Not a Goddess, Not a Little Woman: Poetry From Shamim AzadNot a Goddess, Not a Little Woman: Poetry From Shamim Azad

Stories from the Hearth

The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka Artistic Experience With:

Shamim Azad

Poet
🌍 London, England

British-born Bangladeshi poet, Shamim Azad, joined the first regional summit in Bangladesh in March 2024, bringing with her a beautiful poem to inaugurate the Summit, which also took place on International Women’s Day. Her new poem, entitled “Debi nohi… nohi shamanyo meye” (“Not a Goddess.. Not a Little Woman!”) shares a conversation between a mother and her daughter, providing an intergenerational reflection on feminism and gender roles in Bangladesh.

Shamim Azad is one of Bangladesh’s most prolific contemporary bilingual poets. In 2023, she wone the Bangla Academy Literary Award in the poetry category.

Watch the recording below.

EXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHEREXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHER

Dive Into Stories From Around the World

Discover the Wellbeing Movement in AsiaDiscover the Wellbeing Movement in Asia

Meet, hear stories, and learn from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Asia.

Global Expressions Of The Arts, The Universal Language of Wellbeing Global Expressions Of The Arts, The Universal Language of Wellbeing

Arts x Regional Hearth Summits

As a universal language for human connection, emotion, and experiences, the arts are at the heart of the regional Hearth Summits. They celebrate the diversity of our global network by welcoming local artists, dancers, musicians, performers, and other creatives to encourage us to experience and reflect on wellbeing in unique ways. At these gatherings, the arts invite us to immerse ourselves in the sights and sounds of global cultures while exploring key topics in the wellbeing for social change space.

Discover a mosaic of perspectives on wellbeing through this rich tapestry of artistic expression at these incredible gatherings.

Music & SongMusic & Song

“Where words fail, music speaks.”

Hans Christian Andersen

Colombian singer Fonseca brought a larger-than-life concert to the Wellbeing Summit in his hometown of Bogotá.

Dak’Harmony, a group of music enthusiasts from Dakar, brought upbeat African music and covers of classic songs to the closing celebration of The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès

Roll The Voice, a collective of multidisciplinary musicians with diverse abilities in Bogotá, invited audiences to explore their perspectives on disabilities through their energizing hip-hop performances.

Oro y Platino, a group from the Condoto Chocó region of Colombia, shared soulful renditions of alabaos, traditional Afro-Colombian songs of mourning and healing.

Wellbeing of the World, a collaborative project from Tod Machover and the MIT Media Lab, unites the Summits by inviting participants to co-create a symphony of global wellbeing sounds.

French-Israeli singer Yael Naim shared her experience healing with the arts and treated The Wellbeing Summit Brussels to an intimate performance of her soulful music.

Black Keme (Antoine Indega Boubane) embodied the fusion of tradition and modernity in African music by weaving in his cultural Bassari heritage in his performances.

Harpist Alix Collin rang in each new session at The Wellbeing Summit Brussels with the powerful, vibrating sound of the gong.

Bangladeshi mental health activist and musician Farzana Wahid Shayan gifted moving performances of songs dedicated to the themes of forgiveness and self-empowerment.

Local youth performed dances mixing traditional Bangla moves with modern sounds, all set against the musical backdrop of songs that inspired the freedom fighters in Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war.

Tuntun Shah Baul offered the soul-stirring melodies of traditional Baul music, which embodies the inner pursuit of peace preached by the Bengal mystic, Lalon.

Sister Fa (Fatou Diatta), a Senegalese rapper and activist, reflected on her wellbeing journey and social change in Africa with an invigorating hip-hop performance.

Music Creatives for Change

Session at Hearth Summit Athens

In Athens, a co-created agenda with arts group Act in Synch invited changemakers to reflect on social change through an artistic lens. In the music industry, different musicians, producers, organizers, and non-profits have been taking a step outside their bubble to drive change in both environmental and social justice arenas. Hear from four different examples from EarthPercent, EarthSonic, In Place of War, and Music Declares Emergency. Watch the session (in English).

THEATRE THEATRE

“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”

Thorton Wilder

“TOM MBOYA”

BY TOO EARLY FOR BIRDS

In Nairobi, changemakers were captivated by stories from Too Early for Birds, a Kenyan theatre show that retells, presents, and narrates the most scintillating parts of Kenyan history that school books failed to mention. The group shared the story of Tom Mboya, one of the country’s most illustrious luminaries, in honour of the 55th anniversary of his death. Through an enchanting, engaging mix of theatrics, they reflected on the life of a man who inspired a new generation of young, brilliant, energized Africans driven to make the best out of freshly independent African nations — and in whose footsteps Kenyan Gen-Z are walking in 2024.

“MONDIAL.E.S”

BY BRRR PRODUCTION

At The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès, Brrr Production, a Dakar-based theatre company exploring political and social issues, performed MONDIAL.E.S. This piece explores the role of women in Senegal and the wider world through the story of Salimata and Fatoumata, who decide to set up an association to promote gender equality. By questioning our stereotypes of men and women, the show took a humorous, ironic look at the possibilities of fighting for a fairer world.

CO-CREATIONS CO-CREATIONS

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

Ryūnosuke Satoro

Dabakh (Serigne Abdou Aziz Ndiaye) a young Senegalese graffiti artist and painter, immortalized The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès by leading participants in co-creating a “wellbeing mural” at Tostan’s Training Centre.

Participants were encouraged to paint together throughout The Wellbeing Summit Bogotá to enjoy the flow of creativity, together, under the guidance of local creator Carlos Eduardo Meneses.

During Omega Institute and the Harlem Wellness Center’s musical performances, cartoonist Liza Donnelly captured the essence of the music with live illustrations.

EXHIBITIONS & ART INSTALLATIONS EXHIBITIONS & ART INSTALLATIONS

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

Edgar Degas

TheMerode’s curated art exhibition, Shōkakkō, explored happiness in all its forms through works created by 54 artists from around the world placed throughout The Wellbeing Summit Brussels.

In collaboration with the 12th edition of Partcours, Tostan curated a special exhibit about wellbeing with Senegalese artists Fatim Soumaré and Omar Diouf (Yafane) called “Yoonu ci biir (The Inner Pathway)”. 

The Omega Institute and Harlem Wellness Center worked with the Rubin Museum to bring the Mandala Lab to a regional Wellbeing Summit, inviting participants to explore their emotions.

At Tostan’s Training Centre, participants contemplated the “Art for Mental Health” exhibition, featuring creations from clients of the Moussa Diap psychiatric clinic’s groundbreaking art therapy programme.

In Dhaka, award-winning photographer Shafiqul Alam Kiron shared images from his 20+ year career documenting acid violence in Bangladesh. The photographs offer an intimate look at acid violence survivors’ experiences in their long journey to recovery, both physically, mentally, and socially.

Reigniting Rituals Through the Arts, the Universal Language of Wellbeing

In an exciting collaboration with Community Arts Network (CAN), we are excited to launch a global initiative around the arts to create a unique and magical vision, along with local communities, around the concept of Ecological Belonging. Seven passionate and dynamic individuals (one for the regional Hearth Summits in Austria, Brazil, Colombia, India, Japan, Senegal, and the US) have taken on the role of Ritual Alchemist. Through the arts, they will delve into a local ritual or practice and engage the community in a journey to renew it for today.

Applications are now closed. Stay tuned to meet the Ritual Alchemists and follow their artistic journey to the Hearth!

EXPLORE ART AND WELLBEING FURTHER EXPLORE ART AND WELLBEING FURTHER

Dive Into Art Stories From Around the World

REFLECTIVE PASSAGE

A Journey of Introspection and Collective Learnings

As a sunsetting community, EN members gifted themselves and one another the time to pause and reflect on their individual, organizational, and collective journey as a Network. This is a testimony of the distilled and harvested wisdom gained from their experiences together.

Join us in this heartfelt exploration where reflection brings us closer, memories are honored, and growth is nurtured. Together, let’s celebrate the Ecosystem Network’s accomplishments while embracing new opportunities on the horizon.

Haikus & Poems Haikus & Poems

By The Higher Education Network

Get ready to embark on a journey through the poetic expressions of The Higher Education Network‘s annual gathering in Switzerland.

In this collection, you will discover haikus and poems that echo the spirit of intellectual exploration, camaraderie, and the shared commitment to the future of wellbeing in education. Each syllable is a brushstroke, painting a picture of contemplation, connection, and elevation of the mind. Through verses inspired by the serene landscapes, the vibrant discussions, and the harmonious bonds formed, we invite you to experience the essence of this gathering.

As you immerse yourself in these poetic reflections, may you find inspiration, insight, and a renewed sense of purpose in the pursuit of wellbeing and enlightenment within the realm of education.

POETRY READINGSPOETRY READINGS

By Parker J. Palmer

Experience the transformative power of poetry with renowned speaker and author, Parker J. Palmer. Immerse yourself in his soulful recitations as he breathes life into captivating verses that explore the depths of human emotions, nature’s beauty, love’s nuances, and the quest for self-discovery.

Let Parker J. Palmer’s enchanting voice guide you on a poetic journey of reflection and inspiration. Explore our collection now and awaken the senses to the timeless truths found within each carefully selected poem.

“When Death Comes” – Mary Oliver

“The Thing Is” – Ellen Bass

“My Dead Friends” – Marie Howe

POETRY X WELLBEING POETRY X WELLBEING

Harmonizing the Art of Poetry with Mindful Living

Immerse yourself in a world of lyrical beauty and discover the transformative power of poetry as a catalyst for wellbeing. Through expressive words, heartfelt emotions, and profound insights, we invite you to explore the therapeutic resonance of poetry and its ability to nurture the mind, uplift the spirit, and inspire profound self-reflection. Unleash your creativity, find solace in poetic expression, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and holistic well-being.

Join us as we harmonize the realms of poetry and wellness, weaving a tapestry of words that soothe, heal, and ignite the spark within.

Declaration Of Wellbeing

The Words Guiding Our Movement

In the two years before the first Global Wellbeing Summit, which took place in Bilbao in 2022, we embarked on a broad collaborative effort to create ‘A Declaration of Wellbeing.’  Our global community of changemakers wanted to express the essence of this work through a public statement.

This inspiring document is the culmination of thousands of inputs received from around the world.  All of this input was then translated, through the creative talent of Ann Mortifee, into a shared vision for wellbeing. It serves as a profound collective declaration to our commitment to fostering wellbeing and highlights its transformative power in our pursuit of a better world.  Read the full text below.

A Declaration Of Wellbeing

By Ann Mortifee

A spirit of promise is calling us inward, to see ourselves clearly, to heal what needs healing, and bring harmony back to the earth. We feel it in the depth of our nature and rise to the call of life’s urge to evolve. We are pathfinders, caregivers, weavers of dreams, pilgrims on a journey to discover the self.

From every walk of life, every faith, race and culture the sound of our footsteps are heard. Inspired by the ones who travelled before us, we press on for the ones yet to follow. Moved by an ancient vision of a more compassionate world, we seek wellbeing for all of creation, for love and justice, peace and truth, to thrive and enliven us all.

We have learned that the light which ignites the stars is the same light that flows through all things. We are sparks in the body of a mighty creation, born to imagine what once seemed impossible. Together we cast a rainbow of hope, kindling thoughts and ideas to quicken, unfold and transform.

From deep, deep within, we know we belong to this dream that is wanting to be. Adventure with us and with patient resolve, we will heal our own hearts to bring health to the whole. We are warriors, advocates, lovers of truth. We are changemakers, story tellers, bringers of beauty. We commit ourselves to being well and at peace for this vast, most mysterious world.”

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Declaration Of Wellbeing read by Jazmine Williams

https://youtu.be/cZVWOYXuYjA
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“Why here? Why now? Why us?” A poem by Jazmine Williams

https://youtu.be/ht0kvHRWMiQ
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Inspired by Ann Mortifee’s “A Declaration of Wellbeing,” Jazmine’s powerful words explore our place and purpose in driving societal transformation. Experience the profound impact of her performance as she challenges the audience to reflect on the interconnectedness of our lives and the urgency for change.

Why here? Why now? Why us?

By Jazmine Williams

97% percent of human DNA
Is shared with stardust
In our very fingertips
are 4 billion years of supernova deaths and rebirths That traveled at the speed of light

Carrying in their dance between comets
A paint brush dipped in evidence of consciousness That culminates
In these bodies
On this Earth
Holding a celestial wisdom so ancient
humanity begs the questions
Why here?
Why now?
Why me?

On this planet suspended in artificial distraction We are the breath of remembrance
For our siblings seduced
by fear and greed and violence

The living proof that their wars are all in vain That the pursuit of power paid in blood
is a waste of an incarnation
We insist that apathy is not of the sky

We come from a home that all humans do
One that transcends corruption
And speaks in a currency of love and connection

The truth seekers and caretakers Dreamers and creators
Meet the world at the crack of its eye To whisper:

“There is nothing the descendants of stars lack”

Billions of years of space and time
are held in our frames
With resources at our disposal beyond our wildest vision boards Beyond oil and diamonds and exploited labor
Larger than global hunger
Bigger than burnout
relationships sacrificed for salaries
Or imposter syndrome

We are connected to the source Activated by rest and nourishment and the caress of silence
Between births of inspired awareness And deaths of dogma and ego

These bodies we inhabit are worthy of the grace We so passionately pursue for others
In fact, quiet as kept
Our wellbeing is essential to effective activism As we free ourselves

we free the world
Bearing witness to the miracle of one another
Like comets illuminating the dust that flew
Off the big bang to travel to the edge of the universe And create
Us.”