ARLENE - from Canada.

Arlene Wiggin from Canada- talks to the press in a recent interview!


1/What made you want to train to be a SoulKids Mentor?

I attended a talk by Vikas Malkani, the creator of SoulKids and was inspired by what I heard and could see the true passion and purpose behind this program. I was ready for a personal journey to enrich my life and I signed up immediately. I also felt that I would be a wonderful attribute to SoulKids with my genuine love and passion for children along with my previous teaching experience. Children are fascinating and rewarding to teach and a delight to learn from. Their pure innocence, willing to learn and thirst for knowledge enriches one’s life. As a mother of three teenagers I felt that the course would help me to become a better, more understanding and patient parent.


2/How did it affect the way you communicate with and listen to children?

I now talk and listen from my heart. I talk less and listen more. I have become a much better communicator with everyone in my life. Children learn by example so I make sure that I am the best that I can be. Lead by example and others will follow.

3/What is the most rewarding part of being a SoulKids Mentor?

The opportunity to be able to share what I have learnt from my SoulKids Training. This program has been transformational for me. I am truly passionate about sharing the teachings of SoulKids with children and adults too.

Anton - From Holland

Our team of Soulkids Mentors is very international !!
Here is an interview with ANTON BROERS


1 - What made you want to train to be a SoulKids Mentor?



My wife Cate took a meditation course with Vikas and after the second class she came home and said: “Anton, I have found the course for you! It is about life and it is with children.”

Cate knows me well - she knows I love children and she knows it is my prime objective to live a meaningful life - so I did not really need more information. After visiting the introductory talk by Vikas I immediately signed up.



The SoulKids mentor training transforms your life. The end result is great – the ability to teach children valuable life lessons that grow them into confident, happy and successful kids. But before you are a mentor, you will have to change yourself. A mentor walks the talk, i.e. lives as he/she teaches. The training reveals life’s most important lessons in a very easy, kids-friendly, fun way. So I signed up not only to become a kids mentor but also to grow myself and to learn about how you can live the life of your own dreams. And I have received all of that. The mentor training is true inspiration.



2 - How did it affect the way you communicate with and listen to children?



I have always been a very playful person, young at heart. Playing with children, including my two sons Max and Daan, is one of my biggest hobbies. If you visit the swimming pool at our club on Sunday afternoon, you will see what I mean. So I have always had that connection and that easy communication with children. The training has given me the insights and the tools to stimulate children and also to help them overcome what they perceive as problems. I now have the words, I know better ways to explain or express myself in an easy way to give useful guidance to children in whatever situation.



Let me give you an example. My son Max took the SoulKids class. He knows all the stories – only heard them once! – and he only needs reminding of the story title to remember the relevant lessons. One of the stories is about the Grand Canyon. And the key lesson of this story is: life gives you what you give life. So if you are nice to people, they will be nice to you but also if you are rude to others, others will be rude to you.

So Max comes home and he is complaining about a boy who is calling him all kinds of names lately. We listen to him but apparently he just needed to tell his story because soon after he starts to play with his brother Daan. Things get out of hand a little and Max starts scolding Daan. “Max”, I asked him “do you remember the story of the Grand Canyon?” And he confirms he does. “So do you understand why this other boy is being rude to you?” I continue. “Yes, dad. I know. I get back from life what I gave to Daan just now. I will watch my mouth from now on.” And guess what? Daan is (almost) free from being called names but the same goes for Max. The boy does no longer harass him.



3 - What is the most rewarding part of being a SoulKids Mentor?



The most rewarding part is the possibility to make a real difference in the lives of children. SoulKids transforms children and sets them up to live the life of their dreams, to live a happy life. And the great thing is that, as a mentor, you always see opportunities to inspire children (and adults). You can have an impact on other people’s lives every day, not only in the SoulKids class.



Secondly, becoming a mentor has changed my own life. I am much more focused now on my own life dreams and much more aware of what it takes to make them come true. And in my professional life I have become more effective and I have greater methods to inspire and stimulate my team.

SoulKids Mentors interviewed

Recently a leading magazine did some interviews with Mentors...
Here are some snippets from JENNY ONG ! Enjoy !

Mentor:

1 - What made you want to train to be a SoulKids Mentor?

Initially, I was intrigued with the SoulKids program because it sounded like fun! I figured that if I didnt qualify to do the program myself ( as I am too old and not a kid any more ) , the next best thing was to get into the program by being a mentor!

Later on, as I found out more about the mentor program through Vikas' presentation, I realised that it was something that all of us needed to understand and learn the wisdom, in order for us to lead a meaningful and successful life, inwardly and outwardly. We have always wanted a better world, what better way to do it than to be the change we want to see?


2 - How did it affect the way you communicate with and listen to children?

I was brought up in an environment where children are seen and not heard. As a adult, my interaction with children is minimal as I do no have children of my own, nor does my job require me to work with them. As i was going through the program, i discovered that real communications with children are very important, and it matters alot to children that we listen to them, and communicate with them on an equal platform. Now, I find myself gravitating towards children, whether they are my friends, my relatives' or even children I meet at the supermarket or the restaurants with their parents, and they too respond and engage me in conversations easily and actively. It's amazing what you can learn from children.


3 - What is the most rewarding part of being a SoulKids Mentor?


That I can still be whatever I want to be as a adult! I am now living a most wonderful experience, of being the most positive person I know, living a stable, joyful and successful life inwardly and outwardly. The gift of being able to share with children this wisdom and help them be aware of the infinite possibiilities of their potential, is very humbling and powerful at the same time. On top of this, my own relationships at home, with my friends and colleagues, have all transcended to one that is more loving, accepting and open.

Comments from Tatsuki- aged 9

Tatsuki is from Japan - and here are his comments from a recent magazine interview all about SoulKids and his experience.

1 - What was the most inspiring thing you learnt during the course?

I like the story of “Fear Giant” the most. It is a story of young soldier who fights a giant. I learnt that I can overcome my fear if I open my mind. Also, I learnt that my fear is gone when I move forward and face the fear.

2 - Which part of the course was the most fun?

I enjoyed the game of carrying adult persons together with other kids the most in the SoulKids course. It was the game of practicing the team work. My team was asked to carry the teacher (Vikas) who was very tall and heavy. I did not think that we could do it, but when we collaborated as one team, we could successfully carry him .

3 - Which part was the most challenging?

I remember that one of the games was the most challenging for me. It was the game which guides and leads a team member who wears an eye mask (so he is blind) and we can only do verbal communication. I played the role of leading the team member who cannot see. I talked and guided him to step up and down obstacles, go straight, turn right or left, jump across obstacles, and reach the goal. It was tough for me as I felt I was responsible for him, and I did not want to misguide him.

4 - Did you feel different after the course? If so, in what way?

Yes, I did. I learnt the power of team work. Even if it looks very challenging task, I now believe that it is possible to do it with help of the team member. I can trust my team member when I play sports like basketball.

5 - Why would you recommend this course to your friends?

It is because the SoulKids course is really fun. We can listen to interesting stories. We can have friendship with others – in fact, I had good friends of two boys. We can talk and play with Mentors.

International and Inspirational

I wanted to congratulate the latest SoulKids Mentors who started their training last weekend.

We have a fantastic team of motivated individuals who are all keen to first learn more about themselves and their own lives/ motivations/ desires/ loves /beliefs / conditionings / fears/ limitations ....
and then to move on ... grow ..... and ultimately to " walk the talk" by supporting SoulKids and children everywhere to be the best they can be!

We are a truly international group with participants from the following countries:
Singapore, England,Holland,India,Switzerland, France, Japan, Malaysia,Canada,Norway,and the Philippines!

We welcome everyone with love and gratitude into the team ...and already we are all leaning " WE are SPECIAL " just the way we are !

Thankyou for the FUN , ENERGY and PASSION shown during the training!

SoulKids are talented individuals!!

Look at this beautiful painting " Indian Beauty " by ARJUN - one of our SoulKids - aged 11.
He is so talented and we are all SO ..SO.. SO.. PROUD of him and his ability.
Arjun - you are SPECIAL and you ROCK !!!!


When asked where his inspiration came from this is what he wrote...

I draw my inspiration from the world I live in and the world that I observe. There are many inspiring things in daily life like the landscape, people, nature, flowers & animals. I am also observing how people look, think and interact with their environment.
For this painting, my inspiration came from the Indian-Himalayan countryside where cows graze happily and mountains stand tall, where frogs do wonderful acrobatics and children skip along. In this picture two women have come to the riverside to bring water home to their families. A flock of swans migrate from wintry lands in search of warmer places.
This painting reminds me that we human beings are but only one of the many species on this planet earth. And if we live harmony with nature then we have a spiritual experience and we live in balance and happiness.
Arjun Chatrath

Our Mentors are Special too !!

Meet Eng Heng and Sharon....2 wonderful Soulkids Mentors.( in the centre,pictured with founders- Vikas Malkani and Sally Forrest)

Their comments show that they receive so much from giving to the Soulkids !

Sometimes in life we just think about what can we GET from life...here are wonderful examples of people who focus on what they want to GIVE ...and then as a result get so much !!

In SoulKids, we believe you are never too old to grow and learn and that you can learn from everyone and anyone !
The children on SoulKids teach us many amazing things and we are so grateful to be a part of it !
If you want to be part of the SoulKids Mentor training programme contact us on soulcentresingapore@yahoo.com.sg or visit the website at www.soulcentre.org.


From Sharon.."SoulKids has been a great experience for me. I was able to teach the children life skills and to reach out to more children.
From teaching the children, I have learnt to be better myself in whatever I do. I feel joyful because the feedback and testimonials of the children and parents show me there is positive transformation."

From Eng Heng " Besides learning how to reach out to children, SoulKids has been an eye-opener for me in my personal growth.
With each training class, I have learned to know myself better and to grow to be a better person.
My experiences of seeing children transform and grow positively has truly touched my heart. The testimonials from them and their parents further bear evidence of the benefits they have gained."

Thanks to the wonderful SoulKids Mentors like Eng Heng and Sharon, for making a difference in the lives of so many children!