Hearth Summit São Paulo 2024 Hearth Summit São Paulo 2024
Regional Hearth Summits
ABOUT THE SUMMIT ABOUT THE SUMMIT
A Journey of (Re)Discovering Self, Community, and Sustainability
In the serene environment of Sorocaba, Brazil, 200 changemakers gathered for an exciting day full of discovery, connection, and inspiration! Hearth Summit São Paulo built upon the incredible momentum that the first regional summit in Brazil created in 2023 to take actions and conversations around wellbeing and social change to the next level. Led by the innovative team at FACENS University, changemakers embarked on a journey inwards, inspiring self-knowledge and care, and outwards, inviting deeper connections with others and the Earth.
Hearth Summit São Paulo was an emotional and intellectual journey, full of inspiring discussions and experiences. Here, changemakers found an opportunity to (re)encounter themselves and enjoy a moment to experience a new consciousness that can echo beyond the Summit. Changemakers discovered knowledge, information, tools, experiences and awareness about the breadth of the topic of wellbeing and everything it encompasses.
The topics covered and the experiences proposed seek to open minds and hearts so that everyone can live in a more inclusive, sustainable, balanced and loving world. Missed the Summit? Discover session recordings and stories below.
Raquel Barros, Coordinator of the Emotional Collaboration Laboratory (ENLACE) and the
Possible Worlds Community Extension Program at FACENS University
(re)encontre(m)-se
(re)find yourself
The theme of this Hearth Summit is an invitation to (re)encounter yourself: an open call to those who want to contribute to truly positive change for everyone.
During the Hearth Summit São Paulo, wellbeing will be explored in all different parts of our lives, including topics such as the arts, development, human consciousness, integrative health, longevity, ecological belonging, and ancestry, among others.
THE PROGRAMTHE PROGRAM
Learn, discover, and connect around the Hearth
Workshops:
Sacred song, dance, and body painting around Nhandereko, the Tupi-Guarani concept of “living well”, with Tabaçu Reko Ypy Village
Yoga with Claudia Madhuri
Meditation with Daniel Calmanowitz
Clown Workshop (“The Other Side of Me”) with Prof. Daniel Reis Pla
Tai Chi Chuan with Hector K. Yokomizo
Mandala with Jussara Borges
Capoeira and Samba Circle with Master Lucas Neto
Dance with Dr. Ricardo Ghelman & Robson Lourenço
Main Topics for Discussion:
Ecological Belonging and Indigenous traditions
Conscious human development and holistic dimensions of wellbeing
The wisdom of meditation
Integrative health: science- and evidence-based practices
The mental health of healthcare professionals and social changemakers
Human flourishing and its role in education
Wellbeing and mental health measurement matrices
Intergenerational trauma, ancestry, and healing
Re-discovering Our ConnectionsRe-discovering Our Connections
Explore Stories from the Summit
KEY SPEAKERSKEY SPEAKERS
A Special Invitation to Changemakers
The Wellbeing, Art, and Sustainability Festival
Parallel to the official schedule of the Hearth Summit São Paulo, FACENS University Sorocaba hosted the Wellbeing, Art and Sustainability Festival, which was open to the general public and the entire Facens community (students, teachers and staff). An event with a special program, full of workshops, artistic performances, exhibitions, wellness areas and activities and relaxation, as well as a circular economy fair, was offered to Hearth Summit São Paulo participants throughout the two-day summit. Activities included shows and artistic interventions; Yoga, Tai Chi Chuan and Meditation; Quick Massage; Mandala Workshop; Body Painting Workshop; Presentation and Exhibition of the Project “The Ritual Alchemist”; Art exhibitions; Circular Economy Fair; Movie Theater; Relaxation Areas; and Sensory Areas.
MORE REGIONAL SUMMITS MORE REGIONAL SUMMITS
Discover the Wellbeing Movement in Latin America Discover the Wellbeing Movement in Latin America
Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Latin America.
Hearth Summit Thiès 2024 Hearth Summit Thiès 2024
Regional Hearth Summits
Days
0
PARTICIPANTS
0
NATIONALITIES
0
ORGANIZATIONS
0
About the Summit
An Intergenerational Conversation on Wellbeing
Following an incredible, first-of-its-kind Pan-African gathering in 2023, Tostan kept the fire burning with a second regional summit in Thiès, Senegal! With a focus on “Eldership and Youth, An Intergenerational Conversation on Wellbeing”, Hearth Summit Thiès 2024 was co-created with young leaders and social change agents from across Africa. Together, 165 changemakers from across Africa reflected on the power of intergenerational dialogue on wellbeing through a range of topics, including youth mental health, ecological belonging, peacebuilding and reconciliation, and paradigm shifts in funding for wellbeing initiatives.
Through practical sessions and “The Wellbeing Artisan’s Hearth”, attendees also learned and share effective tools, solutions and methodologies to enhance their own wellbeing.
With the event’s Ritual Alchemist, Antoine Boubane, changemakers also jumped into a cultural immersion with the Bassari community, renowned for their rich heritage and ecological wisdom. They discovered the Bassari’s traditional practices deeply connected to nature, their role as “guardians of the earth,” and their efforts to preserve their cultural and natural heritage in the face of modern challenges. Together, changemakers explored our deep connection to both our cultural and physical wellbeing through storytelling, artistic performances, exhibits, and art therapy.
As young Africans, we are facing numerous social, economic, and technological pressures that impact our wellbeing and challenge our aspirations. Addressing these challenges in our communities, where relationships between elders and youth are essential, requires an intergenerational approach. The wisdom of our elders offers guidance and stability, while the fresh perspectives of youth inspire innovative solutions.
This is what Hearth Summit Thiès is all about: weaving a dialogue between our past and our present, harnessing the wisdom of our origins to build resilience today and fulfill our aspirations for the future.
rtist, Bassari Culture Ambassador, and Arts Curator for Hearth Summit Thiès
THE PROGRAMME THE PROGRAMME
Learn, discover, and connect around the Hearth
AN INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE
With Workshops and Embodied Practices
The program brought together changemakers of all ages to consider key social change topics and develop new skills to support wellbeing, such as:
Collaborating between elders, parents, youth, and children for wellbeing
Building trust-based, equitable, and impactful partnerships in philanthropy
Youth wellbeing, particularly around mental health, sexual health, technology, and reproductive rights
Wellbeing skills, including active listening, emotional expression, somatic breathwork, and yoga
The therapeutic benefits of the arts
Reconnecting with nature: physical, cultural, and social benefits
Communication for social change: building empathy and community, raising awareness, and influencing sustainable impact
From the Individual, to the Collective, to the EarthFrom the Individual, to the Collective, to the Earth
STORIES FROM THE SUMMIT
UNE RENCONTRE ÉCOLOGIQUE
WITH THE BASSARI COMMUNITY
Led by Ritual Alchemist Antoine Boubane (Black Keme), the Summit invited changemakers to explore the world of the Bassari, an Indigenous group from southeast Senegal. Antoine and an elder, Balingho, guided participants on a journey exploring the Bassari’s coming-of-age traditions. With meaningful dances, an atelier workshop filled with Bassari crafts and sacred objects, and energizing performances, Antoine shared his heritage with the pan-African changemaking community. Watch this introduction video to meet the Bassari.
Bringing the Warmth of Africa to the Hearth Bringing the Warmth of Africa to the Hearth
RELIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE SUMMIT
HOSTED BY
With special thanks to these generous sponsors, funders, and partners
Being, Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal, Girls Generation, Global Fund for Children, Grand Challenges Canada, RESCAPAR’T, Vitol Foundation, and The Wellbeing Project
MORE REGIONAL SUMMITS MORE REGIONAL SUMMITS
Discover the Wellbeing Movement in AfricaDiscover the Wellbeing Movement in Africa
Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Africa.
Shawn Westcott
Special Initiatives and Projects Lead at The Wellbeing Project
Stockholm, Sweden
Connect with SHAWN WESTCOTT on social media :
Shawn is a father, husband, and global citizen working to create experiences and connections to practices that rewake people’s interconnectedness to our natural world and each other. With more than 20 years of experience in US politics, sustainability, and impact investing, he is a passionate connector, change catalyst and social entrepreneur, having been a first-mover and catalyst in several movements, including US welfare reform, social entrepreneurship, sustainability, and impact investing.
Shawn began his career as a social entrepreneur, helping to launch a national student-led non-profit focused on welfare reform issues in the US. After university, he began his career with Al Gore’s campaign for President, and eventually working as a US political strategist, Chief of Staff & campaign manager over 9 years.
In 2007 Shawn moved to Sweden to study a Masters in sustainability leadership, after which he had a career as a sustainability adviser to governmental sustainability initiatives and corporates. During this time, he also served as Chairman for the Swedish NGO Social Entrepreneurship Forum. In this role he led the development of the first social impact accelerator and incubator in the Nordics, in partnership with the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). The program worked to support social entrepreneurs in 20 countries in the Global South. For this he was selected as one of the “Top 100 Leaders to Affect Sustainability in Business in Sweden.”
More recently, Shawn spent nearly a decade as a pioneer in the Impact Investing space in Sweden and the Nordics, having initiated and founded the first impact investor network in the Nordics in partnership with Toniic. He later helped lead Nordic operations for two different global impact asset management firms, Triodos Investment Management and BlueOrchard Finance, working within the renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, infrastructure, sustainable food and microfinance sectors.
In 2021-22, Shawn took a nearly two-year sabbatical — a transformative experience wherein he worked to recalibrate his life and career. This included a deep dive into personal development and wellbeing, trauma-informed decision-making, collapse awareness and the further development of a spiritual practices. After this period, Shawn decided to spend the remainder of his career working to inform, inspire and support other people’s awareness of our role in the natural world and deeper sense of connectedness to one another.
