Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Refresher in Kakamega

The Virtues Refresher planned for April 30 has been postponed to May 14. It will take place at Kakamega Rehabilitation School at 9 a.m.

The Virtue to be studied is Confidence (led by MF Richard) and the strategy Companioning, led by Fac. Lydia.

A VCK meeting will follow

Calling all Virtues Facilitators: Virtues Project Global Mentorship is slated for February 23-26 2017 in Kakamega, Kenya. Bookmark this site which will soon be live for updated and on-going information: https://sites.google.com/site/virtuesforkenya

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Coming events

Thursday Mar 10 student training at MMUST

Friday Mar 11: introduction to the Virtues Project for educators (1 pm ACK diocese Kakamega)

Saturday Mar 12 student training at MMUST

Saturday Mar 19 Virtues refresher for trained Virtues practitioners, at Ebusiratsi special school, Emuhaya.

VCK meeting following refresher

Friday, January 22, 2016

Refresher in Bukura

Please confirm your attendance in Bukura by Wed 27 for copies and refreshments. Please inform colleagues who might miss this.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Coming events in Kenya

The next Virtues Refresher will be held at Kilimo Primary School in Bukura, next to Bukura Educational complex on Jan 30.

Virtue topic: Respect. Strategy: Setting Clear Boundaries (facilitated by Esther Bokelo)

It is hoped all trained Virtues practitioners in the area will attend from 8 am.

Those in Kakamega who wish to attend, please communicate with Richard Andabwa or Patricia. Cars will leave Kakamega Sports Club at 8 am. With limited seating. As usual we shall request a donation of 100-200/- for copies and refreshments.

Please be sure also to keep your membership up to date.

Following the refresher there will be an important meeting of VCK to cover:

- Minutes of last meeting

- Policies on remuneration set by VCK Executive

- Facilitator involvement with MMUST training

- Requirements for facilitator training (see below)

- Requirements for maintaining facilitator status

- Report on Project planning for VPIA

Proposed schedule for MMUST training: (facilitators MF Richard andMF Patricia

Jan 28 Student leaders and chairmen of clubs and associations (max 60)

Feb 4 Top management and Nat Cohesion committee members (group 1 max 60)

Feb 6 Nursing students (group 1 max 60)

Feb 11 Education students (group 1 max 60)

Feb 13 Top management and Nat Cohesion committee members (group 2 max 60)

Feb 18 Nursing students (group 2 max 60)

Feb 20 Education students (group 2 max 60)

Feb 25 Senior management satellite campuses (max 60)

Accredited facilitators are requested to attend at least one, (preferably two or more) session to ‘sit in’ or co-facilitate. The two programmes used will be Community and Business and Professional. We are negotiating honoraria with MMUST and expect to be able to offer some compensation.

We expect to offer the Educator (2-day) program at a later date in schools. Please indicate your interest.

Facilitators who have not attended a session as indicated above in some capacity will not be assigned to future training sessions .

Those wishing to be trained as facilitators (probably in March) MUST attend at least two training sessions. There will not be compensation offered.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

A Virtues moment: Gratitude

Gratitude

"Thankfulness is being grateful for what you have. It is an attitude of gratitude for learning, loving, and being. It is appreciating the little things which happen around you and within you every day. It is having a sense of wonder about the beauty of this world. It is being aware of the gifts in your life."
-From The Virtues Project Educator's Guide by Linda Kavelin Popov.
On special occasions or before a meal we express our gratitude for the blessings in our lives, for our family and friends, but how do we make gratitude part of our everyday life? Gratitude is a practice, and just like anything worth doing, it takes practice. Gratitude is also an attitude. Studies have shown that people who cultivate gratitude may actually undo the effects of negative emotions such as anger and anxiety.
One of the best ways we can show gratitude is to share our gifts with others. We have seen an outpouring of generosity after the natural disasters around the world this past year. Gratitude was such a part of these efforts-the recipients, of course, were grateful for all of the help they received; the donors were reminded of their blessings and their ability to give and serve others. The rest of us are grateful to see others in action, expressing the love and service that we aren't always able to do directly. We see the effect that ordinary people can have on inspiring whole communities to action.
Questions for reflection:

What are the things in my life I am most grateful for?
How would I like to practice gratitude on an everyday basis?
How have negative emotions like anger and anxiety dissipated when I am practicing gratitude?
When have I had a sense of wonder about the beauty of this world?

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Enthusiasm

A Virtues Moment: ENTHUSIASM

"Enthusiasm is being filled with spirit. When we live with enthusiasm, we are excited about life and are open to the wonders each day holds. We do things wholeheartedly, with zeal and eagerness, holding nothing back. We allow the excitement of the moment to fill us… We live in the moment and appreciate what we have, finding joy in simple pleasures… Enthusiasm helps us to imagine what is possible. We follow our dreams with true joy."
-excerpted with permission from Virtues Reflection Cards by Linda Kavelin Popov. http://virtuestraining.com/24_products
There are so many things to be enthusiastic about:

The Virtues Project has a new website and you can do your very own Virtues Pick with a different virtue everyday!http://virtuesproject.com
Check it out!
Knowledge of the Virtues is spreading in Kenya as professional people join schools and communities in the practice of the 5 strategies

COMING SOON: NEW VIRTUES TRAINING FACEBOOK PAGE. Become a fan and join the discussion!
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

What are you enthusiastic about?
What will you do wholeheartedly this month?
How can you live in the moment instead of regretting the past or worrying about the future?
What dream would you like to follow with true joy?

Become a Virtues Facilitator

All those who have completed the basic training are encouraged to present to small groups as the opportunity arises or to assist a Facilitator. Facilitators require superior skills and undertake an additional 2-3 day training in order to be able to conduct full training workshops.

You should have been a practitioner of the Virtues for more than a year (preferably two) and have shown evidence of spreading information about the Virtues to others.

You are required to take the additional training and teach a session in cooperation with a Master Facilitator.

We are particularly looking for people who can present with authority and confidence to business groups, church organizations and government officials and university students. These people should be prepared to organize and conduct a full workshop, possibly alone or with a trainee facilitator. .

Virtues Connection

The Virtues Connection Kakamega (VCK) is a group of facilitators and potential facilitators. The group assigns facilitators to requested training sessions and manages fee payments as indicated.

Virtues Connection Kakamega promotes the virtues in schools, communities, churches and offices.

There is convincing evidence that the Virtues Project™ is the most effective and powerful tool for eliminating violence in families, communities and schools.

VCK offers the following programmes:

Business and professional (1 day)

Educators (2 days)

Community groups (1 day)

Scroll down for details about arranging a workshop

TO ARRANGE A VIRTUES PROJECT ™ WORKSHOP.

Organizers must specify if they wish to receive training for:-- Teachers (English seminar) (10 hours: 2 days)

- Community group (KiSwahili or English) (approximately six hours)

- Family group (KiSwahili) (five to six hours)

- Business and professional ( one day)

- Other (state preferred language)

Where appropriate facilitators receive a small honorarium. They offer their time and talents because of their belief in the effectiveness of the Virtues Project. This is their gift to the community. Materials are provided at low cost.

If the group is expected to make any contribution the facilitator/organizer will convey this before the seminar is finalized.The recipient group is expected to:

1. Designate a leader in the organization as contact person

2. Find a suitable venue with good lighting, ventilation, flexible seating arrangements and a black or white board. Power is required for showing slides or transparencies

3. Find suitable hotel accommodation for participants where indicated. Provide suitable private or hotel accommodation for the facilitator(s) for one night if needed.

4. Ensure that participants can provide their own transport

5. Ensure that participants understand they must arrive on time and attend all parts of the seminar.

6. Decide on a block of time of for the presentation you want. Check with VCK (see contacts below) that Facilitators are available on those dates.

7. Obtain sponsorship to cover expenses which might include:Refreshments and lunch per participant (if not previously negotiated)Facilitator’s travel and accommodation (if not previously agreed)

8. Request a leader in the organization to collect the certificates for distribution

9. Invite the participants to attend and provide names and contact numbers

10. Provide information to participants about follow up activities for those trained.

Criteria for gaining a certificate:To gain a certificate each participant needs to satisfy the following criteria:

o Attendance at 95% to 100% of the course

o Full participation in the activities of the course

o Completion of any homework activities.

For further information contact Master Facilitator Richard Andabwa (richardandabwa(at)yahoo.com) 0721883605 or Master Faciltator Tamara Soltani (tamarasoltani(at)gmail.com)0737331776

FROM: Patricia Crossley: Virtues International Representative for Africa. (patriciacrossley5(at)gmail.com)