About us
Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) is a transformative learning organisation providing education in Thailand and wider Southeast Asia that is based on ecology, engaged spirituality and local wisdom. SEM was founded in 1995 on the auspicious Makha Bucha Day with the aim to offer alternatives to mainstream education that are founded upon personal and societal transformation. The founders of SEM recognised that current trends in mainstream education in South East Asia were not in tune with the realities of the changing world, and since then have spent over a decade developing an alternative curriculum rooted in social justice, cultural integrity and deep concern for ecological sustainability. SEM’s holistic approach is built upon engaged spirituality which focuses on transformation of the self alongside transformation of society. We work for a change in worldviews and values that uphold unsustainable and violent structures of society through critical analysis, self awareness and creative thinking in combination with learning from experience, or praxis of reflection and action. This leads to changes in behaviour, helping us to live happily, work effectively and understand and respect each other. At a social level, this participatory and inclusive approach has been effective in creating platforms for growing peoples participation and building networks for resilient social change. The scope of SEM’s educational courses mainly to go to the roots of happiness and wellbeing in life without emphasizing on materialism and achievements. They combine knowledge and spirituality to help participants to develop values which are significant foundations to love and understand oneself and others, to respect nature and all living things, to deepen awareness around social justice and to be encouraged to make a better society.
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