The conclusions and the objects of the programme can be summed up in the following 3 points.

1. to help people to reflect on the different values and the way to express them in practice in relationship with the self, with others, within the community and in the world in general.
    
2. to deepen the understanding and acquire more responsibility in order to be able to take positive decisions on both a personal and social level.
    
3. To encourage the educator to see school education as something that facilitates the pupil?s growth and their choices, so that they can integrate into the working world with a sense of security and confidence.

From the methodological point of view this is a new idea inviting people to take off their acquired roles and commit themselves to allowing the values true to every human being, to emerge. 

The programme was presented in an interactive way with moments for games, relaxation and research into that creative and personal space. And even if the teachers were working at a different time to the parents, one could see that the values that were emerging and the issues to be overcome were all basically the same. This gives one an even better understanding of the need for both teachers and parents to follow the same objectives and the same form in children?s education and therefore families are being called to cooperate actively in this.

During the afternoon session two children were present and they didn?t find any difficulty in letting themselves become involved. This was really significant because it demonstrated yet again that we adults have been conditioned into judging, believing, having sense of guilt, emotions, events, points of view, etc. all of which constitute barriers in relationships and communications in such a way that we don?t allow our abilities and potential to emerge. 

During these days a furrow has been traced and a seed sown; and it?s up to all of us to act in such a way that it sprouts, grows and bears fruit.

During the summer vacations let?s make some space for reflection and at the beginning of the school year come together with our ideas.

Some doubts expressed by the teachers:

Will I be able to transmit to the children the enthusiasm felt during these days and be constant in my commitment to this.

How can we put into practice that which we have taken on board during these meetings in order to maintain a continuity in these meetings.

I thought that for the umpteenth time that I was finding myself attending a course again made up of words............

I thought it would have been difficult to express that which I have to contribute on a personal level.

Embarrassment to reveal my thoughts and let myself go completely into the experience.

Concern to be able to express that which I have experienced and to bring it about in reality.

Many doubts as to how such a project could be followed up.

Issues resolved during the sessions:

The possibility to re-plan every day.

Easiness in communication ? I want to continue this experience and experiment with my pupils and those who are close to me.

A new way to dialogue beginning with the most simple things. Possibility to enrich relationships.

This course is truly to re-emerge our innate qualities and to absorb them into our true and peaceful nature. A deep learning thanks to effective comparison. I have had the confirmation of the universality of certain values and of the validity in ........

The immediate effect in recognizing and living certain values.

The possibility to have a more serene relationship with my pupils. The ability to create an atmosphere of well-being for pupils and teachers.

Openness and availability to recognize the positive (values) in each one and stimulate them to grow.

Raffaella Sattin, Teacher

Florence Group 

The first steps toward the LV program

The 3 values to move forward:

• To keep the heart open with LOVE!
• To take the support of SHARING ideas and actions!
• To keep the energy high so that our vision will become a practical reality.

The 3 challenges to undertake this program

• The ability to become very tolerant!
• The desire to be present totally!
• The courage to overcome our fears!

Experiences from Anna Saddi - Teacher
Istituto Comprensivo ? Olbia ? Sardinia - Italy

I teach English in a junior secondary school and I also teach Italian as a foreign language to people from all over the world in an intercultural laboratory.

After following the sessions of the Living Values program, immediately my relationship with students changed because I?ve tried first of all to create an atmosphere of harmony and respect.

Every year I prepare with my new students a project called ?the welcome month? with games, role-plays, discussions in order to socialize and know each other. The classes about values were very useful especially that about founding our inner values, specialties and talents to ?donate ? to the class.

After a few minutes of silence my students were stimulated to find their values and specialties, write them down and tell each other first in pairs and then to the class.

Then during another lesson I did a brain storming about values to find the most important values for them and every now and then I prepared a class about a value to discuss: harmony, respect, cooperation, peace, love and the students wrote down a slogan about these values. At the end of the year each student chose a value with a slogan and wrote it on a coloured paper leaf or heart, creating all together a tree called ?The LoveTree? .

In the intercultural class I started my first lesson reading the story ?Lily the Leopard? from the LV materials, stimulating the students to find their peculiarities and specialties that were their richness. Every now and then starting with a poem, a story or even a newspaper article it?s the way to bring their attention to some specific values. It has been very interesting to discuss and discover the universal values behind the differences due to culture, background, age and so on. 


Elementary School ? Nuoro ? Sardinia
Angela Coronas

To promote values for me has meant to reinforce the children potential knowing that at this age they are very receptive and easy learner for social and interactive skills.
Children give their best in an atmosphere of love and patience, while they close down their potentiality when there is anger or tension.
They love to express their thoughts and feelings and be understood, but they need to be educated to love, respect, honesty, cooperation, responsibility etc..
They pay much more attention when that which is said is also proved practically by the teachers guiding them.
I?ve been using the symbol of the little stars as a means to remember the importance of peace and keep harmony in the classroom.


Experiences from Irene Spolviero - Teacher
Elementary School ? Olbia ? Sardinia - Italy
Year 2000-2001 

During the year, the children have prepared a beautiful tree with many coloured paper leaves. Values were written on them: respect, love, peace, tolerance, friendship, honesty, solidarity etc..

This tree, called the ?Values Tree? has been used as a Christmas tree during the Christmas party and children were expressing their desire for all people of the world to be able to practise those important values.

The tree has been also used at the end of the school year, during an exhibition. The children themselves were explaining their work to the visitors, mainly parents but also outsiders. Two more teachers have been contributing to the values program too.

All this has been stimulating interest and enthusiasm in children and also in adults who have appreciated the deep significance of such educating activities.