Our global community is composed of 7.5 billion people and all life forms; therefore, our highest Aspiration is to contribute to fostering Happiness for ALL people and Well-Being for ALL life forms, as well as alleviating suffering wherever we can.

The systems that are currently prevailing: economic, political, social, cultural, ecological… are not adequate to meet the challenges of our time and need to be radically transformed. These systems are neither God-given nor are they natural laws; they are the manifestation of the way we collectively think, feel, and act. If we have created the prevalent systems, we can also change them. We have to move from a self-centered Ego-system awareness to a compassionate and interdependent Eco-system awareness.

To achieve this goal, we need to balance inner transformation and social innovation; this cannot be achieved alone, therefore, community building is a central task of our time. Our guiding principle is the Gross National Happiness framework that offers a robust conceptual structure as well as practical implementation tools.

The five fundamental competencies of Emotional Intelligence serve as a guideline:

Creating a conducive societal environment:

Using the 9 Domains of Gross National Happiness:   

• living standards

• education

• health

• environment

• community vitality

• time-use

• psychological wellbeing 

• good governance

• cultural resilience and promotion

Learning Journeys

ELI develops interactive, co-created Learning Journeys.

One of our inspiration is the Theory U process developed by Otto Scharmer and the Presencing Institute that provides a scientifically valid knowledge base; enhances the perception of our social field; allows for deep transformative inner experiences; creates safe spaces to prototype and try out new ideas and projects, and supports implementation initiatives.

Most importantly, Learning Journeys enable the community building of like-minded, like-hearted and like-willed partners and friends.

Inspiration and tools

We create multiple partnerships; participatory approaches are central in order to co-develop transformative processes embodied in the reality of our partners.

We draw our inspiration, our methods, tools and techniques from multiples sources:

• Latest scientific research in the fields of psychology, sociology & neuroscience

• Wisdom traditions such as Buddhist psychology and meditative practices

• Waldorf education and Camphill special education,

• As well as from many contemporary seekers and innovators: Johanna Macy: The work that reconnects; Marshall Rosenberg: Non-Violent Communication; Satish Kumar: Schumacher College; Brother David Steindl-Rast: Gratefulness; the Mind and Life Institute, just to name the main ones

Implementation

• ELI offers Post Graduate courses on GNH in partnership with the Geneva Management School (HEG) and the University of Applied Sciences in Osnabrück / Germany.

• ELI has implemented the “Happy Schools program” in 9 public schools in Hue/Vietnam and is currently widening the scope of implement internationally.

• ELI implements GNH in Business projects in several companies such as BITIS (a shoe production company in Vietnam with 10’000 co-workers)

• The Pizza4Peace restaurant chain in Vietnam. Following an initial training by ELI for senior executives and general management, their choice fell on a comprehensive assessment of their company using the BNB index and its indicators.

• ELI facilitates a training in special education and social therapy in our GNH inspired community the Peaceful Bamboo Family in Hue.

• ELI was the pioneer in training for biodynamic agriculture in Vietnam.

• ELI also offers short courses, and is currently developing a year-long Learning Lab for young people.

We are open to co-create learning journeys meeting the specific needs and capacities of organizations, communities, business, school, or cities; so as to contribute to the unfolding of full potential.