The Universal Love Curriculum is a collaboration between the Gene Keys Syntropy Hub, Samson Turinawe and his colleagues at Universal Love Alliance (ULA) of Uganda, a devoted group of Ugandan Wisdom Keepers and educators, and a global, multidisciplinary Curriculum Team.
Our Mission
To support the development of the Inner Wisdom Keeper in all students by:
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Encouraging the celebration of both Universality and Diversity
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Enlivening and empowering students through reconnection with the richness of their Cultural Roots and Heritage
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Facilitating embodied learning through Experiential Exercises that provide access to the Power of Nature and Creativity and that cultivate Wholeness and Interconnectedness
The Universal
​We breathe the same air, we smile, we bleed, we cry, we rejoice. No matter what age we are or where we find ourselves, we need to grow, to move from the unknown to the known, to expand and evolve. We need to learn how to think critically, how to make good decisions, how to resolve conflict and how to approach life’s inevitable challenges. We need self-awareness, self-confidence and self-respect. We need to learn how to practice love, how to hold responsibility, and how to have a positive impact on the world around us. We need to learn to partake in the natural cycle of give and receive. We need to connect with the Web of Life.
How we come to understand who we are as humans, how we approach our common fate, how we serve each other in unity versus divisiveness are the Universal questions this Curriculum aims to address.
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Who are we? Are we our bodies? Our minds? Our feelings? Are we spirits?
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Who are we in relation to each other?
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Who are we in relation to existence itself—to the Creator?
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How do we come to recognize our common humanity? How do we act with compassion and respect for the dignity of all Beings? How do we come together in love, sympathy and compassion?
While book-learning best comes from books, learning about life best comes from living! The Universal Love Curriculum provides hands-on, embodied experiences that engage mind, body, heart and spirit and encourage students to discover their own truths and values that they can apply in their everyday lives. Through active and creative engagement, students will journey through the Curriculum’s landscape as they learn about themselves, each other and the world around them. Although exercises and activities will vary widely taking students in different directions, the Dream Arc and Art of Contemplation will provide an overarching treasure map for the students’ educational journey.
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Animals
The Universal Love Curriculum enlists the students’ engagement with the world of animals. Animals provide a pathway to self-exploration and growth, as students identify qualities and traits they relate to and admire. Animals serve as a portal to curiosity, compassion, myth, and metaphor. They expose students to – and connect them with — different lands, wisdom traditions, and ways of living. They provide students with deeper insight into their own culture and land as they learn how their people have traditionally related to these animals. They allow students to explore their own associations and fantasies. As students work with different animals throughout the Curriculum, they will engage in individualized learning and share in each other’s discoveries.
The main intention of this Curriculum is to call forth the Inner Wisdom Keeper of the children, teachers, schools, and communities who work with it… and bring about a more loving, compassionate, and prosperous world as a result.
A Birth Process
Together with Gene Keys Publishing, we have a deep dream to co-birth this Curriculum in a way that empowers our Ugandan/African brothers and sisters, who have dedicated their lives to serving people in need and opening the hearts and minds of people who have the power to meet those needs. We envision Samson and his collaborators piloting ULC in their communities and schools, and with the support of the Dream Arc and Gene Keys community, leading the way in bringing a profoundly loving education out into the world.
While ULC is sourced in African indigenous wisdom, we envision that over time, in collaboration with other educators and Gene Keys community members from other countries, it will be adapted to reflect indigenous wisdom of other cultures as well. ​
The Educational Landscape
Challenges
Out of a population of 49,102,929, the median age in Uganda is 16 years old, with class sizes being as big as 100+ students, and a 51% net rate for the completion of primary school even with education costs being out of pocket for parents.
This lack of support in adolescence contributes to the lack of confidence and self-awareness, creativity & personal agency.
in Uganda
Student's Inner World...
The colonization of mind, heart & spirit, and loss of connection to indigenous wisdom present in these institutions lead to the students feeling unseen, disempowered, and unprepared for life.
Student's Outer World
The consequences of this dislocation result in low graduation rates and poor job placement.
Solutions
Radically shift education in the Western Region
of Uganda with the Universal Love Curriculum by
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Reconnecting students with their culture, innate wisdom and creativity
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Developing students' confidence, teamwork, and empathy
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Encouraging students to implement solutions within their environments
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Empowering students to innovate and create their own opportunities
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Increasing educational engagement, grade advancement, and graduation rates
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Teaching students skills to thrive in their lives!
Pillars of the Curriculum
A holistic approach delivered by local teachers that focuses on embodied learning in nature where students experience an exploration of local animals and imagination...
Opening Hearts and Minds to Diversity
Through education, people develop an understanding that all lives have equal value. We at Universal Love Alliance present workshops on acceptance and inclusion of marginalized people, including vulnerable women, children, minorities, elders and refugees. Our focus is on educating groups that have the greatest impact in forwarding change: faith leaders and youth.
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Faith leaders in Uganda have great influence. They have the power to open doors in every sector of society, to promote inclusion, and to ensure the long-lasting success of ULA's interactive programs.
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Youth are the leaders of our shared future. When our youth become advocates for acceptance and inclusion, our diverse society can flourish.
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Universal Love Curriculum scroll down to learn more about ULA's exciting educational initiative and global collaboration!
Who We Are
An International collaboration aiming to work with communities around the world to enhance and modernize education by weaving ancient wisdom and local culture with embodied learning.
