Wellbeing is Resilience: Bagoré BathilyWellbeing is Resilience: Bagoré Bathily
Stories from the Hearth
Interview With:
Bagoré Bathily
Director General, La Laiterie du Berger
🌍 Dakar, Senegal
In this interview, hear from Bagoré Bathily, the Director General of La Laiterie du Berger, a dairy brand in Senegal that is also the country’s first certified B Corporation. Hear how in his view, wellbeing is all about finding the beauty and resilience in one’s self to do incredible things. At the first regional wellbeing summit for social change in Senegal, Bagoré joined hundreds of changemakers to share his story building a business that benefits people and planet — as well as generate profit.
Watch the interview below.
EXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHEREXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHER
Dive Into Stories From Around the World
Discover the Wellbeing Movement in AfricaDiscover the Wellbeing Movement in Africa
Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Africa.
An Emerging Movement for Wellbeing in Bangladesh: Abdallah Naeefy An Emerging Movement for Wellbeing in Bangladesh: Abdallah Naeefy
Stories from the Hearth
Interview With:
Abdallah Naeefy
Country Director, Porticus Bangladesh
🌍 Dhaka, Bangladesh
In this interview, join Abdallah Naeefy from Porticus Bangladesh as he discusses the importance of wellbeing, starting from inner vulnerability and strength to ecological awareness. Based in Dhaka, where the first regional summit in Asia was hosted in March 2024, Naeefy emphasizes the need for collective efforts to harmonize with our environment and society. He highlights the significance of regional collaboration and expresses his optimism about uniting various initiatives across Bangladesh for a better future.
Watch the interview 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.
Women’s Wellbeing Will Take Society Forward: Tabassum Amina Women’s Wellbeing Will Take Society Forward: Tabassum Amina
Stories from the Hearth
Interview With:
Tabassum Amina
Assistant Professor and Lead of Mental Health Team, BRAC Institute of
Educational Development
🌍 Dhaka, Bangladesh
In this interview, meet Tabassum Amina, from BRAC Institute of Educational Development at BRAC University. Speaking on International Women’s Day at the first Asian regional wellbeing summit, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in March 2024, she shared the importance of caring for women’s wellbeing and nurturing wellbeing in culturally relevant ways.
Watch the interview 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.
The Cultural and Ecological Treasures of the BassariThe Cultural and Ecological Treasures of the Bassari
Stories from the Hearth
Ritual Alchemist Experience With:
Antoine Boubane
Artist, Bassari Culture Ambassador, and Arts Curator for Hearth Summit Thiès
🌍 Dakar, Senegal
The Bassari, a community living in eastern Senegal and northern Guinea Conakry, face significant challenges related to environmental degradation, climate change and the erosion of their cultural heritage. Defining themselves as the “Guardians of the Earth”, their way of life, which is intimately linked to nature, is now under threat.
As farmers and descendants of hunters, the Bassari consider themselves an integral part of nature; responsible for the defense and protection of the environment on which they depend. They adopt a lifestyle that is quite respectful of nature from a young age and strive to transmit this ecological wisdom from generation to generation.
In this documentary film, emphasis is placed on the deep relationship between the Bassari community and their natural environment as a source of resilience and wellbeing. Ritual Alchemist Antoine Boubane (Black Keme) brought the treasures of the Bassari to Hearth Summit Thiès, sharing lessons from his community’s sacred relationship with nature.
Across the Hearth Summits, communities of changemakers are embracing their local cultures, revitalizing traditions and rituals, and reconnecting with the Earth as they drive transformative social change for wellbeing.
Watch the session below.
Want to go further into the stories of the Bassari?
Visit Antoine’s online atelier, where you can learn more about the sacred objects used in Bassari traditions. Discover masks, clothing, jewellery, musical instruments, hunting materials and more in this virtual space created by Tostan and Atoflow.

EXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHEREXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHER
Dive Into Stories From Around the World
Discover Ecological BelongingDiscover Ecological Belonging
Meet and hear stories from the changemakers reconnecting with the Earth and wellbeing
How to Foster Mental Health Through the Arts: The Fann Psychiatric Clinic StoryHow to Foster Mental Health Through the Arts: The Fann Psychiatric Clinic Story
Stories from the Hearth
Hearth Summit Thiès Session With:
Alassane Seck
Art Therapist, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de FANN
🌍 Dakar, Senegal
In Senegal, mental illness is a taboo subject. The Atelier d’EX-pression Artistique of the Fann Psychiatric Clinic in Dakar, created in 1999, offers a unique place where patients, visitors and artists can come to express themselves, relax, paint and drink tea in a warm and welcoming environment; a rarity in a society that strongly stigmatizes people suffering from mental illness. The association aims to make art a primary means of therapy, work and rehabilitation for people suffering from mental disorders in Senegal.
During Hearth Summit Thiès 2024, Tostan collaborated with the association to host an interactive session on art therapy. Learn more about the approach from arts therapist Alassane Seck and program participants.
Across the Hearth Summits, the arts play a central role as a therapeutic wellbeing practice and a lens through which we can explore social change.
Watch the session below.
EXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHEREXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHER
Dive Into Stories From Around the World
Discover the Arts and WellbeingDiscover the Arts and Wellbeing
Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in the arts.
Youth Are the Architects of the Ideal Society: Sobel NgomYouth Are the Architects of the Ideal Society: Sobel Ngom
Stories from the Hearth
Interview With:
Sobel Ngom
Executive Director, Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal
🌍 Dakar, Senegal
According to Sobel Ngom, Executive Director of the Senegal Youth Consortium, it is essential to involve young people in defining wellbeing and in finding innovative solutions to address well-being challenges.
African youth face many complex and interrelated challenges, making them vulnerable to violence, migration, depression, and many more. The economic situation and the consequences of the climate are endangering their livelihoods, leaving them uncertain about the future. The physical and mental health of young people and their overall wellbeing are negatively affected by these challenges.
It is essential to take into account young people, who are the protagonists of social transformations for a more equitable and just world. Young people, who represent most of the African population, are the architects of the ideal society.
The regional summits hosted by Tostan in Thiès aim to encourage youth engagement and intergenerational dialogue to address the challenges facing our communities.
Watch the interview below.
EXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHEREXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHER
Dive Into Stories From Around the World
Discover the Wellbeing Movement in AfricaDiscover the Wellbeing Movement in Africa
Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Africa.
Peace of Mind: The True Essence of Self-CarePeace of Mind: The True Essence of Self-Care
Stories from the Hearth
This blog was originally published by Talang Dalisay, the Philippines’ first youth-led education- and storytelling-focused mental health non-profit and a co-creator of Hearth Summit Philippines.
When was the last time you felt stressed out?
Perhaps it was when you missed your alarm for your morning lectures, felt disoriented, and ran late. It could’ve been when you were up all night cramming your written paper due at 11:59 pm, which, by the way, was given a week ahead of time. This feeling of panic has overwhelmed you;, your palms sweating, and your whole body trembling, yet you can’t help but feel a sense of familiarity from what you are experiencing. In fact, this pang of stress is something you’re already so familiar with. You don’t feel a tinge of shock at all.
When did it come to this point?
We have all grown so accustomed to these exhausting, tiresome, sentiments to the point where we can’t even tell the difference between a healthy and toxic mindset anymore. According to a report done in 2021 by researchers from VAAY, a German CBD company, Manila ranked as the third most stressful city in the world. The Filipino netizens who were interviewed mentioned how, due to the pandemic, it has become extremely easy for them to lose sight of the ever-present elements that surround and impact them on a daily basis (Chua, 2021). This goes to show how blindsided everyone is when it comes to their own thoughts and feelings, much like a mindless zombie.
So, indulge in my words for a minute. Allow yourself to sit back in any comfortable position and close your eyes. Take a deep breath and silently count to four as you inhale. Hold your breath for seven seconds, and then breathe out completely as you count to eight. Repeat these steps three to five times, and open your eyes. You may have not realised this, but the short breathing exercise you just practised is an easy but effective form of self-care! As you can see, it can be that simple, but that’s what the $450 billion self-care market doesn’t want you to realise.
To them, your vulnerability equals profit. Without this perception of having to rely on thousands of pesos worth of products and treatments, the self-care industry is worth nothing. This is why influence is the most important and crucial thing to them.
Social media has been feeding us this ideology that self-care is spending a day getting mani-pedis, having a huge makeover, going on a shopping spree, or simply anything related to scented candles. Don’t get me wrong, all of the self-help activities I mentioned are great but it’s important to note that this is not all that self-care is. If we continue to chase these “perfect” ideas of self-care but do not actually use them as a way to cope with our daily stressors to support ourselves, then what is the point?
There is no set list of instructions we need to follow in order to practice self-care, as self-care is not one size fits all; what works for someone might not work for you, and what works for you might not work for them, and that’s completely okay. Self-care isn’t simply doing what works for everyone else; it is practising restorative activities to take care of oneself for the betterment of one’s own physical, mental, and emotional welfare. You define what self-care is to you.
From playing with your pets, taking a hot shower, reading a book, and sleeping, to going for walks outside, taking free pottery classes, and working out; all of these activities are just a few of the thousands of other things you can classify as self-care. You don’t necessarily need to follow whatever self-care routines you see on Youtube or Instagram step-by-step. This is just a reminder that we are all separate individuals who have different ways of coping, so setting yourself up to strictly follow other people’s self-care routines is wrong. Self-care is not supposed to be a goal, but a mindset a person acts on for themselves.
“It is not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” Self-care is not self-indulgence, but a form of self-preservation. It is not pushing others aside for oneself either. It is simply taking a step back and saying “me too”.
Sources:
Chua, P. (1970, January 1). Manila was just ranked the third most stressful city in the world. Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved December 18, 2021, from https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/the-most-stressful-cities-index-2021-a00297-20210620
Cabico, G. K. (n.d.). Philippines among most stressed, emotional countries – Gallup report. Philstar.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021, from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/04/26/1912816/philippines-among-most-stressed-emotional-countries-gallup-report/amp/

About Talang Dalisay
Talang Dalisay is a non-profit organization founded in Manila, Philippines centering on mental health for our fellow Filipinos. We are a young community of storytellers and change-makers, opening conversations on the current mental health stigmas in the country as well as aiding in the integration of persons with disabilities (PWDs) as members of our global community.
Our mission upholds the values of empathy, compassion, and empowerment. We aim to focus on action oriented projects that center on moving towards a society that validates the mental health and neurodivergence of Filipinos. We acknowledge that mental health is a systemic issue — it is an ever-changing and controversial topic especially as a BIPOC community. Thus, through our art and stories, we hope to create a higher consciousness and understanding of how to create inclusive spaces for all amidst these intersectionalities.
Our vision as an organization is to become a stepping stone for Filipinos to create spaces of inclusivity. Collectively, we hope to amplify the individual’s potential to shine purely; living in authenticity, truth, and purpose. Through our projects in elevating the mental health discourse, we hope to be one of many facets that encourage others to create more avenues for positive change, always embracing the ability in any disability.
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 and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Asia.
How to Rest: Tips and Lessons From a WorkaholicHow to Rest: Tips and Lessons From a Workaholic
Stories from the Hearth
Reflections From:
Akasby Pante
Correspondent, Talang Dalisay
🌍 Parañaque, Philippines
This blog was originally published by Talang Dalisay, the Philippines’ first youth-led education- and storytelling-focused mental health non-profit and a co-creator of Hearth Summit Philippines.
School has always been stressful. It wouldn’t be school unless it made you want to pull all your hair out because of pure frustration. However, this year, we were faced with a new challenge: online school.
This new system has garnered various reactions from all kinds of students, with different personalities and learning styles. Some absolutely loathe it, claiming that they have to learn everything by themselves. Others enjoyed the freedom that comes with it, being able to take more control over how they spend their time. Fortunately enough, I am part of the latter group of people.
You can imagine just how excited I was at the beginning of the school year. I wanted to work out, journal, and read, all these things I thought I would be able to do, now that I had more time before classes. Even so, when school work started piling once again, these plans ultimately fell through. You know, just like every other year. And I thought I could just get on with it. Stick through the sleepless nights and the terrible feeling it left me with the day after. Not be able to work properly that same day because of how tired I was and watch my entire week spiral out of control.
But for some reason, I just couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t force myself to stay up until three in the morning when I knew how it would make me feel later that day. I couldn’t spend my entire weekend working instead of spending time with my family. I couldn’t deal with it.
For a while, I thought that I had become lazy. I was losing my focus and I had to get my life together. I soon realized that my body just couldn’t put up with that kind of torture anymore. It wouldn’t. So I had to come up with a plan to work around it, and preferably soon. Here’s what I came up with and maybe it can help you too.
Step 1: Rest
Drastically changing your workflow will not happen overnight. It takes time and mental energy to change a routine that is probably built upon years of habit. Therefore, if you can, try to take a break from the responsibilities that you can temporarily put off.
Obviously, you cannot let go of school or work, but there may be a few things you can hold off for the time being. Personally, I took a leave of absence from Talang Dalisay for an entire month. The amount of time you take off—as well as the activities you choose to take a break from—are ultimately up to you. For the most part, it will depend on the gravity of these responsibilities, how much time you think you can spare, and how much time you think you need in order to effectively “restart”.
However, the most important aspect of this step is that it will be able to achieve the following. First, it will give you time to rest and recharge. Second, it will allow you to focus on yourself and your improvement with reduced stress.
Step 2: Recalibrate
Now, I mentioned all these things about offloading some responsibilities and giving yourself time to focus on yourself. However, before you take action, there is one important step you need to do first: recalibrate. Change the way you think about your own personal productivity and work. Consider rest and fun as an integral part of your weekly agenda and treat it as if it is just as important as all your school requirements and extracurriculars. Because it is.
If you want to be able to produce quality outputs, the amount and kind of breaks you give yourself must be of the same standard. Doing this will prevent you from getting burnt out and keep motivated throughout the week.
Step 3: Reflect
After changing your mindset, it’s time to think about how exactly you are going to improve your work-life balance. What exactly are you going to change from your current routine and habits?
If you are not sure where to start, try searching online. There are so many videos, blogs, and books out there that can help you and give you a few suggestions. Try listening to their advice and try out their techniques. Reflect on what you think would best suit you considering your working methods, personality, and lifestyle.
It’s important to contemplate upon these things because it will help you realize what you could possibly change about your current working habits. For example, one rule I decided to set for myself is that I am not allowed to work during the weekends unless absolutely necessary (usually when there is just too much to do). This was something I decided to implement after I learned about Parkinson’s law which states that “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”. Therefore, if I set a mindset that weekends “do not exist” then I will be able to finish all my tasks by Friday. Doing so has given me sufficient time to recharge as well as give me something to look forward to throughout the week.
Step 4: Realize
Once you’ve set a break period, changed the way you think about work, and figured out what changes you wish to make, it’s time to take action. Realize your plans. It definitely won’t be easy sometimes because as humans, we are creatures of habit. Consequently, it is so much easier to just fall back into our old routine. Nonetheless, you must remind yourself who you are doing this for. You. No one else but you. And you deserve nothing but the best.
As a notorious workaholic, I always thought that loving my work meant putting it above everything and everyone else. However, if there’s anything that the “reset” period has taught me is that my world must not only revolve around one single thing alone. As cliche as it sounds, there must always be a balance.
Before I end this article, I wish to leave you all with a quote. It is one that a close family member sent me during those difficult times which I also feel captures the essence of this piece quite perfectly: “A friendly reminder that “your best” doesn’t mean pushing yourself to your breaking point. “Your best” means the best you can do while being your best you. Get enough sleep, give yourself breaks, listen to your limits. “Your best” is better when you are happy and healthy.

About Talang Dalisay
Talang Dalisay is a non-profit organization founded in Manila, Philippines centering on mental health for our fellow Filipinos. We are a young community of storytellers and change-makers, opening conversations on the current mental health stigmas in the country as well as aiding in the integration of persons with disabilities (PWDs) as members of our global community.
Our mission upholds the values of empathy, compassion, and empowerment. We aim to focus on action oriented projects that center on moving towards a society that validates the mental health and neurodivergence of Filipinos. We acknowledge that mental health is a systemic issue — it is an ever-changing and controversial topic especially as a BIPOC community. Thus, through our art and stories, we hope to create a higher consciousness and understanding of how to create inclusive spaces for all amidst these intersectionalities.
Our vision as an organization is to become a stepping stone for Filipinos to create spaces of inclusivity. Collectively, we hope to amplify the individual’s potential to shine purely; living in authenticity, truth, and purpose. Through our projects in elevating the mental health discourse, we hope to be one of many facets that encourage others to create more avenues for positive change, always embracing the ability in any disability.
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 and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Asia.
Wellbeing Has Ripple Effects: Shammin SultanaWellbeing Has Ripple Effects: Shammin Sultana
Stories from the Hearth
Interview With:
Shammin Sultana
Gender and Development Specialist
🌍 Kathmandu, Nepal
In this interview, meet Shammin Sultana, a gender and development specialist from Nepal, as she explains how her wellbeing has ripple effects to positively impact the entire community, and why wellbeing needs to be an important part of conversations about development. Shammin attended the first Asian regional wellbeing summit, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in March 2024, and was excited about the growing conversation on wellbeing.
Watch the interview below.