The streets of Kiev last night.
Whenever I travel it always strikes me that whatever may happen things always get back to normal amazingly quickly.
Last night I arrived in Kiev.
So what did we do?
We went out for dinner.
In a restaurant, sat on the terrace with lots of other people, just like every other city I’ve been in.
And it was a very nice night.
Compared with when I was a kid ….
So I’m here in Kiev not to gawk or be a tourist.
I’m here because there are still problems in the world.
There are millions of girls without an education.
There are billions of people eating food that will kill them.
There are tinderboxes of tension that could inflame at anytime.
But compared with when I was a kid, and unlike what we see on TV (who have to make the news seem even worse so that we click the link and they get paid), the world today is an infinitely better place than all those years ago.
For example I remember in primary school in the UK having nuclear air raid drills in case Russia sent nuclear missiles across to us.
The teacher would tell us to get under our desks and I remember thinking “They’re nuclear missiles, why on Earth are we going under our desks?”
(I always figured teachers never watched movies!)
However bad things get, fingers crossed, we’re nowhere near those types of situations today.
You are the key Â
Ignorance breeds problems.
But if every child on the planet learns how to communicate their feelings, their opinions.
To listen and to understand.
To have empathy and compassion.
To have the courage of their convictions and the willingness to realise they can be wrong and to try again.
To know people all over the world, to speak their language, to read their Facebook page and see their families at work and play.
To make true, true friends.
And to have enjoyed doing it so much that they bring it all into their adult lives.
That, I believe is the key.
The only way to make a better future.
And why you are so important.
We’re not just teaching English, to just get them a better job, Â it’s teaching the ability to communicate that is the real gold.
The real soul.
The real reason of what we do.
We have still got a long way to go.
And whenever I travel I appreciate even more the luxury of peace that the lucky of us enjoy.
So let’s use education to inspire our kids to invent, to create, to cure, to communicate.
To try and bring that peace to as many children as we can throughout the world.
Be genki,
Richard
Welcome to Ukraine, Richard! I agree with you that teaching is not only about knowledge but also about raising humans 😉
I’ve been crying all day anyway, so why not end it on this note?!
Tears are really good! “let it go!”
Thank you~
So true….very deep thoughts….brings out our real soul too….it’s Worth it!…Keep on going…we are all following you…take care and God bless you!
Hi Richard!
You are a real peace envoy! What you say is so stirring!
I wish Ukraine peace and welfare. And I hope that the genkiness you bring into the world will help people in Ukraine (as in every other place) overcome difficulties of the current period and make their country as flourishing as ever!
I ´ m crying like a child. It is so true and each of us have the power to change that. Thank you Richard Sarka
…this is it…your Genki is not just another teaching programme… it is philosophy and a way of life… great thoughts!
Richard, thank you for yet another inspirational post.
It is even more valuable coming from you who started with an idea and found a way to see that idea make a difference around the globe.
THANK YOU for your support, advice, and positive energy!
Beautiful picture, beautiful sentiments… As children I think it’s the empathy and attachments we have to those close to us that inspire us to help others. I believe we need to encourage children to express themselves in ways that help everyone.
All children are great antidepressants! They are different some of them are shy some of them are bold but they all are so full of hopes, they like having fun and they like to learn something new! They can relax from all difficulties right here on the genki lessson. Thank you for that too!