Inspiring Change through Wellbeing: Insights from Fundación FEMSA’s Breakfast in Mexico City Inspiring Change through Wellbeing: Insights from Fundación FEMSA’s Breakfast in Mexico City

Last week, on July 27th, we had the honor of attending a remarkable breakfast organized by Fundación FEMSA in Mexico City. The event brought together more than 100 participants working in the field of social change in Mexico, making it an inspiring and timely occasion.

Since 2008, Fundación FEMSA has been working on the premise that “a sustainable company can only exist with sustainable communities.” Over the years, they have made significant strides in Sustainable Development, Early Childhood, Arts & Culture, Circular Economies, and most recently, Wellbeing, which was the focal point of this enriching event.The session was inaugurated by Sebastian Viramontes, Global Wellness Manager at FEMSA, who shared FEMSA’s wellbeing model, integrated by 5 areas: Healthy Body, Psychological Wellbeing, Workplace Wellbeing, Financial Wellbeing and Social Connection. He highlighted the far-reaching impact of this model, not only on FEMSA’s workforce, but also on their families and the broader community.

After this presentation, Dr. Rosalinda Ballesteros, Director of Instituto de Ciencias del Bienestar y la Felicidad of Universidad Tecmilenio, México, elaborated on the challenges of work-related stress and the implications of this in social change work. Drawing on her expertise in positive psychology, she shared practical strategies for promoting personal wellbeing, emphasizing the importance of curiosity in exploring one’s own emotions, needs, as well as unique perspectives, and learning how to do this in normal everyday life.

Both presentations highlighted the link between personal flourishing and the sustainability of collective efforts, affirming that only by taking care of ourselves and each other can we hope to build a future where transformative change becomes a reality.

The event ended with a psychodrama exercise led by David Ordaz, Social Psychologist and Master in Political Sociology. Through role-playing and embodiment exercises, participants connected with their emotions and shared their visions for the future of the social change sector in Mexico.

It was a real honor and pleasure to attend this wonderful event. We are inspired to see wellbeing as a topic that is growing strongly in this region and to have witnessed how everyone present was genuinely interested in exploring ways to incorporate and enhance wellbeing on both a personal and organizational level. The enthusiasm and commitment shown by all attendees and speakers was wonderful and it is heartwarming to see a growing community that values the wellbeing of individuals and organizations alike. 

We are very grateful to have been part of such an uplifting experience and are excited to witness the continued growth of a community that values the wellbeing of all its members.

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Join this selection of exciting conversations introducing us to The Wellbeing Summit Bogotá,  a unique happening highlighting the importance of promoting wellbeing among changemakers in Latin America. Prepare for a three-day meeting where we will explore the concept of wellbeing and live transformative experiences through workshops, immersions, ancestral practices, and artistic presentations.

Get ready to discover skills and tools that you can use in your daily life and in your work as change leaders, to increase your wellbeing and that of those around you!

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EPISODE 1

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Sandrine Woitrin played a vital role in Starbucks’ launch in Spain and France and contributed to establishing the CSR department for Grupo Vips and Starbucks in both countries. With a background in Naturopathy and a passion for alternative therapies, she now co-leads The Wellbeing Project, a global initiative in collaboration with esteemed organizations such as Ashoka, Impact Hub, Georgetown University, Porticus, the Skoll Foundation, and Synergos. The project aims to promote inner wellbeing for change agents worldwide.
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EPISODE 2

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Camilo Hoyos, co-founder of Fundación Gratitud, engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Catalina Cock, a remarkable entrepreneur, social weaver, and co-founder and president of Fundación Mi Sangre. During this dialogue, Catalina opens up about how her experience in higher education in the United States, coupled with a strong desire to remain connected with her country, served as the catalyst for creating this foundation. Their intention behind its establishment was to break down barriers and foster unity through impactful social transformation.
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EPISODE 3

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Mireya Vargas is a distinguished sociologist with expertise in Economics and Liberal Studies. As a Fellow at Stanford University’s Distinguished Career Institute, she focuses on research related to Sustainable Human Development and Well-being in Latin America. Her recent work delves into personal wellbeing, depth psychology, and cultural complexities.
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EPISODE 4

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Introducing this week’s guest, Silvia Haba de Merlo, Founder and Executive Director of Coimpacta. Silvia leads the charge in promoting wellness spaces and essential tools for Spanish-speaking social impact professionals. With a decade in the social sector, she drives projects focused on social-emotional skills and community building. Trained in economics and public policies, her international journey informs her passion for linking internal well-being with social transformation. Based in Panama for the last nine years, Silvia is a true global citizen with a mission.
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EPISODE 5

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Meet Andrei Ram, a renowned yoga teacher and founder of Breath Based Yoga. From Colombia, he rose as a Contemporary Dancer and holds an Anthropology degree. Trained by Master Sri Dharma Mittra for over a decade, Andrei shaped Yoga Teacher Training at New York’s Dharma Yoga Center.

With emphasis on breath, Andrei Ram merges Himalayan and Tibetan traditions, training instructors in 30+ countries. He revitalizes yoga for modern life with integrity and adaptability.

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ABOUT THE WELLBEING SUMMIT BOGOTÁ

The Wellbeing Summit Bogotá will gather local changemakers across Iberoamérica in the region’s first summit focused on the intersection of wellbeing and social change. Honouring local culture, ancestral indigenous knowledge and traditions, and lived experiences of changemakers in the region, the Summit will introduce the wellbeing movement in Iberoamérica, sparking dialogues on how inner wellbeing contributes to positive social transformation.

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Guest Post by Alejandra Garza

I had the privilege to represent The Wellbeing Project in the Latin American Impact Investment Forum (FLII) a few weeks ago (Feb 28th – March 2nd, 2023) in Mérida, Mexico and am still reminiscing over all the shared encounters, stories, people, music and color that I got to meet and experience during this inspiring event.

It is with deep admiration and gratitude that I remember each person I met, each story I heard, and each dream that was shared with me so kindly during this wonderful event. It was a short pause for all of us who care so deeply for our region, to meet, share and explore our possible collaborations and hopes towards creating positive change in Latin America today and in the future.

I am especially grateful for being invited to share about The Wellbeing Project’s work in the region in a shared discussion titled “Burnout in the era of Wellbeing.” I had the privilege to share this beautiful space and conversation with Juan Carlos de la Hoz from the Inter-American Development Bank, Nicolas Demeilliers, founder of &you, Anna Corona from ayam, and Daniela Peralvo from IMPAQTO. Through our engaging conversation and Daniela’s key questions, we shared about the importance of wellbeing for social changemakers in Latin America, and the key characteristics that make this region so special and unique.

It was particularly inspiring to hear a collective awe from the audience when sharing that at The Wellbeing Project we truly believe that Wellbeing Inspires Welldoing. I could feel that the phrase clicked with everyone present, and they too recognized the importance of inner wellbeing, as it relates to the success of their projects and work. The conversation ended with a shared mindfulness meditation imparted by Anna from ayam, and we all got 5 minutes to pause, give thanks and reset, amid this lively and exciting event. This helped all of us present to recognize that it is something we have in us and that we can do every day. No matter the situation, it just takes a minute to pause and connect with our breath in the present moment. We all have that superpower within us.

Thank you, New Ventures for organizing this amazing event, and for this opportunity. Thank you everyone in the audience for attending, for your passion, your commitment, and your willingness to be a part of this important conversation for our region. I am honored to have connected with each and every one of you, and I look forward to continuing this amazing journey of inner wellbeing together.

Global Summit on Dance Movement Therapy for Change – Reflections Global Summit on Dance Movement Therapy for Change – Reflections

By: Anubha Agarwal , Research & Learning Manager at The Wellbeing Project

Date: January 2023

Last month I had the pleasure to represent The Wellbeing Project at the Fourth Biennial Global Summit on Dance Movement Therapy for Change in the eclectic and colorful city of Jaipur, Rajasthan in India. 

The two-day event was co-hosted by Kolkata Sanved – a non-profit organization based in India promoting holistic well-being through Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) and Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL), Tata Institute of Social Sciences – a unit of the leading public research university in India.  

The fourth biennale held on January 12-13th , 2023 in Jaipur was focused on exploring the role of DMT and other creative expressions in building our collective resilience for navigating a world that seems to be at a heightened risk of diminished ecological health and well-being. The 2023 Fourth Biennale DMT for Change was attended by a diverse global audience comprising of development sector professionals, including DMT practitioners, Creative Art Therapy (CAT) practitioners, social scientists and public health experts.

With a colorful mix of experiential sessions, workshops, panel discussions and art installations, the Summit events wove together seamlessly in a rich tapestry. While ecological well-being of planet Earth and the looming danger of the climate crisis was the dominant theme at the Summit, the event was peppered with participatory sessions and workshops employing music, visual arts and storytelling to express individual reflections. 

That artistic underlying theme at the Summit was evident, when at the time of registration, each Summit attendee was offered an option to choose a handheld musical instrument ( displayed below ). I found it amusing to briefly fiddle with the wide range of percussion instruments and select one, even though the intended use was not entirely clear to me. It became clear in time as the attendees enthusiastically sounded the percussion tools to endorse a speaker or an idea, infusing fresh energy and cheerfulness into the Summit events in the process. 

Before the Summit, I was unfamiliar with the role of dance movement therapy as a psycho-therapeutic healing practice. Even though it is commonly known that dancing releases mood-enhancing hormones in humans, I was curious to understand how DMT was different in terms of providing subsistence to trauma victims and survivors of violence in our communities. 

While I was quite thrilled to avail an opportunity to experience DMT through an experiential workshop at the Summit, I was also mindful not to participate in the workshop with the possibly unfair expectation to fully imbibe the therapeutic benefits of dance movement therapy. Considering DMT is a therapy, it might need longer duration support and intervention, than joining in one hour and a half long session. Having personally experienced the de-stressing effect of many dance forms in the past despite having two left feet, I was looking forward to experiencing DMT first hand. 

During the workshop, free flowing movements that came naturally to each one of us were encouraged, the underlying thought being that DMT is a safe space where in every individual is free to express themselves in the way they want. In line with this tenet, an unfamiliar yet intriguing section of the workshop encouraged each participant to imagine their physical body as a paint brush and to use their limbs and torso to paint a limitless, imaginary canvas. Shifting my mental lens to think of my physical form as a paint-brush took some getting used to but eventually the infectious energy of the workshop cohort took over.  

I admit to feeling mentally relaxed and exhilarated post-workshop but still curious to understand how DMT could potentially serve as an antidote to counteract violence in our vulnerable communities. In a country like India, society norms can be quite restrictive of womens’ movement outside the society- or family-ordained ‘safe’ physical spaces, so I felt it would have been insightful to know how the DMT practice can support individuals in freely expressing their possibly repressed agency and take better care of their holistic well-being. In retrospect, I think hearing narratives from DMT practitioners who use DMT as a tool to navigate everyday threats to their physical and mental well-being, would have been of immense value in understanding the practice better. 

It is entirely possible that such narratives may have already been shared in the past Summit editions, but as a first-time participant, I missed the absence of such narratives. I did get to interact with a couple of DMT practitioners who mentioned that the practice helps them cope with everyday stress and shift the lens on how they view their lives. 

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One of the key learnings for me during the Summit was the reinforcement that approaches to enhance one’s well-being are quite individualized. Availing the opportunities to experience different expressive art forms at the Summit was a constant reminder that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to well-being. An art therapy that might have a profound impact on one, might fail to put a dent on another individual’s well-being. 

There is also the question of lack of funding to support well-being – the proverbial elephant in the room. However, until the world decided to acknowledge the presence of the aforementioned elephant and fully awaken to the mental health crisis we are in, one of the speakers at the Summit offered a slightly simpler solution to cope, “Art therapy is expensive… a good place to start is to start noticing what art tools you have easy access to at home such as fallen leaves, spices or other readily accessible elements of nature often overlooked. Art material could be taken from elements that are part of an individual’s environment or identity.” 

The two-day DMT Summit for Change feels like a great step in the right direction as such gatherings help mainstream conversations on mental well-being and facilitate the oft-forgotten human connect. Overall, the two days left me feeling happier, joyous and craving for more opportunities to rekindle the deeper human connect, that often gets overlooked in our everyday lives, but that such events help us remember. 

The reigning emotion for me at the end of the two-day art-based DMT for Change Summit and 2022 The Wellbeing Summit was that of HOPE. Hope for mental well-being taking center stage at a global level, specifically in cultures that in the aftermath of the pandemic are slowly opening up to talking about mental health and well-being.

Reflections on the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Carnival in Bangladesh, an event supported by The Wellbeing Project Reflections on the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Carnival in Bangladesh, an event supported by The Wellbeing Project

“I felt privileged to have witnessed a seminal moment in the journey of Bangladesh as a nation, toward an era where wellbeing and mental health are acknowledged and prioritized”

By: Samuel Smith , Senior Community Manager at The Wellbeing Project

Date: October 2022

In November 2022 I had the pleasure of representing The Wellbeing Project at the inaugural edition of the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Carnival at The University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. 

Co-hosted by the Aachol Foundation and the Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation , the carnival brought together youth groups, media, education & health experts, as well as organizations working at the heart of campaigns relating to the development of youth wellbeing. Significantly, there were also government representatives present, as one of the objectives of the carnival was to influence the upcoming creation of a national mental health framework; the first policy of its kind in Bangladesh. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Dhaka, and I took a lot away from hearing the inspiring stories and experiences of those present. There is a fascinating vibrancy and energy that comes from a movement fronted by young people and students. Their enthusiasm, dynamism, and willingness to tackle difficult and sometimes daunting topics with a smile and laughter is truly infectious. 

I felt privileged to have witnessed a seminal moment in the journey of Bangladesh as a nation, towards an era where wellbeing and mental health are recognized and prioritized. The impact of YMHWBC will be felt well beyond the borders of the university campus, and perhaps even beyond the borders of this beautiful south Asian country. 

A personal thank you to Monira Rahmen for the invitation and for giving me the opportunity to contribute. I would also like to show my gratitude to Heal Bangladesh , Heroes For All , No Passport Voice , SAJIDA Foundation , Moner Bondhu and ADD International for taking the time to explain to me how their work is helping to foster a sense of wellbeing across a variety of sectors in Bangladesh and beyond.