All decision and actions have reactions
- Have a broader knowledge on how to make a proper decision.
- Have a better view about the world I live in
- Overcoming challenges and how to see situations in a new dimension
- Opened my mind on where my life is at right now. The 7 dimensions and how decision making can sensitize my life
- Learnt more about how to be more creative and different stage in life and what each stage offers
Pledges from Participants
Given that participants are expected to reflect upon the dimensions of life after the workshops, the following constitutes various pledges undertaken by the them.
- Explore particular dimensions
- Give myself more time
- Pay more attention and place more importance on decision making
- Be careful when taking risks
- Work hard for a better future
- Make difficult decisions and helping other people
- Socialize and help my neighbours
- More positive thinking and use information available as a guide
- Sharpening my silver linings
- Work more on myself
- Do not litter in the environment
- Be nicer and don’t take things personally
- Be happy
- Work on my emotional dimension
- Protect the environment
- Use all 8 dimensions and make a better someone out of it
- Never forget what I've learnt
- Being stable in all aspects of my life
- Achieve my dreams
- Share the information learnt from the sessions
- Concentrate more on my wellbeing
- How to keep being yourself, ignore critics
- Talking to more people
- Using my time more efficiently and balanced
- To be a better individual
- Work on my spiritual dimension
- Work on myself and put my dreams in action
- To make better decisions and try to improve the dimensions of my life
“Thank you for this very mind-opening workshop. It was a major help and I owe it to you guys for making us the good & strong people we will be in the future” – Z. Moncherry
Sponsors / Enablers
UN Youth Seychelles extends its appreciation to Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) Seychelles for supporting and contributing to the Silver Lining Project 2017.