SAMVAAD  began in 2010 to encourage authentic “dialogue” as colleagues. The emphasis in dialogue is listening with curiosity and asking questions of clarification. When we allow our curiosity to be greater than our criticality, we create a context for new ideas to emerge from within. Each of us brings the gift of our own inquiry and the spirit of deep listening as we will take time to reflect and to engage.

The Dialogue is facilitated by Sadanand Ward Malliard along with YA team.

Sadanand Ji is the founder of Mount Madonna School and the centre in California. As an educator for over 40 years, he is deeply committed to the learning process, and to building bridges of understanding cross culturally, and between the secular and spiritual aspects of life.

He has been a core mentor to Youth Alliance and for over a decade we have co-organsied Samvaads which we greatly learn from.

Guiding Principles of Samvaad

 

GLIMPSES from Samvaad

Reflection BLogs

Saloni’s reflection on attending Samvaad

Gift of Inter-generational co-creation by Shashank

The Vulnerable Rally by Shuchi

Divyangna’s reflection on being human?

Read more here

SOME MUSINGS AND POINTS OF REFLECTION FROM EARLIER SAMVAADS

Samvaad 2025: Living a Different Story

* What is a story that I tell frequently about myself that I might be ready to reconsider?
* What's the story I have been living that I feel I am ready to let go?
* When did you become an off-road vehicle? Or what supported you to go over the wall?
* What story do you want to conserve in the manner of your living? What is the title of your new story?

Samvaad'21: Facilitating Conversations that Matter

* Being a part of multiple communities, how do I co-create authentic relationships that are nourishing and sustainable?
* In a world increasingly dominated by machine intelligence and its rhythm, how do I conserve the intelligence and rhythms that are most human?
* What is the connection between the relationship that I have with myself and my relationship with others and the environment?
* What does it take to dance between the dimension of technology and the dimension of being human?

Samvaad'19: Exploring the Humanness Within

* Being a part of multiple communities, how do I co-create authentic relationships that are nourishing and sustainable?
* In a world increasingly dominated by machine intelligence and its rhythm, how do I conserve the intelligence and rhythms that are most human?
* What is the connection between the relationship that I have with myself and my relationship with others and the environment?
* What does it take to dance between the dimension of technology and the dimension of being human?

Samvaad 2023: The Praxis of Living

* What are the narratives, conscious or unconscious, that I live in my day to day life that enable or hold me back?
* What are the practices in my living that I want to embrace or change to live the life I want?
* What do I hope to contribute to the common good as part of my “Praxis of Living?” What supports that and what holds me back?

Samvaad 2020: The Dance of Education

  • Being a part of multiple communities, how do I co-create authentic relationships that are nourishing and sustainable?
  • In a world increasingly dominated by machine intelligence and its rhythm, how do I conserve the intelligence and rhythms that are most human?
  • What is the connection between the relationship that I have with myself and my relationship with others and the environment?
  • What does it take to dance between the dimension of technology and the dimension of being human?

Samvaad 2017: Education that Liberates

* What about the story of education do we need to shift?
* What does liberation mean to you in the context of learning?
* What effects do the relationships within the learning environment have on the nature of the human being in those environments?
* How do we liberate ourselves from the things that hold us back or defeat us?
* How can we develop the characteristics of resilience and reflection in education?

Samvaad 2016: Learning and Leadership

* How do we understand leadership in learning in these times?
* Why are vulnerability and empathy  important qualities in leadership?
* In a competitive and consumption oriented world, how do we develop the kind of discernment necessary to make choices that will lead to our personal well being and to the sustainability of our communities and the human experiment?

 

Participant Testimonials

 

“ The energy in the group was warm and alive — there was a beautiful sense of resonance as we listened, shared, and connected. The space itself, away from our usual settings, offered a much-needed pause to stay with my own quest and think about what comes next.

I am personally inspired by the real and meaningful journeys you all shared. The sharings and wisdom of SN were a true highlight — I feel blessed to have heard him and would love to continue learning from him.”- Sonal Sikri, Educator, Heritage School

“The ability of the space to make us have deep conversations with strangers was something that I loved. Another thing that touched me was the question "Why we need education?". It made me reflect on why I need it and why I am again making my nephews and nieces go through the same system in which I suffered.” - Vibhuti, Team Member, YA


“The way Sadanand ji listened to my thoughts, pricked me constantly in his own beautiful ways to give expression to the myriad thoughts I kept bottled inside of me was amazing.
"Education that liberates" did liberate me in the sense that I now feel that yes I have a voice, some may not agree, some may agree but that doesn't diminish my choice!”' - Priya Maria, GM’16

 

Mrunal’s reflection on attending Samvaad

Anagha’s reflection on the power of Dissent