Since 2019, the ISKCON Ministry of Education has been organizing an annual symposium named Viplavah to unite ISKCON educators and leaders worldwide, foster collaboration, and share invaluable insights to expand Srila Prabhupada’s vision for education.
The theme for the 2024 symposium, held virtually from December 18 to 22, was Children’s Education. The event highlighted remarkable contributions from educators across the globe, with presentations recorded and shared on the Ministry’s official YouTube channel and promoted via various social media platforms.
The event encapsulated Srila Prabhupada’s vision for children, as expressed in his letter to Satsvarupa on December 17, 1971:“If children are given practical guidance on the transcendental platform, above the bodily and mental conception of life, then they will develop into perfect citizens – moral, honest, hard-working, law-abiding, clean, faithful to home and country, like that. That is the unmatched success of our Krishna consciousness schooling system.”
In line with the theme, the symposium served as a powerful platform for worldwide educators speaking different languages, emphasizing a holistic approach to child development. This approach combined spiritual, moral, and academic growth with skills training, considering these aspects as part of a continuous process for the movement’s future.
Presentations covered diverse topics, such as creative curricula tailored for children’s education, children’s literature, the study of scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam and Sanskrit, the significance of devotional activities for children, educational levels for preschool through senior school, the importance of modern education, integrating Vedic wisdom with contemporary learning, and unlocking children’s spiritual potential using psychological approaches.
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