The above program was held on Tuesday, 17th October 2017 at the Main Hall of the college from 9.00 am to 11.15 am.
The participants consisted approximately 150 students of year 11, 12 and 13 and the respective teachers. The Principal of the college Mrs. D M S D Delpitiyahad familiarized herself with the ‘Sati Pasala’ booklet in advance and was convinced that it was an invaluable tool to deal with the existing problems faced by students. The coordinating teachers Mr. H.M.S.S.K Bandara and Mrs. K.G.I.D Kankanigedara followed the program with much interest.
The program commenced with the usual explanations and practice of mindful sitting & walking followed by a simple exercise on eating a toffee mindfully which was aninteresting experience for the students. The session concluded with the facilitators giving some useful tips on how to apply mindfulness to daily tasks and taking time to listen to the feedback given by the students.
It is interesting to note the students seemed far calmer compared to the students of most schools. Perhaps this is due to the scenic location of the school. The school is surrounded by beautiful hills giving a sense of peace and tranquility. Further, it must be noted that their feedback was very precisely and clearly expressed. Even their handwriting was of a very high standard. From this short session it was evident that 90% of the studentshad grasped the idea of “sati” correctly. They were determined to be mindful in their day to day lives and follow the instructions given by the facilitators to the best of their ability. The Principal is also planning to use the ‘Sati Pasala’ book to a select group of students commencing fromnext term.
Spending time with such a receptive group of children was a truly gratifying experience for the facilitators.
Feedback from students:
