By Valerie J Hess | Project Leader
Did you know that the seed of The Virtues Project™ was planted on Easter weekend, 1988 when Linda Kavelin Popov, her husband Dr. Dan Popov and brother John Kavelin were discussing the state of the world over brunch at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia Canada? Deeply disturbed by a school shooting that had occurred, three family members were compelled to act in response to the growing violence of children toward others and themselves.
They believed that violence is a symptom and meaningless is a disease. They spent the summer discerning, "What would give children a sense of meaning and purpose?" They discovered that virtues are at the heart of meaning in every culture and belief system, from indigenous oral traditions to the world’s Sacred Texts. Having found a common ground-the agreement that virtues are important, they decided to write a parenting guide based on virtues and strategies to nurture the growth of virtues.
From 1989 until 1991 they were busy writing. In 1991, the founders launched The Virtues Project™ program in Canada. Based on their book, The Family Virtues Guide: Simple Ways to Bring Out the Best in Our Children and Ourselves, they provided parents with tools for spiritual and moral growth in order that they raise strong families. Word got out and the response was overwhelming! Within 2 months The Virtues Project™ spread by word of mouth to twenty-two countries!!
They quickly discovered that The Five Strategies of The Virtues Project™ have universal application in any setting from home to the classroom, in the workplace and the community.
In 1995, they published The Virtues Project Educators Guide: Simple Ways to Create a Culture of Character to provide educators with the tools to create caring, respectful and safe school communities. Responding to the needs that are plaguing our schools requires a focus on changing the cultures of our homes and schools. The Five Strategies of The Virtues Project™ are the tools.
The Virtues Project™ has been introduced in over 110 countries due to the initial work of the Founders and continues now through the ongoing work of facilitators and Virtues Project International Association, dedicated to Bringing The Virtues Project to the World. Master Facilitators and Facilitators from around the world provide workshops, training, and materials for parents, educators, leaders to create cultures of caring and respect, moving communities From Violence to Virtues. Globally, teachers report that implementing the Five Strategies of The Virtues Project™ provides:
Where children feel safe and respected, learning is possible. Safe and caring school communities foster the spiritual and moral development of their children. Sadly, in the US we have had many debates on the value of funding character education in our schools and whether moral development should occur outside of the home. Of course, the moral development first begins at home, as parents serve as the first teachers of their children; and we believe it follows that educators, powerful role models, share that responsibility once our children enter the school environment.
The Virtues Project can be implemented as a prevention, intervention and/or healing program. We have been called to help schools heal after shootings occur. With your help, we will be there sooner to prevent school shootings from happening at all.
Your support of Bringing The Virtues Project to the World helps our world move from violence to virtues providing parents, educators, and children with powerful tools to create happy and healthy homes and schools, where cultures of caring and respect nurture positive social, emotional, academic, spiritual and moral learning that benefit everyone.
Your continued financial and social support ensures that Virtues Project International Association and our facilitators continue Bringing The Virtues Project to the World! We thank you for your idealism, to make a difference and your charitable giving which helps sustain us. Like us on Facebook! Please share this report with your friends and family.
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