A free virtual conference and online programmes are two of the new IHEART solutions that enable a message of innate health and resilience to be shared during lockdown. In New Zealand, 11 newly certified IHEART facilitators are actively promoting the virtual conference ‘Finding Emotional Freedom in Lockdown’, starting at 10am UK time on Wednesday 1 April, via a new Facebook page. Those who register for the conference will receive recordings of the speakers, meaning this content can reach a global audience across time zones.
Before the New Zealand lockdown began, schools had booked their students into the 10-week IHEART wellbeing and resilience programme. Demand was a result of the recent training course hosted in Wellington which saw 14 new facilitators gain their certification in the highly-regarded programme for 10-18 year olds.
Christine Keno was one of the course graduates and, until recently, put her training into practice with Year 11 students at Heretaunga College in Upper Hutt. Christine says, “I love sharing these amazing IHEART lessons with the students. My favourite aspects of the curriculum are all the cool activities that bring this understanding to life. With IHEART we talk a lot about the power of thought and use everyday materials like Playdoh, balloons, Jenga blocks and flavoured teabags to demonstrate what that means. I haven’t met a teenager who doesn’t love playing with Playdoh – it’s a fun and light curriculum that facilitates a deep understanding of our inbuilt psychological intelligence. I am so excited and honoured to work with this material, and with young minds.”
IHEART can be delivered as an online programme to small groups of students, family groups and parent and child groups. In order to be available to all communities, a social media page has been created on Facebook to receive enquiries. IHEART – Innate Health Education and Resilience Training – is a UK non-profit organisation dedicated to helping all people realise their potential through learning about the innate resilience and mental health that all human beings possess.
Two trainers travelled from London to Wellington in February 2020 to deliver an intensive week of training and prepare facilitators to deliver the 10-week curriculum with confidence and skill.
Zia Brooks, Head of Education for IHEART, had this to say: “We were absolutely blown away by the welcome and the hospitality shown by the venue Te Auaha in Wellington and all the course participants. This is a very special group of facilitators. Having personally trained many of the 300 IHEART facilitators, I can honestly say that few groups have achieved such a level of depth and insight with the curriculum. The young people they go on to teach are very lucky indeed. They will all be fantastic facilitators and we are delighted to have them join the IHEART community and help us spread a life-affirming message about innate wellbeing and resilience in all humans.”
Eleven of the trained facilitators are based in the Wellington and Waikato regions, with three based in Australia. The curriculum can be used in a range of settings with young people aged 10-18. It is well-suited to the classroom environment, but also works well with groups of parents and their children, in after-school settings, online and where young people follow a special interest such as in sports clubs or academic tuition.
ENDS