Choose, Change & Become
Choose to lead from within and make choices rooted in values.
Change our attitude and approach - from ego to humility - in tasks and relationships.
Become an example of stability and resilience to inspire and sustain positive action.
What is the approach that will inspire and motivate action in a world of indifference? Choose, Change & Become is our international programme for developing youth leadership. The programme aims to support young leaders in developing their inner capacity to make values-based choices and decisions that lead to positive, constructive action for their societies and the world.
This is a collaborative experience, a ‘learning laboratory', involving personal reflection, creative expression and shared leadership in the creation of a sustainable learning environment. The capacity to learn is at the root of all development – individual, societal and global.
Programmes are organised at a national level and customised for each group and location.
CCB programmes around the world
South Africa
Choose, Change & Become, Dunning Retreat Centre, Merrivale
A collaborative effort of numerous concerned stakeholders, who share the same passion for encouraging youth development, this programme was arranged by Brahma Kumaris in conjunction with PMB Department of Health (Primary Health Care Division).
The young leaders were committed to making a positive change in their lives and actively seeking to bring positive change to their communities and societies as well.
The participants were led on a deep inward journey, in which they had the opportunity to:
- discover their unique strengths,
- develop self-respect,
- make choices which were in alignment with their innate wisdom,
- identify the changes necessary to make their choices a practical reality.
UK
Awakening Inner Power and Unmasking the Hero Within, Global Retreat Centre, Oxfordshire - Watch our video and visit our blogspot.
USA
Brave Heart - the Courage to Love Unconditionally, Peace Village, New York State,
The lion was the chosen symbol for the Brave Heart theme. Watch Video (explaining meaning).
During the retreat, it was exceptionally heart-warming to witness the participants' interest in meditation and soul awareness, and their many questions reflected their willingness to go deeper into other spiritual aspects.
Reflection
What do I choose to change in myself?
Become aware of the positive quality that would help bring this change. For the next 21 days focus on bringing this positive quality more into your life and log your experience in a journal each night. Consider any small positive change a success.
Choose, Change and Become
Watch as a group of young explorers embark on a journey of self- discovery.
Relax – Reconnect - Refresh – Recharge
We all need time away from our regular routines to go deeper inside and discover new aspects of ourselves - time to explore our inner world. Retreats are one way to take time out to relax the body, reconnect with ourselves and recharge our minds. It is an ideal opportunity to be part of a community that embraces deep thinking and enjoy life in ways that are not so easy in our everyday living. What we experience on these retreats for ourselves - personally and with the new friendships gained - helps sustain us when we are back in our hectic professional and active lives.
Retreats for young people
Australia
- Feeling Great
- Free to Be - the Art of Meditation
- My coolest experience
Brazil
- Harmony in the Mind and in Relationships
- Choose Success
Trinidad
The Silent Magicians - a Journey Within. A retreat focused on the power of silence and how it strengthens us, by establishing a clear line of communication between myself and the Divine.
Action
Create your own poster with the words:
"Happiness is a decision. Choose to be happy. It all begins with an inner smile and sharing that smile with others."
Draw it, paint it or design it on the computer. Make it bright and beautiful and display it somewhere where you will see it every day.
Time for Spiritual Empowerment
This “Disney” like cartoon awakens us to a whole new and beautiful world.
Spotlight Values
Spotlight Values project, designed by young people for young people, inspires exploration and deeper understanding of our inner values. We take a look at the intrinsic qualities that make us shine. By becoming more aware of our values and consciously practising them, personal change becomes possible and we begin to live differently. We want to help our peers plug into their innate greatness, so that together we can provide a current of love, hope and compassion for our world. This project was dedicated to the UN International Year of Youth 2012.
Spotlight Values World Report
Inner Discovery - I am a Jewel
The Four Values
Positive Action
Pick a quality from the Virtual Virtue Wheel
- Click on link to spin the wheel of virtues.
- What are my first thoughts about this virtue?
- What do I feel when I ponder on this virtue?
- How could I use this virtue, when I wake up and begin my day?
- How can I use it during the day in the way I act and interact with others?
Community
National values-based programmes
Costa Rica
Workshops: How to Discover Our Inner Greatness: Steps to achieving my potential, The Art of Being Happy, Being the Hero of One's Own Lif
Greece
‘Om Café' exploring topics such as Appreciating the Self, Respecting Others, True Love and Acceptance
Peru
Workshops: Exploring the Virtue of Tolerance & Sense of Purpose: The consciousness of having a high task in life
Singapore
Om Café Spotlight Values workshops: Peace & Love
USA
Madhavi Patale, Gal Zeidman, and Dylan Murarka represented Brahma Kumaris, at the United Nations International Day of Youth 2014, held at the UN Headquarters, New York. The theme of the day was Youth and Mental Health, under the slogan 'Mental Health Matters'.
Zimbabwe
Workshop: The Power Within
Quest To Be Your Best
Aims
Knowing the importance of awareness in our lives.
What do we mean by excellence?
Becoming the best we can be on the basis of self-respect.
More information available at http://questbeyourbest.org
Workshops
Ignite your Inner Flame - an inspiration for daily living
Accept the Past, Live in the Present and Create a New Future
Awakening the Art of Intuition - simple steps to discover the magic within.
The Profile of a Hero - how to create your reality
Feeling Great Wherever We Are
South Africa
Making a Difference
Brahma Kumaris in Cape Town teach meditation weekly as a therapeutic intervention, part of a three month skills and youth development programme run by the Chrysalis Academy, a youth development centre. The young people on the programme are from previously marginalised communities, unemployed and who have often been substance abusers. The programme is mainly supported by the Provincial Department of Social Development and other corporate sponsors and NGOs. The BK meditation has provided a tool to help the participants centre themselves, learn to relax and better manage their stress and anger.
Trinidad
During the UN Year of Youth 2012, BK Youth ran Spotlight Values workshops for young offenders at the Youth Training Centre. The workshops covered topics of Respect, Acceptance and Freedom, going through a process of ‘Explore, Express and Exchange'. The 200 young men who attended the first workshop on Respect freely offered their views after initial hesitation. Positive feedback was received not only from the participants but also from the prison guards and officials present! A second workshop then followed on Acceptance. The third session on Freedom became a celebration of the young men's participation and was aired on radio and television in the presence of the Honourable Minister of the People and Social Development, and a minister from the Prime Minister's office.
UN Commission on the Status of Women
Brahma Kumaris Youth at the Commission on the Status of Women
In 2007, Brahma Kumaris office for the United Nations decided to bring a small group of young BK women from different continents to New York to attend the annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at UN Headquarters. Following the conference, these young women from India, Mexico, South Africa, UK and USA were inspired to do something to help other women. They developed a workshop to offer to other women with the theme: Exploring Our Inner Resources - promoting gender equality and empowering women and young girls.
Exploring our Inner Resources – promoting gender equality and empowering women and young girls
True empowerment is not simply a question of redressing age-old wrongs or strengthening survival skills. It involves inner growth and development - changing our state of mind, more than our state of affairs - since the greatest limitations are the ones we put on ourselves. Every human being possesses a set of ‘inner resources', which are inherent, unlimited and highly enabling. It is this part of us which must serve as the foundation of identity, thus facilitating self-respect, respect for others and, ultimately, equality.
Commonwealth Youth Forum
Invest in Youth, Sustain the World - Commonwealth Youth Forum 2009
CYF 7 was organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Government, in association with the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council and the Commonwealth Youth Programme.
A delegation of five young adults from Brahma Kumaris was invited to facilitate, participate and contribute to plenaries and thematic workshops on Climate Change, Economic Growth, Building Sustainable Livelihoods, Youth Involvement in Decision Making and Peace Building.
The final communiqué from the CYF was circulated at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and presented to the Commonwealth Secretariat, thereby giving the young people of the Commonwealth a chance to have their opinions heard by the Heads of State.
Download a copy of the final communiqué
Here's a short video of our participation: Watch Video
Parliament of the World's Religions
Pictured with HH The Dalai Lama, Brahma Kumaris were part of the youth committee team that organised the youth section of the Parliament of the World's Religions 2009, in Melbourne, Australia.
You First was the project the Brahma Kumaris contributed to the Parliament activities. Designed by young people for young people to encourage individuals to get in touch with their
- positive potential,
- positive values,
- practical expression.
You First is about relationships - firstly my relationship with myself, and then my relationships with others.
