Interview with SoulKids® Mentor - Simon

Hi everyone! My name is Simon (although I have been known as sausage and snail on the SoulKids® Programs!). Originally from the UK, I moved to Singapore with my wife and two sons in July 2014 after 11 years living and working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I love to travel and enjoy outdoor activities. 

In 2014, I completed a charity 7-day, 250km trek across the arctic circle with a team of Husky Dogs...awesome fun and one of the best experiences of my life. 

My SoulKids® journey started in November 2014 after attending a SoulKids® Mentor Training talk with Vikas. I immediately knew that the SK program fitted in with my values, contained inspirational life changing stories for young minds and.....sounded like lots of fun! Sign me up!

I was not disappointed! The SK Mentor training program was amazing...a real mix of activities, stories and games all focused on helping children cultivate a confident, positive, happy and open mind. As part of the training, the other Mentors and I got to be involved in a full weekend program where we all told stories, led activities and most importantly got to see how the children grew in confidence over the weekend. A special moment for me was sharing the experience with my son, who really enjoyed the whole SK experience and still loves reminding me of the lessons!

Since graduating as a Mentor, I have been involved in delivering both the full SK weekend and SoulKids® Quickstart Programs. It is so rewarding to observe how the children grow in confidence as they listen to the stories, take part in the activities and are able to share the lessons they have learnt. Very wise kids indeed!

SoulKids® is a transformational program and I am certainly looking forward to more stories, games and confident kids! 

Hope to see you soon for some SK fun!

- Simon

www soulkids.org

SoulKids awarded Best in Life Skills by Parents World

The SoulKids Journey with Sally & Vikas...

Lessons from a Peacock ...

Sally had a wonderful experience recently in Singapore. She was staying at The Capella hotel in Singapore and decided to take a walk in the rain. All the other guests were indoors and she felt excited and brave and wanted to walk in the rain and look at the gardens.

Look who she spotted...

SoulKids teaches Essential Life-Skills to Children

What a beautiful bird the peacock is..
Just look at the shape of the bird and its amazing colours.

SoulKids teaches Essential Life-Skills to Children

Sally said it reminded her of 'The Dancing Peacock' story in The SoulKids Book of Self-Confidence - Book 2. Peacocks dance in the rain - we can all learn something from this. 

Storms will come in life - things will not go the way you want them to. However do not run and hide, be like the peacock, simply give it your best and go out and dance in the rain.

Show your best - your true colours and simply dance

We like the outfit Sally is wearing - it is really the same colours as the Peacock ... Amazing ... The Universe was telling Sally that she is also like the peacock we think ;)

Fabulous Feedback

October has been a super busy time for SoulKids.
Lots of lovely children have attended and we decided to catch up with some of their feedback...

SoulKids teaches Essential Life-Skills to Children

• SoulKids is awesome
• I feel excited, great and confident
• It's fun and cool - I learnt to treat others the way I want to be treated
• It's the best place to learn stories!
• Really fun activities I recommend it to all children 
• I feel awesome and creative
• Feed your positive voice always
• It's fun and excellent
• I think SoulKids is the best place I have ever been to - It's awesome beyond words!

SoulKids teaches Essential Life-Skills to Children

When is the next program?

DATE:    Saturday, 7 November, 2015
TIME:     2 pm - 5 pm (with Zoe and Siok)
VENUE: SoulCentre/SoulKids Academy
               91 Bencoolen Street
               #12-04Sunshine Plaza
               Singapore 189652

For children from 6 - 10 years of age.

Only 99 SGD 

What exactly are Life-Skills?

As we go through school and college education, we are taught skills which help us "make a living."

English, Maths, Computing, Accounting, Law, Medicine ….

SoulKids teaches Essential Life-Skills to Children

Yet who actually teaches us "how to live a life?"

Who teaches us simple skills like :

• How to make friends with others 
• How to nurture lasting relationships
• How to work with others not like you
• How to speak with confidence and express our opinion 
• How to have the courage to speak our view 
• How to deal with negative situations (bullying, divorce, death) 
• How to deal with negative emotions (jealousy, anger, worry) 
• How to get up when life knocks us down 
• How to see that our inner thoughts can affect our actions
• How to focus on the positives in life and not get carried away with the negatives

SoulKids teaches Essential Life-Skills to Children

SoulKids teaches essential life-skills of happiness and success to children from 6 years upwards.

SoulKids is an award winning brand - voted 'Best Life-Skills Program' recently by Harpers Bazaar Magazine. Children learn through fun, games and stories. Children love it and they really get the lessons. The lessons stay with them for life.

We urge you to send your child to SoulKids, if you have not done so already.
The next program is on:

DATE:    Saturday, 7 November, 2015
TIME:     2 pm - 5 pm (with Zoe and Siok)
VENUE: SoulCentre/SoulKids Academy
               91 Bencoolen Street
               #12-04Sunshine Plaza
               Singapore 189652

For children from 6 - 10 years of age.

SoulKids® Mentors - Beautiful Inside and Out...

We managed to sneak in a short interview with the beautiful SoulKids® Mentors while they were teaching life-skills to 13 beautiful children.

Left to Right: SoulKids® Mentors - Siok, Zoe, Kheam and Amanda

Zoe

The SoulKids® program is fun and teaches the children important life-skills that will help them in all sorts of situations, through teamwork activities. They learn how to be a good friend, to never give up and believe in themselves, among other things. Just the fact that they leave being positive and learn one or more lessons, in itself, is a fulfilling experience.

Amanda

Being a SoulKids® Mentor is an amazing and thought provoking experience. The ability to invoke story-telling techniques into learning about various aspects of self-confidence is inspiring. They learn to be passionate and creative. It also teaches children to think differently – not like anyone else. It’s wonderful to see the transformation from who they are when they enter to who they become when they leave.

Siok

Being positive is a key lesson taught at SoulKids®, as is seeing the good in yourself, focusing on your actions, being a team leader and a team follower at various times and growing your self-esteem through various engaging activities. It gives children the tools to create, a bigger, better and brighter life for themselves as well as those around them.

Kheam

The SoulKids® program gives me a chance to teach essential life-skills through story and play, to a group of wonderful, children. The experience is at times full of light bulb moments!  It teaches you to expect the unexpected and that each child is special and unique.

What lessons do children learn from SoulKids®?

They learn:

Teamwork

To be creative

To think out of the box

To be caring

To be loving and warm

To be positive

To be confident and overcome their fears

That each child is different and unique

To deal with the unexpected

How to be patient

Not to fear new things

It’s a fun and engaging workshop and it is wonderful to see the transformation in only one hour!!

Interview with SoulKids® Mentor - Jackie Ashby

Sally has been out and about interviewing the newly graduated SoulKids® Mentors. She met up with Jackie Ashby, who last year, relocated from Anchorage (Alaska) to Singapore.

Q: So Jackie what bought you to SoulKids®?

Jackie: I was seeking the knowledge of transformation for myself and I also had the curiosity of learning new ways of working with children. 

Q: So how did you hear about SoulKids®?

J: From Santa Fe Relocation Company. I received an invite from Santa Fe to attend a seminar at SoulCentre®.

Q: What was your experiences of the SoulKids® Mentor training and the SoulKids® Weekend Program?

J:  It was amazing and thought provoking. 

• The ability to gain self-awareness about one's authentic self was astonishing. 
• The ability to invoke story-telling techniques into learning about various aspects of self-confidence was also inspiring.

Q: How has SoulKids® changed you as an individual?

J: I am more open-minded, I engage in self-reflection and am learning to apply an attitude of gratitude into my daily life. 

Q: What was your favorite lesson from SoulKids®?

J: My favorite lesson was Vikas’s "Human Trinity Concept". How our mindset, attitude and behavior are all connected and how this affects one's view of everyday life.

Also I love the Sunflower and Rose story. Do not compare yourself to others and what they have or may not have; rather focus on what your assets are and improve them. By doing this imagine how great we all could be, nothing would be impossible!!

Q: What are your visions and dreams going forward?

J: My vision moving forward is to always keep my eyes open and my brain fed with lots of nutrients that provides positive energy. Keeping an attitude of gratitude will take me far. 

Q: Wow that sounds amazing Jackie – a lovely Vision for sure. Anything else you want to share with our readers?

J: I just want to share that experiencing my first SoulKids® Mentor Training was unforgettable and rejuvenating  

Sally: Thanks Jackie – we really look forward to working more with you and taking SoulKids® global in the months to come. 

SoulKids® Rockstar - Ella

Sally our roving reporter has been out and about doing her interviews again. She met up with ELLA and had a wonderful discussion.

Q (Sally): Ella how old are you?

Ella: I am 8 years old

Q: You are fairly new to SoulKids®, when did you attend?

E: About 2 weeks ago

Q: What did you like about SoulKids®?

E: I liked the stories because they taught me new things. I also like the great teachers.

Wow thanks Ella – the teachers will be happy to hear that!

Q: What was your favourite story?

E: I liked the Bruce Lee story because it taught us never to give up and to always say YES to life.

Also once you start something, be determined and finish it.

Wow – great lesson Ella!

Q: Anything else you learnt?

E: I learnt to stop looking at others and what they have got, and to start looking at yourself and what you have. Do not be jealous of others- be happy with who you are and what you have got.

Amazing learning Ella – thanks for sharing.

Q: What would you like to see in the world?

E: I would like there to be no wars and have peace.

I would also like to see flying cars.

Q: And what about your dream? What do you want to be when you grow up?

E: I want to be a famous gymnastic teacher.

Wow Ella – that is exciting – what qualities do you have to achieve this?

E: I am gifted in being strong and a risk-taker.

I get lots of support and I practice a lot.

I also am happy when I help others.

Q: Anything else you learnt at SoulKids® you want to share?

E: Do not be afraid to put your hand up and tell what you know, even if it’s wrong.

Make friends and be kind and happy to others.

Do not feel sad when someone says something bad to you because you are special.

Be STRONG and have CONFIDENCE to always be YOU.

Q: Wow Ella- you are amazing and I think you will be an awesome teacher when you get older.

E: Can I tell one final story?

I had auditions a couple of days ago and they told us our roles. I did not get a main role and I was really sad, but then I thought life is full of opportunities and just because I did not get a main role that does not mean I should stop loving acting and and stop doing it. Just because one audition did not work out – it should not stop you from loving what you do.

Thanks Ella- great advice for us all.

We really look forward to having you back in SoulKids® soon.

SoulKids® Creative Mindset - 27th September 2015

What is the main lesson that you learnt?

• To be creative and to think outside the box
• It taught me to be open minded
• It taught me to be passionate and creative in life
• It taught me to be positive
• It taught me to think differently – not like anyone else
• It taught me never to give up
• It taught me that there is more in me than I think
• Always to try new things
• To be confident
• Always to be happy
• To believe in myself and to be creative
• I learnt that when you work together more can be done
• I learnt to believe in myself

What words would you use to describe SoulKids®?

• Fun and caring
• Creative
• A great self boost
• Interactive
• Awesome
• Amazing
• Mind Blowing
• The Happy Land
• This girl is on Fire!
• Positive
• Confident
• Helpful
• Kind and so nice
• Creative
• Open Minded
• GRATEFUL to be on SoulKids®
• It’s the best
• Great and the best
• Kind – exciting – cool – so worth it
• Caring and fun ..I am so happy
• Super great and amazing
• Makes me excited
• Life lessons that are awesome – great and cool
• Incredibly magnificent

What would you tell your friends about SoulKids®?

• It can change your life and it is a great experience. It teaches you to be unique and strong and to believe in yourself. SoulKids® is a fun way to learn secrets in life. You better go !
• It’s awesome. My second FAMILY.
• You should go to SoulKids® because it can change your life
• It’s FUN… FUN… FUN…
• You should go to the best place in the world - SOULKIDS® !
• SoulKids® is EXTRA ORDINARY
• It’s so FUN – you must go at least once
• It is awesome
• It’s AMAZING
• You should definitely go to SoulKids® because its amazing
• Its really good fun and you learn a lot of things for life 

Interview with SoulKids Mentor - Amanda

Q: What brought you to SoulKids®?
Amanda: About 7 years ago I saw an advert in a magazine and was very interested to become a mentor. My daughter at the time was too young for me to take time out to do the course. Finally this year she turned ten and I felt able to pursue the SoulKids® Mentor course and went ahead.

Q: How did you hear about SoulKids® weekend program?
A: It was along time ago but if I remember correctly it was through an advert in the Finder or Expat Living.

Q: What are the experiences of the Mentor Training® and the SoulKids® weekend program?
A: All positive and professional. A chance to meet with a group of wonderful individuals. The experience was at times full of light bulb moments! The SoulKids® weekend program was fun and taught the children such important life skills that will help them in all sorts of situations. Just the fact that they left being positive and learnt one or more lessons was A+++.

Q: How has SoulKids® changed you as an individual? 
A: I am now able to look at nature as a teacher and use the teachings in my everyday life to help me grow. I am also able to help my family become more positive and to become the best that they can be.

Q: What was your best 'favourite lesson' from SoulKids®?
A: I really think that the lesson which I think about a lot is the donkey story. There are so many people that give up too easily in life and the donkey showed that in life that it is so important to shake it of and keep going!!!! Of course all the stories are just wonderful, such a hard task to chose one.

Q: What are your visions and dreams going forward?
A: To touch as many children or adults as I can. To help with SoulKids® going forward and be the happiest I can. To make sure I always show my beautiful daughter  how to be the best person in life she can possibly be, by me being the best ever mentor to her I can be!

Q: Anything else you want to share with our readers?
A: Please either do a mentor course or send your children on a SoulKids® weekend.
What do you have to lose? Nothing! What do you have to gain? An experience that everybody should go through. You learn essential life skills through stories and play, so simple yet so powerful!

SoulKids® weekend a huge success...

31 children and 9 graduating Mentors attended the SoulKids® weekend at the Hollandse Club this month. It was truly a fun and memorable event. Here are a few of the children's comments. 

What do you think of SoulKids® ?

• SoulKids® is awesome 
• It is fun 
• It is cool
• It is very fun and we get to learn new things 
• I like the stories !
• Its fun and joyful 
• Its extra ordinary 
• It teaches us a lot of stuff - its fun and the teachers are amazing !
• The awesomest experience ever !!
• Awesome and fun
• I could understand everything and I had a good time 
• I like how the teachers teach us 
• I had fun and learnt loads
• It is amazing
• Stories are good 
• I love SoulKids® so much !
• I had so much fun 
• Thank you for teaching us - I want to come back - will miss you 
• It is Super 
• Cool - awesome - fun - nice - teachers are nice 
• Thank you for treating me nicely and fairly- I appreciate it - SoulKids® is very fun - I will come back next weekend !!!
• It was awesome and they teach lessons about life
• It is real fun and it is so cool and you get to meet new people 
• It was excellent and FUN 

What are some of the lessons they learnt ?

• How to face my fears
• Do not look at others and what they have got- look at yourself and what you have
• I learnt to TRUST!!
• Face your fear - move forward and it becomes smaller
• Be confident and be positive
• I learnt about my dreams
• I learnt that we are special
• Always say yes to life
• Face your fears
• Be patient... Pursue your passion
• Never give up - be confident and stay positive!
• Do not not listen to negative words or let them affect you
• Focus on your goals and be consistent
• Now I have entered SoulKids® - if someone tells me negative words I will not listen - they will not pull me down
• I learnt to work as a team
• I learnt that in leadership, trust and confidence are important
• I learnt team work - never to give up - trust others and patience
• I learnt to be happy 

Creative Mindset

Looking for a fun weekend for your child.

One where they have fun, learn and be inspired?

Creative MindSet module for SoulKids®

Just some of the fun things children learn:

• New, inspiring and fun stories
• How to think creatively
• Not to limit yourself
• How to be open minded
• Never to give up at the first hurdle
• How to create a vision
• How your thoughts create beliefs
• Have the courage to be original

What children say about SoulKids® Creative Mindset

• The stories of SoulKids® have changed my life
• It's simply awesome
• It is out of this world
• I love everything about SoulKids®
• It encourages me to be brave
• I learnt many life secrets
• A great way to learn
• Awesome +++++++
• Enlightening and beautiful

Zoe is conducting the next module at SoulCentre® Academy on:

Date: 26/27 September

Time: (10 am – 4pm)

Spaces are limited to 15 children – so please do BOOK EARLY.

For more details, contact :

Sally Forrest

BSc. MRPharmS, MBA

Managing Director

www.soulkids.org

SoulKids® at the Hollandse Club

Beauty is all around you ...

Hey SoulKids, 

I am writing this on a wet and windy day, and I am full of happiness.

Why do you think that is?

It is because I can see beauty all around me - even in the rain!

I am grateful for the simple things in life and for what I have received.

We should always look for the good in life and to see the beautiful things.

You can do this anywhere and at any time if only you stop for a moment and look.

So take a moment now to look around you and spot at least 3 things that make you feel great about life.

Here are a few suggestions:

• You are able to see as you have 2 healthy eyes – that will make you feel great
• You have nice clothes to wear and have good food to eat
• Your mummy and daddy take good care of you and provide a safe home for you
• You are able to go to school and learn exciting things
• Nature is found everywhere – look and see what trees / animals and birds you can see
• You have lovely friends who care for you and play with you
• Now continue:-)

Do this everyday and especially when you are feeling a bit low or grumpy – as soon you realise that you have so much to look forward to in life!!

We teach this at SoulCentre® and its called "Counting your blessings of life".

One of my biggest blessings in life is being able to teach SoulKids® and spend time with some amazing SoulKids® children.

You rock!! And we love you and count you as a blessing:-).

My Soul Journey

8 TIPS ON HOW TO BE AN INSPIRATION TO YOUR CHILD

Lessons From a Swan

It’s that wonderful time of year when many of us are blessed to take a break and go on holiday.

Vikas & Sally our SoulKids founders spent time in the Lake District in the UK and have just returned. They have shared many wonderful stories of all the animals and birds they met and some of the lessons that we can all learn from observing nature.

One beautiful encounter was with a swan on one of the lakes – look at the photo – how beautiful he is.

So what can we learn from the Swan as we go about our daily life?
Lets consider these points and apply them to our lives just for one day.
Become like the Swan and see how life changes.
If you like the changes then apply them each and every day ;)

1. The Swan is elegant and graceful on the surface, even though he is really very busy paddling his feet under the water.
2. The Swan is peaceful.
3. The Swan is silent and calm and only makes a noise when really needed.
4. The Swan gives out an energy of tranquility.
5. The Swan is CONFIDENT – just like all those of you who have been on SoulKids.
6. The Swan watches and learns from everything around him.
7. Every person who comes into contact with the Swan truly admires him.

So reflect on the qualities of the Swan and apply them into your life.

Singapore is 50 on 9th August ! Happy Happy Happy Birthday!

Hey SoulKids – what an exciting time to be living in Singapore
How are you planning to celebrate the 50th Birthday?

The first suggestion we have is to give GRATITUDE to Singapore – it’s truly an amazing place to live in.

50 years ago Singapore was very different to today and it’s all down to the hard work and dedication of the founders of Singapore.

So here is a challenge to you all – do something nice to 50 random elderly Singaporeans (ideally those aged 65 and over). It’s a nice surprise and a way of saying thank-you and that we all appreciate all the work they did to make Singapore great. Talk it over with mum and dad and get the whole family involved.

Do you think you can do this? We think it will be fun.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Give them a smile and say "thank you for making Singapore great"
• Shake their hand or ask if you can give them a free HUG ;) Just like the ones you get on SoulKids®.
• Write 50 creative thank you notes and give them out.
• Offer to help them in some way – carry their shopping /clean their windows/ walk the dog etc.
• If you have a full piggy bank – maybe you want to buy a local coffee/tea to some of the elders you meet. Or maybe give a flower or a chocolate to make them smile.
• Tell your friends about this idea and get them to do the same! Your friends should also come on SoulKids® for their free hugs from Sally & Vikas ;)
• Write to us and tell us what you did – take photos and feature on our upcoming blogs.

Do let us know if you are going to do this – once you shout out to the Universe that you intend to do it – then amazing things happen – so get ready!

Remember the Grand Canyon Story – what you give out comes back to you …so make it AWESOME!!!

Sally, Vikas and the whole of SoulCentre® and SoulKids® team are also going to do this – so lets together make everyone happy!