Goa: Seeds of Sadbhav – Sowing Seeds of Peace and Interfaith Harmony

Fr. Elvis Fernandes, SFX –

Goa: ‘Seeds of Sadbhav’, a unique two-day interfaith programme designed for teenagers was conducted on August 29 and 30 by the Society of Pilar at the Pilar Pilgrim Centre, Pilar Goa. Around 60 girls of class 12 Arts, Commerce, and Science belonging to the Guardian Angel Higher Secondary School, participated in the programme.

‘Seeds of Sadbhav’ is a basic interfaith program for teenagers that focuses on building their strengths and enabling them to flourish in life. Based on the handbook of ‘Character Strengths and Virtues’ by Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson, the sessions were designed to enable youngsters to know and foster their character strengths. Strengthening interfaith harmony, appreciating diversity, and building interfaith relationships were the underlying themes of the sessions.

Seeds of Sadbhav is an activity of Sadbhav – an initiative of the Society of Pilar to foster interfaith relations and communal harmony.

Tallulah D’silva, Elaine Coelho, Rehanabanu Bankapur, Fr. Peter D’Souza, Fr. George Nandiyala and Fr. Elvis Fernandes, the convenor of Sadbhav, facilitated the sessions.

Fr. Elvis Fernandes led the participants to identify their top strengths through an activity called ‘You at your best’. The participants had to write a story about a time when they functioned at their best. They then had to share these stories with their members of the group. The group members had to spot the strengths of one another as manifested in the story. These observations regarding the strengths were later shared with the individual members who came to know about their strengths. Shiyana, one of the participants said, “The most helpful part of this programme was to figure out our top strengths and build our good character”.

Tallulah D’Silva, an award-winning architect, environmentalist and writer was also the resource person for Seeds of Sadbhav. She spoke to them on women’s rights and empowerment and helped them foster their character strengths of bravery, teamwork and creativity through an Origami activity.

Fr. George Nandiyala, infused a lot of energy into the participants through his ice-breaking and sing-song activities. Kimberly, one of the participants mentioned that, “Father George’s singing and games session was nice, entertaining and refreshing. It taught us how to work as a team”

Fr. Peter D’souza led the students in fostering their strengths of spirituality and appreciation of beauty and excellence. He introduced a few basic methods of growing in awareness and meditation. Simran Banu, another participant said that “the session on meditation was the most helpful. It made me grow in awareness of myself”.

Elaine Coelho and Rehanabanu Bankapur, participants of Yuva Sadbhav, a programme conducted previously for college students studying at Nirmala Institute of Education, Althinho, Panjim, facilitated a session on fostering teamwork, fairness and leadership. They used an activity of creating a mandala by putting together designs created by individuals’ students. With regard to this, Niranta, one of the participants had this to say, “it was very interesting and creative. The two teachers who facilitated this session were very energetic and kind. We got to know about respecting religious and cultural diversity”.

Rev. Fr. Walter Miranda, the principal of Guardian Angel Higher secondary, was instrumental in providing this wonderful opportunity for the students who were accompanied by their teachers, Snable Antao, Sonia Gomes.