Experiencing Wellbeing Around the World Experiencing Wellbeing Around the World
Wellbeing Practices x Regional Hearth Summits
The regional Hearth Summits gather changemakers from a diverse range of cultures, backgrounds, and fields to explore the intersection of wellbeing and social change. The emotional and intellectual journey of a Hearth Summit inspires us not only to think about the presence of wellbeing in our lives — but to feel it too. We are offered a space to co-create global understandings of what wellbeing is, all the while believing strongly that wellbeing has no one true definition. It must be lived to be understood — and each of us has our own way of being well.
Throughout the regional Hearth Summits, changemakers are invited to explore how they can get in touch with and embody their wellbeing through a variety of practices. With options like physical movement, philosophical explorations, traditions and rituals, and evidence-based approaches, the regional Hearth Summits invite everyone to be well in their own unique way.
Explore the different ways the regional Hearth Summits are encouraging us to look inward and cultivate a sense of inner wellbeing.
Want more ideas for how you can practice wellbeing? You can also find other wellbeing tips here and tell us about your wellbeing practices.
Art as a Creative Outlet Art as a Creative Outlet
“Art has the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate, inspire and motivate.”
Harvey Fierstein
In Dhaka, participants were invited to explore the therapeutic benefits of painting, especially with bright colours, as part of a wellbeing workshop on the emotional boost of light and colours.
In Nairobi, artist Lindsay Dawn Obath guided participants in a self-portrait painting session, inviting them to reflect deeply on their inner worlds and identities, all the while playfully enjoying the simple act of painting.
Changemakers in Dakar-Thiès tried their hand at traditional African basket weaving led by IMADI, who taught them techniques that have been passed down for generations, from grandmothers to mothers to daughters.
In Dhaka, the workshop “Life is an Art” encouraged changemakers to slow down, pause, and enjoy a mindful moment before, in silence, using the arts to express their emotions and reflect on life experiences.
In Nairobi, changemakers took time to delight in the colorful art of floral bouquet design with a workshop guided by Floral Design Studio Kenya, a training studio led by three generations of family florists in Nairobi. The best part: taking your creation home to remember the extraordinary summit!
Awa Fall, who attended Tostan’s training programmes during her incarceration in the Thiès prison and then went on to establish her own tie-dying business, taught changemakers how to dye fabric. With Awa’s expert guidance, participants left the Summit with a hand-dyed scarf, a souvenir of their wellbeing practice.
The Healing Power of SoundThe Healing Power of Sound
“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”
Confucius
In TheMerode’s “Zen Room”, Maïté Herkins guided guests through a therapeutic sound bath during session breaks during The Wellbeing Summit Brussels.
Harp therapist Alix Collin brought the beautiful, healing presence of the harp to The Wellbeing Summit Brussels, even inviting participants to sit against the harp to feel its healing vibrations as she played.
Reggie Hubbard created a harmonious blend of sound by performing a crystal bowls concert amidst the natural melodies of nature thriving at the Omega Institute.
Complimenting the natural soundtrack of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the gardens of Bangla Academy, Swayambhu led participants through a tranquil journey of sound and breath.
MINDFULNESS AND BREATHWORKMINDFULNESS AND BREATHWORK
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky, conscious breathing is my anchor.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
Amid thought-provoking talks, captivating art performances, and energizing social activities, the regional Hearth Summits remind us there is always time to slow down and notice our breath.
Find your own breath with our guided meditations here.
THE WISDOM OF MEDITATION
SESSION AT Hearth Summit São Paulo
In São Paulo, Daniel Calmanowitz, Vice President of Lama Gangchen Foundation for the Culture of Peace, shared the wisdom of meditation with changemakers and how it can impact individual and collective wellbeing. As a disciple of the Tibetan Buddhist master H.E. Lama Gangchen Rinpoche, a Buddhist practitioner since 1987, and an ordained monk since 2011, Daniel offered profound wisdom from the Buddhist tradition in a cross-cultural dialogue at Hearth Summit São Paulo. Watch the session (in Portuguese).
THE GREAT OUTDOORS THE GREAT OUTDOORS
“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Taking in the pristine setting of the Omega Institute‘s campus in upstate New York, changemakers enjoyed guided nature walks throughout the gathering. Delegates explored the natural curiosities of the 250-acre campus, filled with gardens, hiking trails, and a lakefront, which invited them to imagine a new season of life for themselves — and the world.
Nestled in the gardens of Tamarind Brasserie, Hearth Summit Nairobi offered changemakers a serene retreat into nature. The forested space not only provided space for changemakers to immerse themselves in nature, but also to interact with some new friends: cats, hares, tortoises, and monkeys regularly roamed through the space throughout the event.
In Dhaka, participants could try on a green thumb by planting seedlings of trees and flowers at a gardening station. Within the gardens of Bangla Academy, a serene oasis of vegetation in the heart of the bustling streets of Dhaka, the Summit allowed changemakers to connect with the Earth, create beauty, and strengthen local biodiversity.
Exercise and Movement Exercise and Movement
“He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything.”
Arabian Proverb
Shamima Akhtar Tulee, the first Bangladeshi woman to earn the Shotokan Karate Blackbelt, got changemakers moving in an invigorating chair workout in Dhaka, perfectly adapting movements for all types of abilities and experiences.
In Dakar-Thiès, changemakers discovered capoeira, a Brazilian martial arts practice, with Grupo Africa Capoeira – Ilha de Gorée. In between sessions and discussions, the opportunity to move with a unique fusion of different cultures brought fresh energy and power to the afternoon.
At many Hearth Summits, gentle movements like yoga and stretching invite everyone to turn inwards and develop a stronger connection with their physical selves. Here in Bogotá, a secluded rooftop space for yoga created an extra special moment for mind, body, and soul.
DANCE DANCE
“The drums are humanity’s common pulse.”
Shannon Thunderbird
Since the dawn of humanity, people have gathered around fires to be in community by sharing rituals and practices, such as dances. Our Hearths are no different!
MINDFUL MOMENTS
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
LAO TZU
In Brussels, Buddhist monk Bart Weetjens guided changemakers through a silent, mindful lunch. Offering prayer and gratitude for the food before them, changemakers ate together in silence, savouring the taste and nourishment of the meal along with the tranquillity of the moment spent together. A delicious moment for body and soul!
FUN AND GAMES
“A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men.”
Roald Dahl
Who says playtime is just for children? In Nairobi, time for fun and games was scheduled intentionally throughout the program to create space for joy, fun, and bonding among participants. Different games and activities created moments of lightness amidst deep conversations and interactive workshops — a delightful reminder of the value of creating balance in the world of social change.
EXPLORE WELLBEING FURTHEREXPLORE WELLBEING FURTHER
Dive Into Wellbeing Practices From Around the World
How I’m Transforming My Social Change Approach With Wellbeing How I’m Transforming My Social Change Approach With Wellbeing
Stories from the Hearth
Guest post by:
Amos Leuka
Director, Living Culture and Climate Alliance (LCCA)
🌍 Loita Maasai community, Loita, Narok County, Kenya
Amos Leuka, director of the Living Culture and Climate Alliance (LCCA), from the Loita Maasai community in Loita, Narok County, Kenya, attended The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès in November 2023. Listen to his journey of learning, inner reflection, and motivation as he shares his reflections on the gathering.
The LCCA promotess culture and climate adaptations in Africa and in particular, Kenya. It enables indigenous communities to promote their bio-cultural rights and supports them to be economically and culturally resilient, capable of managing their land systems and biodiversity. By building this solid base, providing leadership, technical and facilitative support, and using Participatory Video, LCCA creates a space to connect all indigenous communities and enable them to gain influence on climate issues affecting them, maintain their languages and use indigenous knowledge systems to manage their lands, social change and shape their future.
EXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHEREXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHER
Dive Into Stories From Around the World
Discover the Wellbeing Movement in Africa Discover the Wellbeing Movement in Africa
Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Africa.
Interconnected Healing From Intergenerational Trauma Interconnected Healing From Intergenerational Trauma
Healing x Regional Hearth Summits
With a growing collective consciousness about the impacts of intergenerational trauma, the regional Hearth Summits are a space for changemakers to explore those impacts in the social change sector. In social change work, trauma can be found at the roots of the biggest challenges facing the world today—and in the lives of the people working to address them. Trauma-informed approaches to social change have the power to help unlock healing, wellbeing, and social transformation for all. The regional Hearth Summits offer an invitation for local communities of changemakers to explore this power, contributing to our global call to move from cycles of trauma to journeys of wellbeing.
Discover how the Hearth Summits’ deep conversations, moving art performances, and embodied workshops create a platform for us to encourage healing and wellbeing for everyone—everywhere.
COLLECTIVE HEALING FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE COLLECTIVE HEALING FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE
“It’s when we start working together that the real healing takes place.”
David Hume
Opening a Dialogue on Intergenerational Trauma
Research From the Being and Transforming Think Tank
In Brussels, The Wellbeing Project launched the first part of “Cycles of Trauma and Journeys of Wellbeing: A Framework for Trauma-Informed Practices and Positive Social Change” — the first co-creation from the Being and Transforming Think Tank’s 3-year exploration of intergenerational trauma and social change. The research was published on the Think Tank’s brand-new hub for research, stories, tools, and other resources about IGT and trauma-informed social change work. Changemakers are invited to explore the database of resources and add to it.
Intergenerational Trauma, Ancestry, and Race | Trauma Intergeracional, Ancestralidade e Raça
Session From Hearth Summit São Paulo
In São Paulo, Raquel Barros, Coordinator, Emotional Collaboration Laboratory (ENLACE) and the Possible Worlds Community Extension Program, FACENS University, and Isabel Santos Mayer, Coordinator, Brazilian Institute of Studies and Community Support (IBEAC), joined in a conversation on intergenerational trauma, ancestry, and race in Brazil. Watch the session (in Portuguese).
Katherine Milligan, Director of the Collective Change Lab, educated changemakers on the basics of trauma’s physiological effects on the body, including how the central nervous system initiates the fight-flight-freeze response, and leading changemakers in embodied practices.
Shawan Mahmud, daughter of intellectual martyr Altaf Mahmud, touched souls with her tale of healing from intergenerational trauma in the aftermath of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, calling for accessible mental health services to support all who struggle with the ongoing impacts of the war.
Human rights activist and political refugee Marguerite Barankitse shared her inner and outer journey of peacebuilding after surviving ethnic cleansing campaigns in her home country of Burundi and starting an organization, Maison Shalom, to care for orphaned children.
Psychologist Edgar Gonzalez-Hernandez hosted a workshop on Compassion-Based Cognitive Therapy for participants in Bogotá in a session on how to recognize and start healing from trauma through an evidence-based approach.
Wellbeing Is Community, Resilience, and Inclusion
Interview With Okong’o Kinyanjui
In this interview at the first regional Hearth Summit in Nairobi, meet Okong’o Kinyanjui, Founder and Executive Director of the Queer African Network, as he shares how wellbeing inspires welldoing in his work to support the queer Pan-African community, whose wellbeing continues to be impacted by colonial-era penal codes across Africa.
Mapping the Impacts of Colonialism in Latin America
Workshop with Dr. Laura Calderon de la Barca
In Bogotá, psychotherapist Dr. Laura Calderon de la Barca, a specialist in collective trauma and senior associate of the Collective Change Lab, led changemakers in a reflection mapping the ongoing impacts of colonial history in Latin America and the Caribbean. Changemakers identified the parts of society where the trauma of colonialism is still visible as well as where they see opportunities to act for healing. As a group, they saw trauma manifesting the most within gender dynamics, and they saw the biggest window of opportunity for action in the arts.
You can learn more about Dr. de la Barca’s work to raise the collective consciousness around colonial trauma in the region in our recent webinar series with Collective Change Lab on creating healing systems for social change.
Addressing Post-Genocide Trauma in Rwanda
INTERVIEW WITH DR JEAN BOSCO NIYONZIMA
Director and Executive Founder of the Ubuntu Center for Peace, Dr. Jean Bosco Niyonzima, spoke at The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès about the impact of intergenerational trauma in Rwanda, where more than 50% of genocide survivors live with mental health disorders like depression. Listen to this brief interview with Voice of America to hear about his approach to mobilizing an integrated, scalable, cost-effective, community-based social healing model across Africa.
In Nairobi, co-chair Honorable Justice Martha K. Koome, EGH explored justice as a shared responsibility and lived experience, requiring empowered individuals, accessible courts, and support for the marginalized. Critical issues discussed included addressing the overrepresentation of people with disabilities in prisons, reducing stigma, and decolonizing the justice system to promote restorative justice.
In Senegal, Safe Open Spaces (SOS) hosted small group sessions to promote emotional expression, active listening, and empathy among changemakers. Focusing on youth mental health, the SOS workshop offered practical skills to young changemakers to use for healing and personal growth.
The intergenerational wellbeing panel in Nairobi, chaired and moderated by Edwin Macharia, explored how individuals, families, and communities are interconnected and shape our collective ecosystem. The session explored how traditional methods can address community trauma and bridge generational gaps by preserving cultural knowledge and fostering overall wellbeing.
Healing From Trauma: The Leadership Skill You Didn’t Know You Needed
INTERVIEW WITH BENOIT LEGRAND
Leaders face challenges every day when managing teams and making decisions. But visionary business leader-turned-psychogenealogist Benoît Legrand says the biggest challenge can actually be an internal one. Hear from Benoît, who spoke about the impacts of intergenerational trauma in leadership and organizational wellbeing at The Wellbeing Summit Brussels, reflect on why leaders should prioritize their wellbeing and healing to be a positive presence for themselves, their teams, and their organizations.
PROCESSING TRAUMA AND HEALING THROUGH THE ARTSPROCESSING TRAUMA AND HEALING THROUGH THE ARTS
“At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source.
When you are an artist, you are a healer.”
Rachel Naomi Remen
“Tears Ain’t Nothing But Liquid Prayers”
Poetry by Hannah L. Drake
Author, poet, and activist Hannah L. Drake stirred the emotions of her audience at The Wellbeing Summit Omega Institute-Harlem Wellness Center with her poem “Home,” a rebuttal to the state song of Kentucky (where she is from), “My Old Kentucky Home.”
Brilliante Aurora
Music by Oro y Platino
The alabaos are traditional Afro-Colombian funeral songs used to express and share grief and mourning that have been passed down generation to generation. Enjoy this song performed by Oro Y Platino, a group from the Condoto Chocó region of Colombia, who also took to the stage at The Wellbeing Summit Bogotá. All alabaos songs help people to say goodbye to their beloved. “Brillante Aurora” is about saying goodbye to a mother — with the song lyrics, they say goodbye to the Virgin Mary.
The Healing Power of MusicThe Healing Power of Music
MUSIC BY ASIF IQBAL AONTU
At The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka, we discovered musician and journalist Asif Iqbal Aontu’s extraordinary journey from imprisonment to musical soul healing. Through his music, he shares how his toughest experiences led him to a new direction, blending music with cosmic thoughts. With each song, he skillfully intertwines life’s tragedies, pains, and afflictions into a harmonious tapestry.
EXPLORE HEALING AND WELLBEING FURTHER EXPLORE HEALING AND WELLBEING FURTHER
Dive Into Research, News, and Stories on Intergenerational Trauma
Building a Brighter Future for The Gambia, Africa, and Beyond Building a Brighter Future for The Gambia, Africa, and Beyond
Stories from the Hearth
Guest post by:
Dr. Margor A. Green-Harris, MD
Medical Officer, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital
🌍 Banjul, The Gambia
Once upon a time, in the heart of Sengeal “Rew Taranga” a diverse group of changemakers gathered for The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès —a transformative event that promised to reshape the future of the continent. Among them was I, a passionate advocate for social and behavioral change and holistic wellbeing.
As the Summit unfolded, I immersed myself in a rich tapestry of workshops, discussions, and cultural exchanges. I eagerly participated in sessions on yoga and mindfulness, recognizing their potential to enhance my wellbeing and activism.
During a panel discussion on “The Africa We Want,” I experienced a profound shift in perspective. Inspired by the vision of a continent united in peace and prosperity, I realized the power of collective action to bring about meaningful change.
However, I also became more aware of the challenges facing grassroots movements and community initiatives. Too often, well-intentioned projects were sometimes derailed by external interests and agendas, leaving local communities disenfranchised.
Determined to make a difference, I resolved to prioritize the voices and needs of my fellow activists and volunteers. I refused to let external sponsors dictate the direction of our work, advocating for autonomy and integrity in all our endeavors.
As The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès drew to a close, I felt a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. Armed with new insights and connections, I returned to my community with a commitment to holistic wellbeing, grassroots activism, and the Africa we all wanted to see.
And so, inspired by the spirit of unity and determination I had witnessed at the Summit, I continued my journey, knowing that together, we could build a brighter future for The Gambia, Africa and beyond.
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.
Hearth Summit Thiès 2024 Hearth Summit Thiès 2024
Regional Hearth Summits
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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.
Exploring Art, Teraanga, and Social Change With Partcours at the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-ThièsExploring Art, Teraanga, and Social Change With Partcours at the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès
Learn about the upcoming collaboration between the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès host, Tostan, and renowned Senegalese art festival, Partcours.
In the heart of West Africa, where the vibrant culture and traditions of Senegal meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world, an extraordinary event is set to unfold: the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès, hosted by Tostan in partnership with The Wellbeing Project, promises to be a source of hope and inspiration for social change across the continent. At the core of the first Regional Wellbeing Summit in Africa will be a collaboration with Partcours, one of Senegal’s leading contemporary arts festivals. In the 12th edition of this renowned event, a new exhibition, “Yoonu ci biir (The Inner Pathway)”, will explore stories of inner journeys towards wellbeing through the eyes of local artists.
Wellbeing in a Changing World
In a world grappling with unprecedented challenges, the concept of wellbeing takes on a profound significance. The creation of art can be an act of hope; an expression of joy, anger, celebration. Art can provoke us to take action, move us to tears or laughter, and the creative process itself can be integral to our wellbeing.
The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès is an African-led, African-based initiative, bringing together local, national, and regional leaders. At the heart of this summit is the idea of Teraanga, a cultural concept rooted in Senegal. It reflects the belief that we are all interconnected and interdependent. What affects one individual or community has a ripple effect, impacting everyone. This concept will be reflected throughout the Summit through a dedicated space for discussion and action centred on wellbeing in the African context.
Teraanga reflects the belief that we are all interconnected and interdependent. What affects one individual or community has a ripple effect, impacting everyone.
An integral part of this discussion is the critical role of the arts in fostering creativity, self-expression, and wellbeing in diverse African communities. Believing in The Wellbeing Project’s motto – that wellbeing inspires welldoing – the Summit will explore the arts as a key tool for discovering and unlocking opportunities for social change.
The Arts for Wellbeing: Collaboration with Partcours
For this transformative summit, Partcours has teamed together with Tostan to curate an immersive art experience exploring the concept of wellbeing. The exhibition, “Yoonu ci biir (The Inner Pathway),” will feature the work of two remarkable local artists, Fatim Soumaré and Omar Diouf (Yafane), who have taken unique paths to find their creative practice and viewpoints on wellbeing.
“Art allows me to express, without constraints, my hopes of connecting with our ancestral practices and oral traditions. My works not only reflect cultures inherent in African craftsmanship; they also subscribe to an interdisciplinary dialogue. They bear witness to the progress and ingenuity of collective practices to develop and sustain social and economic activity. Through the thread-craft traditions of the women’s collective I created in 2021, I explore the traces of their existence to ensure the collective preservation of their material and immaterial memory.”
Fatim Soumaré is a Senegalese artist living in the Sine Saloum region who has a deep passion for textiles. She has preserved the ancestral African tradition of falè, the hand-spinning of organic, rain-fed cotton. Fatim’s art is not just a visual experience but a tactile and emotional one. Through her art and home textile brand, she employs a collective of 200 craftswomen, connecting them to their heritage and a source of livelihood.
“Art allows me to express, without constraints, my hopes of connecting with our ancestral practices and oral traditions. My works not only reflect cultures inherent in African craftsmanship; they also subscribe to an interdisciplinary dialogue.”
— Fatim Soumaré
Omar Diouf, also known as Yafane, is a self-taught artist from Mbour, Senegal. A farmer by day, his artistic universe is adorned with diverse and beautifully recycled materials, from shells to mirrors to plastic waste. He infuses his lived experiences in his artwork, bridging elements of sustainability and creativity in his creations.
“For me, art contributes a lot to my community. My creative knowledge and abilities are companions for both me and my community. Art contributes to our African cultural heritage and is an important legacy for the benefit of future generations.”
The art installations, thoughtfully created by these two artists, will be showcased at the Sococim Foundation Cultural Center in Rufisque, near Senegal’s capital, Dakar. The opening night will coincide with the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès, bringing together artistic expression and reflections on wellbeing from an African perspective.
“Art contributes to our African cultural heritage and is an important legacy for the benefit of future generations.”
— Omar Diouf (Yafane)
This collaboration is a unique opportunity to connect local changemakers, artists, and wellbeing practitioners from across Africa to share ideas and experience the profound impact art can have on wellbeing, and wellbeing on art.
As Partcours’ curator Mauro Petroni noted, “Our two featured artists’ inventions explore very different paths. However, both start from their own intimate lives and arrive at the same point.”
In Yafane’s work, he explained, we can see a forward journey from his roots. As a farmer, he lives in a field that is his space and his workshop. Completely self-taught, he accumulates all sorts of things and arranges them to achieve an expression of skilful simplicity. This allows him to go wherever and land wherever – totally uninhibited.
Meanwhile, in Fatim’s pieces, we can see the reverse as she journeys towards her origins. Having set off from another world, she comes to the collective source to rediscover the simple wisdom of tradition. From there, she continues a journey without contradiction into the poetics of woven thread and the social lives of women artisans. She takes us with her, with her lightness and her laughter.
Petroni concluded, “At some point in history, thanks to wellbeing, they crossed paths. Fatim and Yafane will be our guides and our examples, teaching us the understanding and expression of their human experience.”
Fatim and Yafane’s creations will be one part of the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès’ larger programme, which will feature local and regional arts and music to help foster self-reflection and shared connection. West African song and dance, contemporary art installations, and theatre will be woven into the Summit – inspiring a unique individual experience that can lead to collective action and wellbeing for all.
“Yoonu ci biir (The Inner Pathway)” will open on Thursday, 30th November at 17:30 at the Sococim Foundation Cultural Centre, where attendees can meet the artists who will participate in a dialogue on art and wellbeing.
Those in Senegal can enjoy the exhibition from 30th November to 31st December 2023 as part of the collaboration between Partcours and the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès.
Wellbeing in West Africa: How We Gather TogetherWellbeing in West Africa: How We Gather Together
Guest post by:
Carina Ndiaye, Chief Partnerships Office, Tostan
In Senegal, we call it Teraanga. It stands for openness and sharing, meaning: “we invite you to come in.” This cultural norm is present throughout the region and across the continent. Words like Ubuntu in southern Africa portray acknowledgment, respect, and coexistence. In Senegal, through Teraanga, the concept behind the Hindi word Namaste (meaning: “the light in me sees the light in you”) is extended and reinforced to say, “what is mine is yours.” This applies not only materialistically but also to the earth, the sun, the sea, and the unseen. From visitor to member, from transitory to influenced, in our culture, the ‘you’ never stands alone. What affects you also affects me and my community, and community includes anyone who walks our way and crosses our path.
As Tostan agreed to host the first African Wellbeing Summit, joining The Wellbeing Project and key partners hosting similar summits around the world, Teraanga has been a foundational concept for us. It is an entry point into the broader West African cultural systems that value people and their shared history and interconnectedness and that prioritize interdependence over independence.
Our upcoming African Regional Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès 2023 reflects our dedication to embracing community-centered models that resonate with our core values. Locally-driven initiatives and capacity development for communities are critical paths forward, as our CEO Elena Bonometti has pointed out. But at the heart of our vision is Teraanga, where openness and sharing guide us in meeting the multifaceted challenges that our world faces. In Senegal, when challenges arise, a community gathering – referred to as a “pénc” in Wolof – is called to bring together the community for discussion. The Summit will be a globally-connected pénc, embodying the essence of African-based, African-led collaboration and growth in wellbeing. This is not just a “nice to have”; it is essential to our collective wellbeing and social cohesion.
There is a deep respect here for where people come from and for who and how they are. Many traditions create space for people to be seen, acknowledged, and recognized. Through greetings, names, joking, showing respect, and almost countless ways of engaging, we witness and reinforce one another. We see more clearly the threads interweaving our collective well-being. These traditions aren’t technical solutions or abstract topics; they are ways of meeting and gathering together, of creating spaces and openings where we can understand one another, share our perspectives and passions, and work better together.
With over 32 years of experience as a Senegal-based organization, welcoming partners from more than 50 countries far beyond Africa’s border, at our Tostan Training Center, we have come to understand that these ways of welcoming, these traditions for creating space, for seeing and being seen, can be powerful. As our global community seeks to find ways to support increased wellbeing in a context of increasing urgency and challenge, we hope our African Regional Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès 2023 can contribute and share these ways of coming together.
Through our collaborative planning for the Summit, we have found some important themes to explore together. These include mental health, digital wellbeing, wellbeing in the workplace, and others. But the success of our conference won’t be limited to topics, action plans, or best practices. It will also depend on how people feel when they leave, how they can sustain connections, and whether they have found some new ways of inviting change into their lives, their organizations, their work, and our world.
About the African Regional Wellbeing Summit in Dakar and Thiès, Senegal
Join us for the first African Regional Wellbeing Summit in Dakar and Thiès, Senegal, hosted by Tostan from November 29th to December 1st, 2023.
The Summit will be an opportunity to engage in workshops, panels, and social moments to explore wellbeing, especially for those working in service for community-led development, from diverse African perspectives. Discover themes including mental health and its impacts on wellbeing, the role of religion, youth, and digital health.
