Learning to Live Together: The Change Starts with Us!
Since 2008, Learning to Live Together has helped several teachers, educators and youth leaders in nurturing ethical values and spirituality in children. The program provides tools to empower children to develop a stronger sense of ethical awareness, global citizenship and respect for people of other cultures.
Since its inception, 5,049 facilitators have been trained, reaching more than 447,008 children across 45 countries. Additionally, Arigatou International – Geneva has equipped 50 trainers who conduct training workshops for adults to become facilitators of the program.
Each year, the Learning to Live Together program reaches diverse regions worldwide, thanks to the unwavering dedication of our facilitators in the field. In the period under review, the program reached 2,217 children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Peru and Romania. Moreover, facilitators in Comoros, El Salvador, Macedonia, South Africa, Tanzania and Turkey, integrate Arigatou’s Ethics Education Approach into their activities with children.
Check out some of their stories!
Insights from a classroom in Romania
Elena-Diana Oprea lives in Târgoviște, Romania, a small but charming city where she teaches Romanian language and literature to high school students. Her journey with the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) program began in 2013 when she attended an international workshop led by Laura Molnar, LTLT Trainer. Since then, Elena has seamlessly integrated the LTLT program into her teaching, incorporating it into counseling and guidance classes as well as the school’s optional courses.
“Why did I do this? Because for me, LTLT is not a simple program; it is a wonderful experience that made me realize how important it is to be more attentive to the needs of those around you, to empathize more, to emphasize spirituality and its importance in our existence and those around us! And I want to offer my students these learning experiences as well,” Elena explained.
Elena is currently the head teacher of a 9th-grade class at Voievodul Mircea High School, where she teaches 26 students aged 15-16. Most of her students come from modest economic backgrounds and face challenging situations. Many lack parental involvement in their education, and others come from the countryside, traveling daily by public transport from their hometown to the city.
Elena runs one-hour sessions of the Learning to Live Together program every two weeks, promoting significant personal growth and emotional development among her students. With the program, she aims to foster a team spirit within the class, encourage them to accept themselves as they are and learn to communicate and collaborate. The sessions focus on topics such as self-knowledge, mutual understanding, group cohesion, and self in relation to others.
“These activities made me know myself better and discover my abilities!” shared a student. “We learned how to control our emotions and how to be kinder to ourselves and others,” added another.
Elena believes that the consistent and committed application of LTLT can nurture ethical reflections, shape characters and help children reach their potential. The program’s interactive and thought-provoking activities promote authentic learning experiences that have lasting effects on students.
Elena-Diana Oprea’s dedication to the Learning to Live Together program exemplifies the transformative power of education in fostering empathy, understanding and respect. Her work is a shining example of how including the LTLT program in formal education settings can create a nurturing environment where students thrive.
Learning to Live Together in the Dominican Republic
Since 2017, José Miguel de Jesús has been making a significant impact on the lives of children through the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) program in the Dominican Republic. Living with his family in the rural area of Montecristi, José Miguel balances his daily work running his furniture workshop with his passion for education, dedicating his free time to implementing the LTLT program in local schools.
José Miguel’s journey with the LTLT program began in June 2017, when he attended a training session organized by Arigatou International and the Vice Presidency of the Dominican Republic. At the time, he was working with Progresando con Solidaridad, a government social program that collaborated directly with schools. Inspired by the training, José Miguel introduced Arigatou International’s Ethics Education Approach to the summer camps for children. Over the years, these summer camps benefited more than 2,000 students.
Nowadays, no longer working under the government umbrella, José Miguel continues his efforts on a voluntary basis. “We guide children to learn to discover their rights and defend their spaces,” he explained. “What motivates me is mainly the inequality. How can we live on the same planet but in such different ways, where the rich are very rich, and the poor are very poor? I am motivated to use LTLT to help children have a better quality of life.”
In the past year, José Miguel reached 72 children from the schools in Montecristo through a summer camp that he carries out every year. His impact is profound, as he helps children reflect on themselves and their identities. In his workshops with children, he emphasizes important life skills such as living healthily, detecting danger and becoming a global citizen.
José Miguel’s story is a powerful reminder that even with limited resources, one can make a significant difference. By working with what he has, José Miguel has managed to a create positive change in his community. “My passion is working towards a better society. We need to be more loving. I believe the key is to have love for others,” he said.
Looking ahead, José Miguel’s wish is to gain more support to implement the LTLT program systematically. His dedication and selfless efforts demonstrate that with commitment and compassion, big changes can indeed happen.
Shanti Ashram: Transforming Lives Through Learning to Live Together
The organization has been a vital partner in implementing our Learning to Live Together (LTLT) program. The journey began in 2006 when Shanti Ashram hosted the South Asia workshop, and it has since flourished into a nationwide initiative promoting ethics education for children and youth.
The LTLT program and its educational framework soon became a cornerstone of Shanti Ashram’s activities, leading to impactful transformations, such as the story of Arun, a boy who impacted the lives of thousands by initiating a food bank at the age of 14.
Initially, the focus was on children aged 12-18, but the program quickly expanded to include parents, strengthening family bonds. This expansion continued with the launch of the Solution Exchange Lab in 2014, which integrated practical LTLT activities into community projects. Over the past two years, the focus has shifted to nurturing spirituality in early childhood.
This year, workshops based on LTLT have reached 1,109 children and youth participating in Shanti Ashram’s programs. Vijay Gopal, Head of the Youth Leadership Programme and Trainer of LTLT, emphasized that the program’s conceptual framework aligns seamlessly with Shanti Ashram’s child-centered initiatives. The program’s values-based education approach, rich with child-friendly activities, ensures flexibility and active participation in every workshop or session. “Transforming lives through values-based education, LTLT creates a ripple effect of positive change, empowering individuals to become the best version of themselves,” he stated.
As Shanti Ashram continues its mission to empower children and their communities, LTLT has become an essential part of its programs, fostering meaningful learning experiences that empower children and promote sustainable development. This story of success demonstrates how the LTLT can be used and adapted to different programs, and the impact it can have when ethics education is mainstreamed throughout the organization.
