Introducing the Compassionate Children, Caring Community Inquiry

The Dalai Lama Center, through the Center for the Advancement of Heart-Mind Education (CAHME), is introducing a new initiatve with the central purpose of promoting and supporting the “heart-mind” learning of children and youth.

In collaboration with Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, CAHME is designing and implementing the “Compassionate Children, Caring Community Inquiry”, focusing on the social and emotional learning and development of young people in their families and community.

The DLC spoke with Frog Hollow's Diane Wilmann to get some insights into the inquiry.

"It's all about what we can do to work together in this great community to create an even better one and one in which when children grow up they are really supported to be as compassionate, confident and caring as they can be," says Wilmann.

"The way we're running this project is by telling stories," she says. "With these stories we can tap into the wisdom that's in the community and begin to build relationships."

Essentially, the inquiry is about bringing teens and adults together to share their many unique insights with the hope that a greater understanding can lead to more compassionate communities. 

Each of the participants in the inquiry will be asked a central question: “What can people and communities do to encourage compassion, cooperation and confidence in children?”

So far, Wilmann has heard about 130 responses to the question. She says one of the intriguing early findings has been the reactions from the adults when they hear the teens' responses, and vice versa.

"The adults are extremely surprised to see the incredible caring and passion that the teens have, because that's not the stereotype of teens, and it's also been quite touching to me to see the youth being so impressed by the adults and realizing they care not just about their own kids, but care about other kids too."

The inquiry began earlier this spring and is expected to hear from more than 500 people. To hear more from Diane Wilmann, as well as from DLC CEO Lynn Green, read about the inquiry on Axiom News.