A new building block for the preschool in Okakarara

So far, the preschool for 5 - 7 year olds has taught numbers, letters and basic English vocabulary through play and lots of exercises and songs.

A lack of emotional self-awareness, perception and communication skills was repeatedly observed on the playground and in the classes, even among older children. The children were almost only able to communicate their needs, fears, joy and anger impulsively and with little control, and were barely able to empathise with their counterparts.

However, knowledge and awareness of one's own emotional world and the art of communicating this at school, in the family and among peers is an important building block for overall social and cognitive development into adulthood. And one can hope that the development of empathy can even prevent violence within the family and between the sexes.

Initially, the teachers had to be trained in small groups, as they too were not very familiar with the area of their own and others' emotional development.

The German psychologist and psychotherapist Ernst Diebels, who came to Okakarara through the Senior Expert Service (SES), developed a curriculum that uses role plays, exercises and short stories to introduce people to the world of their own feelings and moods and helps them to understand these inner processes in other people too.

After a short time, however, they enthusiastically learnt how they could be a positive role model for the children in expressing, communicating and regulating feelings, moods and impulses. Through this training, they understood how closely cognitive and emotional development are linked.

Since January 2019, the new module „The World of Feelings“ has been part of the popular morning ritual in preschool lessons several times a week.

And here, too, the efforts of our volunteers went hand in hand - Mr Liesberg built the „touch boxes“ for this important measure.

Dear Mr Diebels, thank you very much for your
for your commitment in Okakarara!